Anchorage

Patos Island Marine State Park

Shelter: N, NE, E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage and two mooring buoys at Active Cove, the northernmost San Juan island in Washington, close to the Canadian border.

Mooring buoys
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Active Cove lies on the west side of the island, between Patos and tiny Little Patos Island. The bottom is weed, so check the anchor is well set before swinging room runs out. The cove gives shelter from north through south-east, but stays open to the south-west. State Parks advises against staying when the forecast shows winds above 12 knots.

Practical

Two State Parks mooring buoys, first come first served, with a fee charged year round. Phone registration is available at the buoys. No fuel, water or shop on the island. The nearest provisioning is at Brandt's Landing Marina, 5 miles to the south-east on Orcas Island.

Ashore

A 1.5 mile loop trail runs from Active Cove to Alden Point and back. Patos Island Lighthouse stands at Alden Point, a 38 foot tower built in 1908 and now part of the San Juan Islands National Monument. Seven primitive walk-in campsites sit above the cove.

History

Captain James Alden surveyed these waters for the US Coast Survey between 1857 and 1860 and named Active Cove after his vessel, the USCS Active. The light station came into service in 1893 and was automated in 1974.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 48.78532, -122.96694 (48°47.12'N 122°58.02'W)
Country: United States
Shelter: Sheltered from north, north-east, east, south-west, south, south-east winds
Seabed: algae
Anchoring: Allowed
Services: Mooring buoys, Beach
Boaters' rating: 5.0/5
Updated: July 7, 2026