Looking for the best day hikes in the San Juan Islands? Look no further! From the best day hikes on San Juan Island to see whales, to remote waterfalls on Orcas Island, here are the best hiking trails in the San Juan Islands:

why this blog? Hi there, my name is Maddy and this blog was written by me, a real person who’s worked as an overnight sea kayaking guide (for Outdoor Odysseys!) in the San Juan Islands! I love hiking in the San Juans, and I’m stoked to show you around!

Note: hi there! This blog uses affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you!

What to pack for a trip to the San Juan Islands:

• Quick dry shots: I like the Stio Goodwin, quick dry with a built-in belt
• Sun shirt: Grab a UPF sun hoodie for a trip to Orcas Island! The San Juan Islands are very sunny, and if you’re on the water you may get sunburned from the reflection off the water as well.
• Hiking day pack/travel bag: The Perimeter 35L from Granite Gear is my go to weekend hiking bag. I can usually pack an entire weekend in this bag both for car camping, backpacking, or travelling to a hotel, and I’ll use it as my day bag on the trail as well.
• Hiking boots: I love my Oboz Bridger Mids for longer more rugged hikes and a good pair of trail runners for shorter hikes or hikes with stream crossings because they dry very quickly.
• Something fancy to wear out! Orcas Island has lots of fine dining options. (I worked as a kayak guide in the islands and I wouldn’t know about those lol)
• A swimsuit: There is so much great swimming on Orcas Island!
• A wetsuit if you want to snorkel or for extended swimming
• Binoculars: You’ll definitely want a pair of binoculars for watching wildlife on the ferry over. I’ve owned a few different pairs while sea kayak guiding in the San Juans, and the best pair I’ve had are the NOCS Field Issue, they are absolutely worth the money.

for a complete and detailed guide of what to pack for your San Juan Islands Trip, check out this guide!

How to get to the San Juan Islands in Washington:

To visit the San Juan Islands, you’ll need to book passage on the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, Washington. Check the schedule or reserve a spot here. Reservations are recommended on the ferry, but to be totally honest I’ve had decent luck on standby without reservations (I only travel during the weekdays).

Bring a car across to San Juan Island and Friday Harbor, then hop on the Inter-island ferry to visit the other major islands like Orcas and Lopez. Alternately, walk on to the ferry for cheaper and hop on a sea kayaking day trip– most outfitters pickup within easy walking distance from the ferry.

The ferry costs around $70 round trip to get to Friday Harbor with a car, and you only pay on the way out. As a foot passenger, the ferry is cheaper. Ferries to islands other than San Juan include Orcas and Lopez island, but honestly I would recommend headed to San Juan Island first as that ferry tends to be more reliable. Travelling directly between Orcas Island and Anacortes I have had terrible, terrible luck.

The San Juan Islands are the perfect weekend destination from Seattle, and are even possible as a day trip!

Best Day Hikes in the San Juan Islands:

From inland mountain hikes, to beautiful coastal routes, here are the best day hikes in the San Juan Islands:

1) Mount Finlayson, San Juan Island

For a beautiful trail with slight elevation gain, sweeping views of the Cattle Point Lighthouse, Mt. Baker, and Olympic Mountains, head to Mount Finlayson in the San Juan Islands National Historic Park. This hike is around four miles round trip, and especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

No permits or fees required to hiking in the San Juan Islands National Historic Park.

2) Lime Kiln State Park, San Juan Island: best day hike in the San Juan Islands for whale watching!

If you’re looking for the best easy hike in the San Juan Islands to view whales and Lighthouses, head to Lime Kiln State Park. A Washington State Discover Pass is required in all state parks in Washington.

Lime Kiln State Park is also the destination of most sea kayaking day trips in the San Juan Islands. Don’t want to bring your car to San Juan Island but still want an adventure? No problem! Some kayak outfitters will pick you up right downtown where the ferry drops off and shuttle you to their put-in to sea kayak to Lime Kiln State Park! Often times, you’ll have time to hike to the Lighthouse and hydrophone during lunch as well.

looking to see whales in the San Juan Islands? Check out the best ways to see orcas and whales in Washington’s San Juan Islands.

3) Mount Constitution, Orcas Island

For the most beautiful views in the San Juan Islands, head to Moran State Park on Orcas Island. Here, you’ll find the epic Mount Constitution, which you can either drive to or hike to. From Constitution, you’ll be treated to incredible views of the San Juan Islands in all directions as well as Mount Baker and Bellingham.

A Washington State Discover Pass is required in all state parks in Washington. Moran State Park is especially fun to visit because Orcas Island itself is off the beaten path. Here, you’re likely to enjoy beautiful green lakes, trails, and overlooks with a little bit of solitude seldom found in Washington State.

4) Cascade Falls, Orcas Island: best short day hike in the San Juan Islands!

Have you ever hiked to an island waterfall? Knock this experience off your bucket list in Orcas Island’s Moran State Park! Cascade Falls is a quick, less than one-mile hike to view the large waterfall. This trail sees more traffic than the others in the San Juans, but there is quick turnover in the parking lot.

For a longer, alternate route with more waterfalls, start at Mountain Lake and head to Cascade Falls, passing Rustic Falls and smaller cascades along the way as well. A Washington State Discover Pass is required in all state parks in Washington.

wondering where to stay on Orcas Island? Check out West Beach resort for seaside glamping tents.

5) South Beach to Grandma’s Cove, San Juan Island

Looking for an easy coastal trail that leads to scenic coves and beaches? Check out the route between Grandma’s Cove and South Beach in the San Juan Islands National Historic Park. This short hiking route is a great place to watch for wildlife including eagles, whales, sea lions, and seals!

Here, you’re also likely to spot the foxes of San Juan Island!

6) Young Hill, San Juan Island

Looking for a one-mile hike on San Juan Island with beautiful, west-facing views of the Canadian Gulf Islands? Head to Young Hill in the San Juan Islands National Historic Park. This hike is a hard uphill to beautiful views, and a relatively easy downhill!

7) Jones Island

For one of the more remote and beautiful hikes in the San Juan Islands, head out to Jones Island Marine State Park. Here, you’ll find sunset views, excellent whale watching, beautiful campsites and so much more. The catch? Jones Island is only accessible by boat. Worry not! Most of the overnight sea kayaking tours in the area include a stop on picturesque Jones Island!

I’ve seen whales from Jones Island twice, and heard them breathing near shore in the night once.

visiting Washington’s San Juan Islands? Check out the 25 Best Things to do in the San Juan Islands!

8) Spencer Spit State Park, Lopez Island

If you’re looking for a beautiful island to car camp on, interesting tidal currents, historic cabins, and great swimming, head to the beautiful Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island.

9) Mountain Lake, Orcas Island

Find an emerald green mountain lake on an island in Moran State Park at Mountain Lake! Orcas Island’s Mountain Lake is the ultimate swimming hole with beautiful green water, rocky islands and shore, and a lovely hiking trail circling the lake at under four miles.

In my opinion, Mountain Lake is one of the best day hikes in the San Juan Islands!

Looking for an adventure-filled Orcas Island getaway? Click here for the ultimate guide to Washington’s Orcas Island!

10) Stuart Island Lighthouse & Trails

For one of the best adventure in San Juan Island, check out Stuart Island marine state park! Here, you can enjoy beautiful hiking trails to coves, and hike to the iconic Stuart Island Lighthouse overlooking Haro Strait and Boundary Pass, looking out toward the Canadian Gulf Islands. (I actually don’t have any pictures of the Stuart Island Lighthouse because I was always so bitter when i had to hike there on the clock lol but people on trips attest that it’s one of their favorites!)

Much like Jones Island, Stuart Island is best accessed as part of an overnight sea kayaking trip.

11) Johnson Point & Shallow Bay, Sucia Island

Looking to hike on one of the most unique islands in the San Juans? Pack up a backpack (or sea kayak!) and head out to Sucia Island.

Book passage to Sucia Island on the Outer Island X and enjoy miles of hiking, unique wildlife, swimming, campsites, unique sandstone formations, and so much more! Sucia Island is your world-class backpacking destination hidden in the San Juans! Sucia island is easily home to the most beautiful hiking trails in the San Juan Islands!

Be advised that if crossing from Orcas to Sucia by kayak several key hazards exist; except confused currents over the hazardous Parker Reef, especially when met with wind. Note that winds from the north will be especially hazardous due to Sucia providing selective lee (protection) when leaving the island, that protection rapidly diminishing if you leave shore. Note as well that a handful of sea kayakers have died in this crossing. It’s best to cross at or near slack tide.

(Though when I paddled on a spring tide we got 12 miles, from Rueben Tarte to Fox Cove in just three hours riding a max flood tide. No wind, no issue, but I still wouldn’t recommend this to most paddlers)

Unique rock formations on Sucia Island.

12) Cypress Head, Cypress Island

For a beautiful island with short hiking trails and beaches near Anacortes, Washington, check out Cypress Head! Again, this hike is best accessed by boat.

Did you know all otters you see from land in the San Juan Islands are river otters? Sea otters are only seen a distance from land and never exit the sea! They are much larger than a river otter, and seldom seen in the San Juans other than one or two resident otters!

13) Westside Preserve, San Juan Island

Looking for the best place to watch the sunset and easy hiking on San Juan Island? Visit Westside Preserve, a roadside pullout and popular whale watching/picnic spot.

Looking to see the best of Washington State in just a few days? I planned the perfect one-week road trip to see the best that Washington has to offer!

14) Deception Pass State Park, Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands

Looking for beautiful hiking trails, overlooks, and more that you don’t need to take a ferry to get to? Visit Deception Pass State Park, accessible from mainland. Here, you can observe one of the incredible places where the ocean becomes a river, as the tidal currents rush through the narrow pass in excess of nine knots on spring tides!

Some of my friends enjoying the swell rolling into Deception Pass.

A Washington State Discover Pass is required in all state parks in Washington.

15) Obstruction Pass State Park, Orcas Island

For a quick hike with beautiful madrone trees and excellent tide pooling, check out Obstruction Pass State Park on Orcas Island! This park also has several great campsites and is less likely to be crowded than any nearby attractions.

A Washington State Discover Pass is required in all state parks in Washington.

16) Coastal Bluffs Trail, San Juan Island

For the single most beautiful day hiking spot in the San Juan Islands, head to the Coastal Bluffs Trail in San Juan Islands National Historic Park. Here, you can hike above the Strait of Juan de Fuca with views of Olympic National Park, foxes, bald eagles, and so much more!

Are the San Juan Islands worth it?

With the price of the ferry to get to the San Juan Islands, it’s easy to wonder if the islands are worth the travel! The islands have a booming art community and are perhaps most worth it for their idyllic island life charm (farms, sailing towns, you know), and of course teeming wildlife. While there are plenty of beautiful day hikes in the San Juan Islands, you can find comparable, perhaps even more beautiful spots on mainland Washington.

After living on San Juan Islands for the summer I would say visiting the San Juan Islands is worth it if you live in Washington, are passionate about ocean wildlife, or are particularly interested in the art community (the Friday Harbor farmers market on Saturdays is incredible and full of local artists and chefs). If you’re visiting on limited time and are specifically looking for the most stunning places to hike in Washington, head to the Olympics and Mount Rainier instead.

The only caveat is Orcas Island, of course. If you’re looking specifically for a unique, off-the-beaten path, gem of an island and to get away from the crowds, Orcas Island and the neighboring Sucia Island are probably some of the most interesting destinations in the US!

Love reading about the best day hikes in the San Juan Islands? Check out other nearby Pacific Northwest Adventures!

• Explore the best hiking trails on the Mount Baker Highway
• Check out a budget guide to visiting Olympic National Park
• Road Trip the Scenic North Oregon Coast

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