Blind Island Marine State Park, a Washington State Park located near Anacortes

BLIND ISLAND MARINE STATE PARK

BLIND ISLAND MARINE STATE PARK
Eastsound, Washington 98245

(lat:48.585 lon:-122.9371)

Phone: 360-378-2044

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. 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 of the Area

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.

Passes

A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the Discover Pass web page.

Camping

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.

Boating

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.

Location

Blind Island Marine State Park is located near Anacortes

Nearby Parks

Victim Island State Park

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area

Upright Channel State Park

Turn Island State Park

Skull Island State Park

Spencer Spit State Park

Freeman Island State Park

Olga Marine State Park

Jones Island State Park National Wildlife Refuge

Jones Island Marine State Park

Day Use Area

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.

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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).