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Blind Island Marine State Park
Tiny Blind Island is full of intrigue. Can you imagine finding a chunk of rock in the middle of a salty strait, staking a claim and planting an orchard there? A cluster of 19th-century sour apple trees and two formerly freshwater wells offer evidence of early farming on Blind Island.
This marine state park is an unassuming mound in the San Juan Islands. In high season, the isle is a popular stop for kayak groups, including youth groups. In off-times, it is the perfect spot for contemplation. The park offers two campsites at the top of the island, among the fruit trees now choked with grasses and brush. Each site has a 360-degree vista of Shaw and Orcas islands and the narrow channel between them. Stunning Mount Baker shows itself on clear days, and big skies full of clouds offer changing views when the mountain is hiding.
So, beach your dinghy or kayak, bust out your camp chair and maybe a maritime tale, and prepare to enjoy this unique state park.
Park features
Accessible only by boat, Blind Island is a 3-acre marine camping park near Blind Bay, Shaw Island. Year-round moorage is available. Because the park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail (PDF), its campsites are only available for boaters arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. There is no potable water on Blind Island; the wells, now dry or stagnant, do not have fresh water. Visitors must pack out what they pack in.
Recreational crabbing in Blind Bay can be excellent. For more information about harvesting crab, obtaining the proper license and catch reporting guidelines, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Picnic & 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.
Activities
Water activities & features
- Boating
additional information
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. Additional information can be found in the Boating Program.
Boat launch
Latitude: 48º 35' 3.84" N (48.5844) Longitude: 122º 56' 18.98" W (-122.9386)
This park offers phone in buoy Registration
How it works:
- When you arrive at a buoy, call the phone number on the mooring ball.
- Provide your buoy number and length of stay (3 nights maximum).
- Pay with a credit or debit card or provide your Annual Boat Moorage permit number.
- There is a $4.50 convenience fee to register by phone.
- All buoys are first come, first served and $15 per night.
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.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.
Fees
For fee information, check out our camping rates page.
Blind Island was homestead in the late 1800s by the John Fox family. Fox's son, John Jr. lived on the island alone until his death around 1960.
Blind Island Marine State Park was established under a lease from the United States Bureau of Land Management in 1970.
Weather forecast
Contact Us
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Blind Island State Park
Eastsound, WA 98245
Phone: (360) 378-2044
Hours
Summer
6:30 a.m. - dusk
Winter
8 a.m. - dusk
The park is openyear round for camping, day useand boat moorage.
Park winter schedule