One of the best things about the San Juan Islands are the number of marine state parks that can be visited by marine craft, self-propelled or driven by an inboard/outboard engine. The island is remote enough to keep the less sea-savvy visitors away, but close enough to tempt those with enough skill and sense of adventure to meet the challenge of crossing a semi-protected stretch of saltwater and camp overnight on this treasured island. On a calm day, it’s an easy hour ride in an inflatable to the dock in the north cove. Here you can see picturesque Turtleback Mountain towering over Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, your point of departure for Jones Island.
Photo courtesy of Washington State Dept. of Ecology