Jones Island: Overview
Park overview:
Jones Island State park is a 188-acre marine camping park with 25,000 feet of saltwater shoreline on the San Juan channel. The park features a beautiful loop trail down the center of the island then around the western shore.Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.
Park hours/updates:
Summer hours: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter hours: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round for camping, day use and moorage.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. No generators in use from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Agency information:
Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.
The Discover Pass now can be used on either of two vehicles!Annual pass: $30
One-day pass: $10
(Transaction and dealer fees may apply)
A Discover Pass is required for motor-vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Exemptions: Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, the Discover Pass is not required if you are camping or renting overnight accommodations, for the duration of your stay at that state park. For additional exemptions and more information, please visit the Discover Pass website.
Campsite Information:
The park has 24 primitive campsites. Two of the sites are part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and strictly reserved for those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft.Drinking water is available May through September.
The park has two pit toilets and four composting toilets.
There is no garbage service to the park. Visitors must pack-out what they pack-in.
Group Accommodations:
The group camping area at the South Orchard area may be reserved by calling (360) 378-2044.2013 camping fees:
Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.
Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Park Features
A herd of black-tail deer live on the island. The deer have become habituated to the presence of humans and are quite tame. Visitors often feed the deer resulting in their becoming dependent on handouts of unnatural foods and potentially dangerous interactions between wild animals and humans. Feeding wildlife is prohibited by law in State parks. Violators may be fined and evicted.
History
Jones Island was named by the Wilkes Expedition in 1841 in honor of Captain Jacob Jones, U.S. Navy. Jones, while master commandant of the sloop-of-war Wasp, captured the British brig Frolic on Oct. 18, 1812. The park was acquired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983.Interpretive opportunities
There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.Services/Supplies
The nearest fuel and grociers are at Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas Island and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.None
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
| • 2 mi. Hiking Trails | • 128 feet of dock (saltwater) | |
Events
The 2013 State Parks free days are as follows:
Jan. 21 – In honor of Martin Luther King Day
March 30 – In honor of Washington State Parks' 100th birthday on March 19
April 27 and 28 – National Parks Week
June 1 – National Trails Day
June 8 and 9 – National Get Outdoors Day and Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing weekend
Aug. 4 – Peak season free day
Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day
Nov. 9 through 11 – Veteran's Day weekend
Please note: A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife during State Parks free days. For more information, please visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
| Events | ||
| Date/time | Event description | State Park |
| June 4 1 - 4 p.m. |
Trail Grand Opening at Jones Island: Celebrate the grand opening of a two-mile loop trail on Jones Island, then be a part of the first party to tread on this San Juan Island trail. Participants will meet at the park’s North Bay Dock at 1 p.m. for a ribbon cutting. |
Jones Island (360) 378-2044 |
Boating Features
The park provides seven mooring buoys and 128 linear feet of dock moorage at the North Cove. The removal of the moorage dock at North Cove begins in October and installation begins at the end of March. All floats will be installed no later than May 1. Mooring buoys remain in place year round.Anchorage is good at both the North and South Coves, but boaters are exposed to continuous boat wakes due to heave boat traffic during summer months.
During periods of high atmospheric pressure, strong northerly winds may develop causing rough water conditions at the North Cove moorage area. During low atmospheric conditions, the South Cove may be subjected to strong southerly wind.
There is a marked reef at the northeast entrance to North Cove and several unmarked, but charted rocks along the southeastern shore. Mariners should consult their charts in these areas.
There are no good anchorage sites on the east or west side of the island.
Moorage fees are charge year round from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. All boaters must register upon arrival. Boats rafted to another boat, on a park facility, must also pay the appropriate fee.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
Drinking water is available May through September.The park has two pit toilets and four composting toilets.
There is no garbage service to the park. Visitors must pack-out what they pack-in
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
| • Deer or Elk |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | Plant Life | ||
