San Juan Island is part of the San Juan Archipelago located in northwest Washington State. The San Juan Islands make up Island County. Island County is shown in Red on the Washington State map to the left.

The San Juan Islands are in the inland waters of Washington State some 75 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These waters are commonly called the Greater Puget Sound. Actually the San Juan Islands are located just north of Puget Sound.

You can see in the map below how Vancouver Island is between the San Juan islands and the Pacific Ocean. In the map below the San Juan Island are represented by three green islands shown east of the southern tip of Vancouver island. The mountains on the western side of Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountains on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula protect the San Juan Islands giving them a warmer and dryer climate.

A little about San Juan Island

San Juan Island is the second largest island in the San Juan Archipelago. It is also the furthest west of the four islands serviced by Washington State Ferries. Victoria and Vancouver Island in Canada are only 7 miles west across Haro Strait from San Juan Island’s western shore. Haro Strait is the border between the United States and Canada and it has some local history.

The Pig War

The agreement that settled the border between the United States and Canada stated that the border between Vancouver Island and the US mainland would be the main passage.

The problem is that there is at least two passages that could be considered the main passage, Rosario Strait on the east side of the San Juans and Haro Strait on the west side of the San Juan Islands. Great Brittan and the United States could not agree on the passage. On San Juan island there were both British and US subjects (citizens).

In 1859 a British Subject had a pig that kept getting out of his pen. An American caught the pig having lunch in his garden again, for the last time, and shot the pig. He admitted to the Brit that he shot the pig but refused to go to a British Court. In fact he appealed to the US Government and they sent troops to protect the US Citizens on the island. Until the border dispute was settled by a German arbitrator you had British troops at English Camp and US troops at American Camp. By the way, the German Arbitrator picked Haro Strait, the western pass, and the pig was the only casualty. American Camp at the southern end of the island and English Camp at the northeast end of the island on Garrison Bay make up the San Juan National Historic Park. They have reconstructed buildings, gardens, displays, and interpretative centers. In the summer they have reenactments of the period. For more information about the Pig War and the park see the links under Recommended Parks below.

Salmon, Whales, and where to find them

Most if not all of the Salmon that are headed to the Canadian Rivers and especially the Fraser River migrate in from the Pacific down the Strait of Juan de Fuca and turn north up Haro Strait. That means the west shore of San Juan Island is a rich salmon fishing ground. In fishing season you can find hundreds of sport fisherman fishing the west shore. The Orcas also are very aware of where to find the salmon, one of their primary foods. So if you want to view an Orca up close and personal all you have to do is visit the west shore. The odds are good you will find them feasting on Salmon. There are several charter companies that offer whale watching cruises out of Friday Harbor.

Roche Harbor

Another attraction on the island is Roche Harbor and Roche Harbor Resort. Located at the northwest corner of the island this quiet, protected harbor is a favorite for the yachting crowd with its huge visitors dock and buoys. There is a port of entry in the harbor with a constant stream of boats that have been in Canadian Waters checking back into the United States. Nearly always there are huge yachts moored at the visitors docks. On almost any day you will find craft from 20 feet to 150 feet moored at the dock for you to browse at when you walk down this wide friendly dock.

There is the hotel that President Teddy Roosevelt visited, restaurants, a grocery store, a formal garden, a church, an airport, a pool, condos to rent, cabins for rent and much more at the resort. No visit to San Juan island is complete without visiting this resort.

Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor is the largest town in San Juan County. It is on the protected east side of the island and it hosts the terminal for Washington State Ferries. It is also a port of entry and the docks are busy with boats returning to and visiting the United States. The port has a large marina with hundreds of visitors floats and docks for charter boats and sea planes. You can easily spend a day walking the docks and looking at the yachts.

Spring Street leads from the ferry dock up a gentle hill. It is the main street of Friday Harbor’s downtown area. You can easily spend a day rummaging through the shops and galleries, and trying out the restaurants in downtown Friday Harbor.

Recommended Attractions

Visitor Information about

San Juan Island

Recommended

Alphabetical Listing

Recommended

Alphabetical Listing

Recommended

Alphabetical Listing

Recommended

Alphabetical Listing

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

Westcott Bay Sculpture Park – See Recommended Attractions above

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor

See also: Friday Harbor