Stuart Island: All Content
Park overview:
Stuart Island State Park is an 85-acre marine camping park with 33,030 feet of shoreline. The park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and offers camping and moorage at Reed and Prevost harbors. Some campsites are for the exclusive use of those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft.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.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. No generators in use from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The park is open year round for camping, day use and moorage. Potable water is available May through September.
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 18 primitive campsites. Most sites are located on Prevost Harbor or on the ridge that separates Prevost and Reid harbors.Campsites 15-18 at the head of Reid Harbor are designated Cascadia Marine Trail sites and are for the exclusive use of those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. There are an additional 14 campsites available to all boaters.
There is no garbage service on the island. Visitors must pack out what they pack in. Potable water is available May through September.
Composting toilets are near the dock at Reid Harbor and to the right of the Prevost Harbor dock. Pit toilets are available at the head of Reid Harbor.
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.
Driving Directions
Located in San Juan County.N 48.40' 32" W 123.11' 56"
The park is reachable only by boat. The nearest access is four miles southeast at Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island. The entrance to Reid Harbor is partially blocked by two small islands. Boaters should keep these islands to their starboard when entering the harbor.
The entrance to Prevost Harbor is gained by passing around either end of Satellite Island.
Caution: Unless you are arriving by kayak, do not attempt to enter the harbor at the east end. This entrance is full of rocks and reefs. The only safe entrance is at the west end of Satellite Island. Stay in the middle of the channel and harbor until you are adjacent to the park dock. Consult your charts before you arrive. Once inside Prevost Harbor there are plenty of deep water anchorages available if the park buoys and dock are full.
Park Maps
List of all downloadable Washington State Park PDF maps.Park Features
History
The island was named by the Wilkes Expedition in 1841 in honor of Frederick D. Stuart, the captain's clerk on the expedition. The park was acquired in four transactions between 1952 and 1975 by purchases from the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.Interpretive opportunities
There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.Services/Supplies
The nearest fuel and groceries are at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, four miles southeast of Stuart Island.None
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
| • 3.5 mi. Hiking Trails | • Boating (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Clamming • Crabbing | |
A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website. | ||
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.
Find other events at Washington State Parks
Boating Features
Mooring buoys: Reid Harbor has 13 buoys, Prevost Harbor has 7.Docks: Reid Harbor has a 96-foot dock (192 feet total), Prevost Harbor has a 128-foot dock (256 feet total)
Moorage fees are charged year round. Boaters must also pay for boats rafted to another boat.
A marine pumpout station is located in Reid Harbor.
Moorage fees are charged 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. year round. All boaters must register and pay upon arrival.
Additionally, there's plenty of good anchorages the entire length of the harbor. Please respect the private buoys, docks and property surrounding the park.
Caution: Unless arriving by kayak, boaters should not attempt to enter the harbor at the east end. This entrance is full of rocks and reefs. The only safe entrance is at the west end of Satellite Island. Stay in the middle of the channel and harbor until you are adjacent to the park dock. Consult your charts before you arrive. Once inside Prevost Harbor there are plenty of deep water anchorages available if the park buoys and dock are full.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
There is no garbage service on the island. Visitors must pack out what they pack in. Potable water is available May through September.Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
| • Deer or Elk • Minks • Sheep | • Whales |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | Plant Life | ||
Park photo gallery
