Orcas Island

Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands in San Juan County, Washington. Orcas Island is the third stop of four on the Washington State Ferries. The ferry ride starts in Anacortes, Washington, and takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Orcas Island is slightly larger but less populous than San Juan Island. Orcas Island is 56.9 square miles and has a population of about 4,500. Orcas Island is shaped like a pair of saddlebags; the island is almost bisected by fjord-like East Sound, at the northern end of which is located the village of Eastsound, the second largest town in San Juan County. There is an airstrip just outside of Eastsound with daily commercial flights.

Eastsound has a number of stores, inns, and restaurants in addition to souvenir shops, gas stations, a museum and other businesses. In 1989 the Lummi Nation regained a village and burial site on Orcas Island's Madrona Point near Eastsound, and operate it as Madrona Point Park, a public preserve that has a few miles of hiking trails and hundreds of twisting madrona trees sprouting from the rocky shoreline.

There are other, smaller settlements at Orcas (where the ferry lands), West Sound, Deer Harbor, Rosario, Olga and Doe Bay, and there are places to stay in the each of these areas. Olga, Obstruction Pass and Doe Bay area are on the southeast side of Orcas Island, which is known as being the less populated and quieter side of the island. At Olga, there is a popular cafe and art gallery, where local artists sell their work (the building is a former strawberry barreling plant). There are also studios for pottery and glass art.

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View eastwards from Mount Constitution over the Rosario Strait with Mount Baker visible

Half mile (800 m) high Mount Constitution is a prime attraction. The easy drive to the top (except in the worst winter weather when park rangers close the road) provides a 360-degree marine view said to be one of the finest anywhere in the world. The mountain is part of Moran State Park, the most popular attraction in the San Juan Islands and the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands. Moran State Park encompasses over 5,000 acres (20 km²) of woodland, the park has several lakes, great for swimming, fishing and non motorized boating, especialy kayaking, there are numerous waterfalls, including miles of walking, hiking, biking trails, and a campground.

Moran State Park rangers manage Obstruction Pass State Park, a marine park three miles past Moran State Park that is used for hike-in or boat-in camping. The Obstruction Pass Park has a half mile trail leading to a public beach and campground area. There are 11 campsites and 3 mooring bouys at the park. The only public boat launch on Orcas Island, with a small loading/off-loading public dock and seasonal compost toilet, is located a mile past the trailhead road on Obstruction Pass Road. Lieber Haven Resort and Marina is next to the boat launch and has a boat landing dock where mainland and interisland small passenger ferries, water taxis, and boat charters make daily scheduled stops, they also has a guest dock with short term boat moorage and a sandy beach area designated for passing kayakers to land, enabling private boaters to get supplies and visit the island. There is a small visitor information center on the dock and next to the nearby grocery store, which includes a public phone and provides on-island car rentals.

Orcas Island is also home to three historic camps: Camp Orkila, Four Winds Westward Ho and Camp Indralaya. Camp Orkila is located on the island's northwest shoulder and has been in operation since 1906. It is operated by the Greater Seattle Area's YMCA. It caters to families, schools, and other organizations during the school year. During the summer it operates an overnight camp for boys and girls entering grades 3-12. Four Winds is a non-profit summer camp founded in 1927. Activities include sailing, canoeing, horseback riding, arts and crafts and landsports, and caters to 7-18 year olds. It is situated in the south-west corner of Orcas Island in Four Winds Bay. Camp Indralaya was founded, also in 1927, by the Theosophical Society as an experiment in theosophical living. Today it operates year-round with a program season from April to October. It is primarily oriented towards adults but families are welcome as well. It has cabins, a kitchen, showers and bathrooms, a dining room and lounge, hiking trails, a small bookstore and a large metaphysical library.

Orcas Island is also home to The Funhouse, a not-for-profit community center that fosters fun and learning with dozens of hands-on kid-friendly science exhibits, complete audio and video production studios, a huge library of educational films and documentaries, a pitching cage with speed gun, an art studio, a climbing wall and a half dozen DSL computers to surf the Net or check your e-mail. It's a great place for the kids.

References

• Rosario Resort and Spa
• Four Winds Westward Ho Summer Camp
• Camp Indralaya
• Lieber Haven Resort and Marina
• The Funhouse Science Museum for Kids

External links

• Washington State Ferries Anacortes / San Juan Schedule
• Orcas Island Washington Orcas Island Visitor Information