Best anchorages and harbours in Pacific Northwest

Shilshole Bay Marina

Large saltwater marina in the Ballard district of Seattle, on the eastern shore of Puget Sound, operated by the Port of Seattle.

Coupeville Wharf

Anchorage and public wharf in Penn Cove off the town of Coupeville, on Whidbey Island, Washington. Mud bottom, sheltered from south-west through south to south-east.

• Sheltered SW, S, SE

Matia Island

Anchorage in East Sound, the long inlet that cuts into Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, SW, S

Matia Island State Park

Marine state park anchorage in the San Juan Islands, Washington, off Rolfe Cove on the northwest side of Matia Island.

• Sheltered NE, E, SW, S, SE

Patos Island

Patos Island is the north-westernmost point of the contiguous United States, a marine state park in the San Juan Islands of Washington reached only by boat.

• Sheltered NW, N, W, SW, S, SE

Port Townsend

Anchorage off the waterfront of Port Townsend, on the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, at the entrance to Admiralty Inlet.

• Sheltered NW, N, W, SW

Pleasant Harbor Marina Resort

Full-service marina in a cove on the western shore of Hood Canal at Brinnon, backed by the Olympic National Forest.

Oak Harbor Marina

Marina on the north side of Whidbey Island, Washington, opening onto Saratoga Passage, with 420 berths for boats from 20 to 60 feet.

Andrew’s Bay

Cove on the west side of Seward Park on Lake Washington, Seattle, and the busiest anchorage on the lake.

• Sheltered W, E, SW, S, SE

Fort Flagert State Park Dock

Seasonal moorage dock at Fort Flagler Historical State Park, on the north tip of Marrowstone Island at the entrance to Admiralty Inlet, 1.9 NM south-east of Port Townsend.

Islandale Anchorage

Anchorage in Rosario Strait among the San Juan Islands of Washington, between Lopez Island and James Island.

• Sheltered NW, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE

James Island Marine State Park

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.

San Juan Island

Anchorage off San Juan Island, in the San Juan archipelago of Washington State. Sand and weed bottom, sheltered from east through south-west.

• Sheltered W, E, SW, S, SE

Marina at Brown's Point

Marina of 140 berths on the north shore of Commencement Bay in Tacoma, with an established liveaboard community.

Anacortes Yacht Club

Members' yacht club on the north shore of Fidalgo Bay at 611 Rotary Park Lane, with a small reciprocal moorage dock for visiting club members.

Anchor Cove Marina

Private condominium marina on Guemes Channel at 1600 5th Street, west of downtown Anacortes, with 167 berths and views over the channel to Mount Baker.

Bainbridge Island Marina

Private marina and yacht club on the south shore of Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, across the harbour from the Seattle ferry terminal at Winslow.

Ballard Marina

Private freshwater marina on Salmon Bay in Seattle's Ballard district, about one mile east of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.

Ballard Mill Marina

Family-run freshwater marina on Salmon Bay, next to the Ballard Bridge and opposite Fishermen's Terminal, less than half a mile from the Ballard Locks.

Bell Harbor Marina

Downtown Seattle marina at Pier 66 on Elliott Bay, with year-round guest moorage steps from Pike Place Market.

Blake Island

Forested island of 476 acres in Puget Sound, about 8 nm west of downtown Seattle, run as a marine state park with no road or ferry access.

Blakely Island Marina

Small private-island marina at the north tip of Blakely Island, off Rosario Strait in the San Juan Islands.

Boat Street Marina

90-berth private marina on the north shore of Portage Bay, Seattle, midway between Montlake Bridge and University Bridge.

Boatworld Marina

Freshwater marina on the western shore of Lake Union, Seattle, at 2450 Westlake Avenue North.

Boston Harbor Marina

Small marina at the north end of Budd Inlet, around 7 nautical miles north of Olympia, with a public fuel berth and a 24 hour launch ramp.

Brandt's Landing Marina LLC

Private 75-berth marina on the north shore of Orcas Island, dug out as an inland basin in the 1960s and run by the Brandt family since the early 1970s.

Breakwater Marina Inc

Full-service marina on Commencement Bay in Tacoma, just east of Point Defiance Park and the Vashon ferry terminal, next to Tacoma Yacht Club.

Bridgeview Marina

Privately run marina on the west bank of the Port Washington Narrows in Bremerton, between Sinclair Inlet and Dyes Inlet. Also known as Port Orchard Railway Marina.

Canal Marina

Small marina on the Lake Washington Ship Canal at 360 W Ewing Street, just west of the Fremont Bridge in Seattle.

Carefree Boat Club Kenmore

Members-only boat club base at North Lake Marina, giving access to shared powerboats on the north end of Lake Washington.