Recommended itinerary for San Juan Islands, WA?

[Seattle Steve]

Hello all --

we have been greatly enjoying our new 2007 sundancer 290 and have a week off in early August for our first long trip. We plan to go to the San Juans.

I do not have reservations anywhere and would appreciate any suggestions people have. I think my preferred approach is to reserve a site to stay at (if not too late to do so) at the start and end of the trip, leaving the entire middle of the week as flexible as possible. We are interested in exploring, seeing whales, anchoring in secluded places, and not being locked into a specific itinerary.

Two questions:

Any places we should be sure to seek out?

Is it important to book in advance, and if so, am I way too late already?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Gofirstclass]

Steve, a bit of info on whether or not you prefer to tie to a dock, anchor out or tie to a mooring buoy would help.

I'd plan on more than one day in Friday Harbor 'cause you can't see the town in one day. After that, Rosario, Roche Harbor, Sucia Island, Jones Island, Deer Harbor, and that will get you started.

The nice thing about the SJ's is everything is 20-25 miles away at most. Friday Harbor to Rosario to Deer Harbor to Jones Island to Roche Harbor is around 30-35 miles for that whole route. That way you've hit the high spots that are relatively close together and saved the more outlying spots for another trip.

 

[Seattle Steve]

Thanks!!!

We are equally happy anchoring, tying up, or docking. Just want to hit some good spots and make the most of our trip.

 

[CougarCruiser]

Rosario, Friday harbor, and Roche are all great stops and classic San Juans. Those would be my 'must do's'

deer harbor, fisherman's bay on Lopez, and Blakely island are my tier 2 marinas. Sucia, jones island, shaw island, and the inlets behind Roche harbor are great secluded anchoring spots.

you could grab the passport and hit Victoria. It's about 20 miles from Roche harbor. Or you could head north to poet's cove in bedwell harbor on south pender island. Canada is super easy, and customs docks are quick.

 

[wyrman]

We're leaving for our first trip on Friday. Our stops are Rosario (Oregon recital on Saturday night), Friday Harbor, Jones Island, Roche Harbor, Sucia Island, and Stuart Island.

 

[Seattle Steve]

Seems like I'll probably be okay with a flexible itinerary and not reserving anything in advance?

Thanks again!

 

[wyrman]

I reserved Rosario and Roche, leaving everything else open.
Check out IboatNW, lots of info for the Pacific NW, and people that boat the San Juan's regularly.

 

[Sundancer]

Reservations? You don't need no stinking reservations? Well, Friday or Roche if you KNOW you are going to be there at designated times. The rest of the places you can just catch a buoy or drop anchor. Garrison Bay is a great anchorage near Roche Harbor. If possible at Roche, stay and watch the evening flag ceremony at sunset. That's kind of fun. Victoria is a must, maybe not this year, but next year. Tag along with a group of us and we'll show you the ropes. Butchart Gardens is also a must and spending the night allows you to re-enter and watch the bands that perform each night or the fireworks every Saturday night. Reid Harbor on Stuart Island is a favorite and you can walk to the lighthouse at Turn point. Friday harbor ALWAYS has room. In a storm, they'll make room and may have you raft up, but they'll squeeze you in. I've even had good luck calling ahead as our plans change to see if they have room. Friday is a great place to pick up groceries and you can tie up to the outer breaker for a couple of hours to run into get groceries or parts at West Marine. Fisherman's Bay is another spot, but is a little farther to walk into town. Still worth it for ice cream!

 

[Gofirstclass]

Can a boater drop the hook in the harbor just off the docks at Roche and dinghy into their docks?

 

[SR400DB]

Yes, they have a couple of locations for access via dinghy, one of them adjacent to the small store, bar, laundry etc. Every time we have been, there are a handful of boats anchored just off the customs dock.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Thanks.

 

[Sundancer]

We've anchored there a number of times temporarily. We usually go to Garrison bay for the night. It's a little quieter and has less boat traffic at night. It's not required though. It's nice to be on the docks once in a while if you want and if they have room. Sometimes the batteries just need some juice!

 

[dgeller]

I highly recommend Salt Spring Island / Ganges. They have an awesome farmers market Saturday mornings.


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[Seattle Steve]

This has all been incredibly helpful info, I appreciate it!!!

I plan to head to Anacortes our first night, then follow our noses to hit some of the highlights you all mentioned, but not stick to any rigid itinerary. Will see where the weather leads us!

And, I will report back afterwards.

Thanks,

Steve