Facility Activities

Visiting San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is an adventure! Here are some of the recreational opportunities available at the Refuge.

Wildlife Viewing

The San Juans offer unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife. The key element to successful spotting is patience. Options to watch wildlife from land exist on trails of Matia and Turn Islands. Otherwise, visitors may observe wildlife on all other refuge islands by boat, maintaining a 200 yard buffer from the shoreline. Species to watch for include gulls, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, tufted puffins, brants, black oystercatchers, rhinoceros auklets, bald eagles, and harbor seals.

Wildlife Watching Tips

Hiking

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness. - John Muir

Trails on Matia Island and Turn Island weave through lush forests, allowing occasional glimpses of the sparkling sea. Visitors who venture to these islands will be treated to a serene island experience unlike any other. Due to the sensitive nature of these Refuge Islands, pets are not allowed. Please stay on trail to reduce human disturbance. 

Boating

From car ferries to kayaks, there are many ways visitors may view the Refuge islands from the water.

Whether you are watching for marine mammals, photographing wildlife, searching for seabirds, or simply enjoying a peaceful paddle, a boat trip through the San Juans is an amazing way to view the Refuge and its inhabitants.

Visiting the islands by boat is well worth the advanced planning involved. The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau maintains information about boat rentals, moorage, and charters. The Washington State Ferries section of the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway carries passengers past Refuge islands while they sit back and scan for everything from orcas to cormorants. For human-powered boat adventurers, the Cascadia Marine Trail passes by Refuge islands, offering unsurpassed views of Pacific Northwest scenery and wildlife while providing access to pullouts, campsites, and other public amenities along the way.

Wildlife Comes First!
It is the responsibility of boaters to maintain a 200 yard buffer zone from all Refuge islands except for portions of Turn and Matia Islands. Small watercraft, such as kayaks, can be especially disturbing to wildlife because of their ability to come close to shore and access shallow areas. Many birds nest on the shorelines and will flush when approached too closely, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable to predators such and gulls or crows. If this happens repeatedly the nests may be abandoned forever. Part of what makes this Refuge special is the diversity and abundance of wildlife. Please help do your part to preserve the wild nature of this place by maintaining the appropriate distance.

Camping

Campground facilities managed by Washington State Parks are available on both Matia Island and Turn Island.

Special Use Permits

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife laws and treaties at a number of offices throughout the country. Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law. Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife. Additionally, some permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research, generating data, or allowing wildlife management and rehabilitation activities to go forward. Contact the Refuge Office at (360) 457-8451 for more information.

Be a good steward, practice these Leave No Trace principles.

Timing and patience are two of the most important factors to a successful wildlife watching trip. Plan your trip according to the season, tidal phase, and time of day. Noise travels easily across water so keep voices down to avoid scaring wildlife away. Use binoculars and spotting scopes to...

The Salish Sea is a productive environment for wildlife, especially birds. Located along the Pacific Flyway, more than 200 species of birds frequent the Islands and surrounding waters. As such, many birders consider the San Juan Islands to be one of the best birdwatching areas in the state. With...

Photography

 

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.  - Ansel Adams

Perhaps the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife...

Trails on Matia and Turn Islands weave through lush forests, allowing occasional glimpses of the sparkling sea. Visitors who venture to these islands will be treated to a serene island experience unlike any other.

Campground facilities managed by Washington State Parks are available on both Matia Island and Turn Island.

Fishing on Turn Island

 

Shoreline fishing is now allowed from the public use area of Turn Island. Turn Island is the only island within San Juan Islands NWR open for fishing and is accessible only by boat. To reduce impacts to wildlife from disturbance, please stay within the areas...