Park overview:
Blind Island is a small, three-acre marine camping park located near the entrance of Blind Bay, Shaw Island. This natural area includes 1,280 feet of saltwater and rocky shoreline, with year-round moorage available. This park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. All of the onshore campsites are for the exclusive use of boaters arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft.
Campsite Information:
This first-come, first-served camping park has four primitive campsites. All sites are part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and use of the sites is restricted to those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. Visitors arriving by vessels with motors are not allowed to camp at this park, but may use the island for day use.
There is one composting toilet.
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).
2010 FeesStandard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
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 hoursCheck-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 during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 p.m., no generators in use from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The park is open year round for camping, day use and boat moorage.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| None |
| None |
|
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Blind Island is located west of the Shaw Island ferry dock and one mile south of the Orcas Island ferry dock in San Juan County.
Marine access, reachable only by boat. Located west of the Shaw Island ferry dock and one mile south of the Orcas Island ferry dock in San Juan County.
Kayakers should note that there are no kayak launch sites at or near the ferry docks for Orcas and Shaw islands.
Boaters should approach the park from the northeast (Shaw Island ferry terminal) to access the four mooring buoys located on the south side of Blind Bay. Note the reef marker 200 yards east of Blind Island.
Do not approach from the northwest as there is an extensive reef in that area. State park buoys are marked, and all other buoys in Blind Bay are private. Best access to the island is at a small pocket cove at the southwest side of Blind Island (look for the State Parks logo sign onshore).
Park Maps
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
The park's onshore camping is a perfect resting spot for kayakers and boaters in human- or wind-powered watercraft.
Be sure to set your crab traps in Blind Bay, an area closed to commercial crabbing. Results can be spectacular. Be aware of shellfish regulations and have your shellfish permits and catch record displayed on your person while harvesting shellfish.
History
In the early part of the century, a "squatter" set up housekeeping to the point of building a small house and storage sheds. His lifestyle was mostly that of a hermit, living off his work as a fisherman and tilling a small garden spot, evidence of which stil remains today. This man dug several holes into the rock, evidently to be used as cisterns. There is a small spring, around which he built a concrete retainer that still is in place. The water is unsafe to drink. All buildings were removed in 1972 due to their unsafe conditions.
Interpretive opportunities
There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.
Services/Supplies
None
Activities
Boating Features
There are four moorage buoys available year round.
Moorage fees are charged year round for mooring at docks, floats and buoys from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
Visitors arriving by vessels with motors are not allowed to camp at this park, but may use the island for day use. No potable water is available on the island.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
| | |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
| | • Apple
|
|
Park photo gallery