Everything you need to know for that first cruise in the San Juan Islands

 Cruising Itinerary, Parks, Campgrounds, Launch ramps, Friday Harbor, Maps, docks, and Anchorages.

This post covers the bare basics needed for a San Juan Islands visit.  Simple answers to some very important questions.

Because it is on a trailer does not make it a good idea!

While reading this somewhat abbreviated post, click the links to dig into specific details.  Be sure to use the search box to find more of what you need to know.

#1 Where to begin this epic outing? 

Launch your boat at one of these four places. 

Cornet Bay at Deception Pass Park

Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, 

Washington Park in Anacortes

Cap Sante in Anacortes.

One of these four places may offer exactly what you need to get the boat wet.  First, but not necessarily best, consider   Cap Sante offers light and heavy travel lift slings but no launching ramp.  They also offer short or long-term pay trailer parking and an RV park.  You definitely will want a reservation for slinging and mast stepping.  You may be able to reserve a slip at the transient dock. The costs are not cheap.

 Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.

The next place to consider is Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.  While travel lifts are available at the port, their multilane all-tide boat ramp, long-term parking, and abundant transient slips are what most boaters come for.  If your destination is the San Juan Islands or perhaps jumping over to Canada, this is by far the best place to begin and end your voyage.  No reservations are needed, and they operate 24/7 with a self-pay kiosk.  Driving the extra freeway miles to Bellingham adds very little time to your overall day.

Washington Park

Next, back in the Anacortes area are Washington Park and Deception Pass Park.  Washington Park is a city-owned campground with a two-lane boat ramp and float and trailer parking.  You don't need to stay at the campground, you can simply use the ramp and park for up to two weeks.  Pay 24/7 at the pay station.  Parking may be limited so avoid weekends if you can or have an alternate plan.  Tip: Plan an outing staying in the campground, taking the boat into the San Juans for day trips. Of course, you will need reservations for camping.  

Deception Pass State Park.

Lastly, just a few miles away is Deception Pass State Park.  The launching ramp and transient docks are at  Cornet Bay and are just a stone's throw from the famous Pass.  The ramp is usable at all tide levels, has four lanes and floats and has abundant long term parking.  Pay 24/7 at the Kiosk.  Cornet Bay also boasts a marina, fuel and a convenience store. All four locations have nice restrooms with pay showers.
There are a few other options for launching such as boat yards and some inferior ramps but these are the ones recommended and that have parking.    all the ramps  As an aside, taking your boat on a ferry expecting to launch from a ramp on one of the islands is not a well-thought-out plan.

Your San Juan Islands vacation cruise is soon to become a reality but you have some simple questions needing answers.

#2  Before you get going

you need to take a good hard look at your gear.  Ill-prepared skippers not only risk ruining their cruise but they jeopardize the safety of everyone around them.  On the flip side, well-prepared captains seem to always have great drama-free vacations.  Speaking of gear, you need a way to get to shore from your anchored yacht.  A cheap two-three-man inflatable will work, paddle boards are tippy but will work, but beaching your boat for anything but a minute or two is not going to work out well for you. basic gear needed

#3  Okay, you're all packed 

and on the highway but where will you spend the first night?  Good question and the answer is all up to you and what you want.  What I have learned, is that what works best for me is to stay at Cornet Bay or Squalicum Harbor on the boat.  It is usually late and we are tired, simply getting on the water is enough for day one.  Your plan may be different so here is a list of parks.  parks, parks, parks , and here is a list of resorts and marinas waiting for your arrival. resorts and marinas

#4  You are well on your way now. 

I hope you brought some food and fuel, if not, don't worry, here is a list of places you can go to get all the stuff you forgot to bring.  places with food and supplies

#5  If you are really going to the San Juans

you will have dozens of new questions now that you are thinking about it.  So try this link for more answers >>  basic questions answered

#6   Lastly, along with planning

where to go it really helps to know the distance between points.   Use this handy mileage chart.  water mileage chart  Remember, currents and tide fluctuations are part of every passage.

#7  When to go.  

This is not a difficult choice, just go when you are able, but avoid winter weather.  July and August weather attract more people but there is plenty of room.  Holidays can get festive and tend to attract crowds but sometimes that is what makes it a great vacation.

Click below for a satellite view of the Cornet Bay launching ramp

Cruise the San Juan Islands – Sample Itinerary, Trip Plan, Vacation Guide

"Where are the best places to go or best things

 to do in the San Juan's?"       

Talk to ten San Juan Islands cruisers and you will get ten different answers to the question,  Each will be correct, or mostly correct. To support their answers, they will offer first-hand exciting personal experiences.  That is why you must gather  the best information, inject your wants and quirks, and then chart your own course to the San Juan's.  

     Our experiences and local knowledge have been earned the old-fashioned way – one cruise at a time. Sailing, hiking, biking and gunkholing, all while immersed in nature have been our reward. 
     This website is a compilation of our travels in five sailboats and two trawlers spanning three decades.
     Along the way we published a cruising guide, “San Juan Islands Cruise Guide,” followed later with a Land and Sea Guidebook, “San Juan Islands Travel Guide.”  My goal for this website and these books is to help boaters, travelers, sailors, and families enjoy the good times we have enjoyed for many years.
     What is the best five-day itinerary?  That's like asking what's the best color.  But there are certain things that our experience and local knowledge will help with.  Sometimes, one just needs a little push in the right direction to get on the right tack, so to speak.  It is impossible in an essay or article to cover everything important to everybody or all the possible places to go.  However, this website does cover every state park, every county park, every public dock, and much much more.  
     You will find many links to pictures and specific posts, all composed for San Juan Island boaters.  Be sure, while reading to click the links and follow your interests. Be sure to use the search box at the top of this page on the left side.

You're invited!
     To help you muddle through this dilemma and provide some interesting reading, please come along with us on our summer cruise in the San Juan Islands.  Of course, you will be taking your own boat since ours is full.  

     Today, we use our laptop as a chart plotter. The program was free online Free chart plotter software but I had to buy a USB antenna for $19.95.  You can get by with a small handheld GPS or even your cell phone but I enjoy the big screen.   I don't want you to get lost if we get separated, or your battery is dead, so you should pick up a paper chart and a compass.   chart #18421 I carry a colorful roadmap with us as well.

    Let's get on the same page and assume this is your first boat trip to the San Juan's, and you are in a trailerable sailboat with a 5-6 mph speed.  There are five or six starting points we have used but only three are preferred.  They are Cornet Bay in Deception Pass, Cap Sante in Anacortes or Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.  If you have a fast powerboat or are coming up from the Seattle direction you will want to make time and distance adjustments.  We will plan  to sleep on board but use bathrooms on shore. Okay, let's go. ----- We have narrowed it down to about twenty parks to choose from for the first night, and that's not counting the marinas at Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, or Rosario.   Not to worry, I have a plan >>>  all the parks and then some

      Sometimes when we plan a vacation trip to the San Juan's,  we try to make a great circle route because it saves time and resources. But this time we're going to decide where we go, as we go. We will see how that non-plan works out.  Certain people on the boat have expressed a desire for hot showers, I guess we will see how that works out too. Since we may travel all the way across the San Juan's and back, your boat will need a minimum 75-mile range. Fuel is readily available everywhere but smart skippers figure one-third of the miles out, one-third back, and a third as a cushion.  If your fuel tank is a little small you can tie a five-gallon can on deck.  Knowing you have reserve fuel will ease anxious thoughts and ensure you have a great visit.  Shall we also assume that you have a seaworthy vessel with all safety gear?  If not, correct it before we head out, or stay home.  Life jackets for all

Plan as we go itinerary:

Cornet Bay Launch Ramps

        Let's begin at Cornet Bay in Deception Pass Park.

  However, after reading this post, I suggest that you search this website and check out the other launch locations. Some may fit your plans better. launch points Also, search the other parks and marinas and things to do.  It is easy to overlook a great place or mini adventure that will make your cruise the best of all.  I chose to launch at Cornet Bay this time because I really enjoy the pass scenery.  The dock and the long-term parking are ideal.  Plus being able to take off or return from both directions 24/7 opens up even more possibilities when not having a firm plan. If I was heading for the Sucia, Patos or Matia Island area first off, I may have chosen Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham but where we end the cruise may dictate where to begin.

Read the rest?

Planning your San Juan Island's cruise is as easy as two things.

Many moons and several magnificent sunsets had passed when I finally embarked on the grand adventure of planning a summer trip to the enchanting San Juan Islands. 

However, fate had a different plan in store for me. Due to circumstances, we found ourselves without a vessel. 

We were at Yellowstone National Park, gazing at the late spring snows. Time was slipping away, and our planned departure date to the San Juan’s was fast approaching, yet we were still boatless. A thousand miles away from home in a campground full of bears, I resorted to browsing Craigslist on my laptop while clutching my cell phone in hand. It was then that I stumbled upon a boat for sale posting that caught my attention.

To my surprise, the boat in question was of the type I had previously owned. The price was right, and a surge of confidence swept over me. I made a daring decision to promise to buy it sight unseen upon our return in two weeks. However, there was a hitch. The seller had just embarked on their own vacation and would not be back for another three weeks. Oh, dear! That meant they would only be back a week before our planned departure for the San Juans. Time seemed to be playing a cruel game with our hopes.

Fast forward three weeks later, and I found myself standing at the seller's doorstep, armed with cash and eager to drive away with our trusted vessel for the San Juan Islands. Back at home with our new boat and trailer, time was short, and I could only manage a few essential tasks. 

I diligently checked and greased the bearings, stepped and un-stepped the mast, and on the eve of our departure, I hurriedly took her for a test run in the river to gauge the motor's performance.

 As fate would have it, the 7.5 Honda motor ran smoothly for ten minutes before suddenly quitting. I drifted back towards the ramp in semi-darkness. Moments before hauling her out, I tried the motor once more, and lo and behold, it roared back to life. Quite perplexing, indeed.

Undeterred by this glitch, we embarked on our journey to Anacortes the following day. Upon launching at Twin Bridges on the Swinomish Channel, the motor graced us with its smooth-running presence just long enough to steer us away from the dock and set a course for Padilla Bay before surrendering once more.

 Still undeterred, we continued our voyage under sail, finally anchoring at Pelican Beach on Cypress Island. 

There, we reveled in the joys of a magnificent beach fire before retiring for the night. Throughout the evening, my mind couldn't help but wonder if the motor would start the next morning and if the capricious currents and winds would carry us to our next destination at Matia or Sucia.

But enough of my ramblings. We spent a glorious week in the San Juan Islands, and to our relief, the motor never faltered again. It proved to be a reliable workhorse that faithfully served us on several more boating expeditions in the years to come. The initial mystery of its temporary failure remained unresolved. As soon as we returned home, with plenty of summer still ahead, I wasted no time in placing a Craigslist ad to sell the boat. I recouped my entire investment, and as a bonus, I held onto the now trusty Honda outboard for many years afterward.

Reflecting upon this adventure, it became evident to me that setting a firm departure date was the catalyst that made the trip possible. 

Of course, we took a gamble with an unknown boat, motor, and rigging. However, I had the foresight to equip ourselves with basic essential gear: PFD’s, a bucket, a portable GPS, a handheld radio, a cell phone, and a paper chart. I had done my homework and discovered that the boat ramp offered long-term parking for a modest fee of $8 per day. With all the pieces falling into place, we made our dream of a San Juan vacation cruise a reality.

So, my advice to all you dreamers longing for a San Juan vacation cruise is simple yet crucial: 

#1 Mark your calendar this instant with your departure date. #2 Purchase a San Juan paper chart or just a map and proudly display it on a wall where you will see it every day. Trust me, with these two actions as your guiding stars, everything else will naturally fall into place. You'll see your dream materialize before your eyes.

Easy Itinerary for a spur of the moment cruise 

Fast track to the San Juans

Friday Harbor Marina

Click below for a satellite view of Friday Harbor

San Juan Islands Cruise Starting at Cornet Bay in Deception Pass State Park

This post first appeared in the web site in  2011. Parking and launching fees at Cornet Bay have since gone up a little.

       Camping, traveling, vacation rentals, condo's and resorts on a budget, 

is it even possible? 

Yes it is. Inexpensive (cheap) vacations are possible if you, "go by boat" or yacht as some say. The trick is to already own the yacht and then camp on it at all the great places.  Think of it like going to RV parks only without the garish over the top  land schooners parked in the best spots.

           Okay, no more promos for boat camping.  Assuming you are a newbie to the San Juan Island boating group, you may be wanting to know why you should start at Deception Pass State Park if you are headed for the islands.  

The Simple answer is, the park has the best all weather, all tide launching ramp and long term parking lot. Plus,  Deception Pass is one of the places to see that you should not miss, and the Cornet Bay dock is a wonderful place to hangout overnight, or for a few days or longer. 

The Google photos above with labels will help you to orient yourself. Because slow boats must time their passage through the pass you may find yourself spending the night at the dock.  I always plan to spend the first night at the dock because after driving six hours, rigging and launching my sailboat, it's late and I'm tired.  My crew can fish, hike and race around in the dinghy while I take a break.  The next day I'm ready to go, and cast off at slack tide which may be at noon or 9am.  The time doesn't matter, I'm on vacation time now.

The launch fee is around $6, parking is $10/day and staying at the dock is 50 cents a foot. The ramp has three or four lanes with floats. Trailer parking is abundant and long-term.  You can anchor out for free, anytime, anywhere. There is a fist of quarters shower that short times you in the bathroom.  Lots of locals and campers come down to fish off the floats, but boats tying up have priority. Try explaining that to a fisherman.

It is a very short run out the pass, under the bridge and into the Strait of Juan De Fuca, where high seas or fog may cause you to change your plans, if so, just head the other way to Swinomish Channel.  If you have never cruised the channel before, do it for sure, it only adds about 15 miles to your trip and is well worthwhile.  Or when you come back a week or so later, use the channel, but try to work it into your plans.  FYI, your boat will need to make 10 mph or better to overcome the worst of pass current, otherwise you will have to time it like the rest of us.  Of course with a favorable current you can rush on through, but the standing waves can be pretty big at times and an open bow boat will seem like a poor choice. The pass is narrowest directly under the bridge, so you will have a fast current for only a very short distance.

Dock and ramp at Deception Pass State Park (Cornet Bay)

You should run through Deception Pass for the beauty of it.

  Next door is Canoe Pass,

 and while navigable, should only be used at slack water, is very narrow  and sight distance restricted right under the bridge, it is a little creepy when the whirlpools turn on and begin spinning you towards the rock cliff face.  Sometimes we take our 9' dinghy with its 7.5 hp motor around Pass Island and wave to the gawkers on the bridge, but when the flood or ebb starts cascading, a tiny little dinghy has no business in either pass.

         When you come back a week or so later and are ready to head home you can wait for slack water outside the pass at the dock in Sharpe Cove or Bowman Bay. 

           I always spend my last night at the dock, and get a good rest for the long drive home.
Here's a link to the marine parks locating map  marine parks maps etc. click here

Tall ship ghosting through the pass at high slack water (photo taken from the bridge)

 In 60 minutes standing waves 3-6 feet tall may form and the current will be 5-8 mph

I would be remiss to not point out that most boats can transit the pass a good deal before or after slack water, slack water is simply zero current like in the picture.  Also, don't forget Swinomish Channel is just around the corner and avoids the pass altogether.

Click below for a satellite view of Deception Pass