Park overview:
Posey Island State Park is a small, one-acre marine camping park with 1,000 feet of shoreline. It is located a quarter mile north of Pearl Island, near Roche Harbor, San Juan Island. Posey Island is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. All onshore campsites are for the exclusive use of boaters 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 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The park is open year round for camping and day use.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
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:
Posey Island has two campsites that are part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. Campsites are reservable, May 15 - September 15, with 7 days minimum notice, by calling the park at (360) 378-2044. All campsites are for the exclusive use of boaters arriving by human or wind-powered watercraft. Each campsite can accommodate a maximum of 8 campers. This maximum number of campers is stricly enforced due to the small size of the island. There is no exception to this 16-person limit. Paddlers and sailors must be prepared to seek other campsites if the campsites are at capacity. There is one composting toilet.
Visitors arriving by vessels with motorboats are not permitted to camp at the park, but may use the island for day use.
There is no potable water or garbage service to the island. Visitors must pack out what they pack in.
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, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Conconully, 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
The park is located a quarter-mile north of Pearl Island, near Roche Harbor on San Juan Island in San Juan County.
Posey Island is reachable only by boat. The closest access is at Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island, a half-mile south.
Park Maps
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
History
The island was originally thought to be part of Pearl Island and was called Spit Point. When the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey were mapping the area, they asked local folks what they called it. Since the locals went there to pick flowers, they called it Posey Island, and that name was applied on the maps.
Interpretive opportunities
There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.
Services/Supplies
None
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
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Events
Free days at state parks: Visit Washington state parks for free. The Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park on ten designated free days in 2013.
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.
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Boating Features
Orca whales are often seen in the waters near this island. There are no mooring buoys or docks. This is primarily a kayaking site. The site is heavily used by commercial kayak tours as a rest stop during whale watching tours in nearby waters.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
Visitors arriving by vessels with motorboats are not permitted to camp at the park, but may use the island for day use.
There is no potable water or garbage service to the island. Visitors must pack out what they pack in.
There is one composting toilet.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
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Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
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Park photo gallery