Harbour

James Island Marine State Park

Name: James Island Marine State Park
Address: Lopez Island, US

3.0Lopez Island, United StatesPacific Northwest

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Type: Harbour

Small uninhabited island in the San Juans, in Rosario Strait off the east shore of Decatur Island, run as a marine state park with a 128 ft dock in West Cove and four mooring buoys in East Cove.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from Anacortes across Rosario Strait. The strait runs strong north-south currents, up to 2 knots on springs; cross on slack or steer 45 degrees off the current to hold the line. West Cove is sheltered from easterlies, East Cove from westerlies. Boats longer than 45 ft are not allowed on the buoys.

Practical

Six berths on the 128 ft floating dock plus four mooring buoys in East Cove, all self-register on arrival. Moorage charged year-round from 1 pm to 8 am. No water, no power, no fuel. Pit toilets and 13 primitive campsites ashore. Nearest fuel and services at Skyline Marine Center, Anacortes, 3.9 NM east.

Ashore

Loop trail across the 113-acre island links the two coves and a viewpoint over Rosario Strait. The campground has 13 first-come sites for tent or cockpit overflow. The island shoreline runs 12,335 ft and is open to landing only at the two coves.