Looking for the best things to do on Orcas Island, Washington? Here are the best hiking trails, swimming spots, places to eat and things to do on Orcas Island!

Best Things to Do Orcas Island Washington:

Orcas Island is on land stolen from Coast Salish Indigenous People. When recreating on Orcas Island, keep in mind that many areas are of cultural, archeological, and historic significance. Remember to pack out all trash and take nothing with you. 

One of the most important Leave No Trace issues in the San Juan Islands is proper behavior around Orca whales and marine mammals. Maintain a distance of at least 200 yards from all marine mammals, and 1000 yards from the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales in the water. Stay up to date on marine mammal regulations in the San Juan Islands here. 

Oh hey there! This post contains 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 an Orcas Island Trip:

Weather in the San Juan Islands in the summer is generally sunny and mid 60s-70s throughout the summer. Ninety percent of the time you can leave the raincoat at home since the San Juans are located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountain range. 

• Quick dry shots: I like Patagonia Baggies
• 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 Oboz Aretes 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.

How to get to Orcas Island: Washington State Ferry

To visit the San Juan Islands, you’ll need to book passage on the Washington State Ferry. 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 $70 round trip to get to Friday Harbor (varies seasonally), and you only pay on the way out. While you can generally get to Friday Harbor without a reservation, I strongly recommend a reservation for coming to and from Orcas Island. Many a time I have been stuck on Orcas without a reservation.

1) Hike Turtleback Mountain

Tucked away on the west side of Orcas Island, Turtleback Mountain Preserve is managed by the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, an organization dedicated to preserving natural areas in the San Juan Islands and protecting them from development. 

Turtleback Mountain has nearly nine miles of trails along the ridge of the turtle’s “back”. The best view on Orcas Island might be the three-mile ship peak loop accessible from the south entrance to Turtleback Mountain preserve and featuring a beautiful overlook of smaller islands in the San Juan Islands archipelago below. 

Turtleback Mountain Preserve is the best off-the-beaten-path thing to do on San Juan Island.

2) Stay at West Beach Resort

Looking for a unique, affordable stay on the ocean on Orcas Island? Book a stay at West Beach Resort for ocean-front cabins, glamping tents, camping, and more!

We stayed in an ocean view glamping tent and had a great visit! The wood-fired pizza and seaside bar are to die for, and West Beach Resort was the perfect place to basecamp for a long weekend on Orcas Island. 

3) Visit Darvill’s Bookstore

Right on the shore’s of the fjord-like Eastsound is bucket-list worthy Darvill’s Bookstore. This adorable independent bookstore is home to a collection of local author’s works and classics alike, but the coffee bar tucked away in the back makes the bookstore a hidden gem. 

The Darvill’s Coffee Bar is home to the best coffee and tea on Orcas Island, and possibly the best Chai Tea Latte I’ve ever had, and you really can’t beat that view!

4) Hike Obstruction Pass State Park

While public beaches are hard to find on the mostly privately-owned Orcas Island, worry not! Obstruction Pass State Park has public beaches accessible via a quick hiking trail. There are several first-come, first-serve camp sites in Obstruction Pass as well!

Note that there is no potable water in Obstruction Pass State Park, and the waterfront Cascadia Marine Trail campsite is reserved for campers arriving by kayak or canoe only.

A Washington Discover Pass is required in State Parks!

5) Hike to Cascade Falls: best easy hike on Orcas Island

Tucked away in the scenic Moran State Park, Cascade Falls is a 40-ft tall waterfall accessible by a quick hiking trail. This trail is family friendly, but keep in mind that the parking lot to Cascade Falls is small and may fill quickly. Along this trail you’ll also find several other falls including beautiful Rustic Falls. 

Checking out the island waterfalls is easily one of the best things to do on Orcas Island for families! Overall, Moran State Park is one of the coolest places on Orcas Island and my favorite state park in Washington. There’s miles on miles of trails, generally no crowds due to the ferry, and it’s altogether a great place.

Love exploring the San Juan Islands? Check out the best day hiking trails on the San Juan islands!

6) Swim in Mountain Lake

Looking for the best swimming hole on Orcas Island? Head to Mountain Lake in Moran State Park to swim in the beautiful, clear-watered lake. There are plenty of incredible swimming spots accessible along the hiking trails surrounding Mountain Lake. 

7) Drive Mount Constitution: Best View on Orcas Island

One of the best things to do on Orcas Island without hiking is to visit Mount Constitution, the highest point on Orcas Island. Mount Constitution is located within Moran State Park offers incredible views of the San Juan Islands below, and Mount Baker to the west. The visitor’s center at the top also has some incredible history to learn and read about!

There are several hiking trails throughout the area that lead to a variety of beautiful overlooks of the San Juan Islands and Cascade Mountains back on the mainland. 

8) Eat Lunch at Olga Rising

Looking for the best place to grab lunch on Orcas Island? Olga Rising in downtown Eastsound has delicious sandwiches and beautiful garden seeing area.

9) Camp in Moran State Park

Looking for the best place to camp on Orcas Island? Book early to score a campsite in Moran State Park, with beautiful camping near both Cascade and Mountain Lakes.

Glamping more your speed? Worry not! There are incredible glamping tents right in Moran State Park available to book.

10) Visit the Orcas Project Tasting Room

One of the best things to do on Orcas Island for couples is to visit the Orcas Project Tasting room. Orcas project curates a selection of Northwest wines and is the perfect stop for wine-lovers visiting Orcas Island. 

11) Check out Forest Ceramic Gallery

Looking for a unique Orcas Island souvenir? Make a trip to Forest Ceramics Gallery in downtown Eastsound to check out unique pottery made by Orcas Island-based artists.  

12) Tidepool Coffee Shop and Salish Sea Yarn Shop

Wander the adorable streets of Eastsound on Orcas Island and pop into the adorable Tidepool Coffee Shop and it’s connected Salish Sea Yarn Co. This is the perfect place to pick up some San Juan Islands wool for your next knitting project and a delicious coffee to warm you while you wander. 

13) Go Whale Watching

Did you know the San Juan Islands are one of the best whale watching destinations in the world?

The only guaranteed way to see whales in the San Juan Islands is to book a whale watching tour, where the boat captains and naturalists will communicate with other whale watching charters about the location of whales and can get there quickly. 

Book your Orcas Island whale watching tour with Outer Island X. 

14) Visit Deer Harbor

For coastal small town vibes, head to Deer Harbor on the southwest side of Orcas Island. Walk the docks and grab an ice cream, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful Salish Sea. Deer Harbor is one of the best small towns on Orcas Island, second only to Eastsound.

15) Canoe Cascade Lake

One of the best freshwater adventures you can have on Orcas Island is canoeing Cascade Lake in Moran State Park! Rent a canoe and head out for a relaxing day on the water. Canoeing Cascade Lake is one of the best things to do on Orcas Island for families. 

16) Sea Kayak with Shearwater Kayaks

The single best thing to do on Orcas Island is to sea kayak on the Salish Sea! Book with Shearwater Kayaks to sea kayak with sea stars, harbor porpoises, or book a night tour to kayak with bioluminescence. 

If you only do one thing on Orcas Island, you’ll want to sea kayak!

17) Take a Ride With Orcas Bikes

If you’re looking for a way to get around the island while also having a blast, skip the ferry lines and explore with an electric bike or moped! Orcas Bikes offers rentals, deliveries and guided tours all over the island. They set you out on your adventure with a local curated map and guide to make sure you see the best of Orcas.

Photos courtesy of Orcas Bikes!

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!

Love reading about the best things to do on Orcas Island? Check out these other incredible PNW destinations:

• check out the 30 Best Things to do in the San Juan Islands
• Looking for a Salish Sea kayak adventure? Check out these kayak camping tips for beginners!
• Plan a budget-friendly weekend trip to Olympic National Park

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