San Juan Island ’ s rich with great scenery , both ashore and at sea . By MIKAELA COWLES
5 DAY HIKES WORTH YOUR BOOT LEATHER
San Juan Island ’ s rich with great scenery , both ashore and at sea . By MIKAELA COWLES
WHERE THE
BORDERS ARE
OCEANS and the dress code is casual — think ing views of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains , old growth forests , and the Strait of Juan de Fuca ’ s expansive waterway .
The habitats are untouched and home to a wide variety of wildlife . Bird watching here is a favorite . You might witness eagles mating , swallows feeding their young or an osprey perched on its nest . The star attraction is the killer whale . And while there are many options for whale watching tours , there ’ s at least one land-based hike that rivals many on-the-water experiences . So depending on what you want from your day hike experience — stunning views , unspoiled nature or up close wildlife — San Juan Island likely offers it . This is largely thanks to the death of a pig .
The large stretches of undeveloped coastline on San Juan Island can be fleece , jeans and Birkenstocks — rests a constantly changing archipelago . Depending on the tide , as many as 743 islands and reefs dot the water throughout the San Juan Islands . The ebb and flow of the landscape adds to the mystic of this sunny destination .
Located in the Olympic Mountain Rain Shadow , the San Juans are graced with an average 250 days of sunshine . Hiking here is glorious , especially on San Juan Island . The terrain varies from lush forest and rolling prairie to rocky beaches and steep cliffs . The island ’ s coastline and peaks feature breathtakattributed to an 1859 pig slaying . It nearly resulted in an American-British war . In response to the dispute , both the Americans and the English established encampments on the island ’ s prime lookouts . Today , the two locales are known as American Camp and English Camp . Each is home to historic remnants , such as garrisons and graveyards , of their former inhabitants . In 2013 , the United States recognized the expansive stretch of both camps ( and several other locations throughout the San Juan Islands ) as a national monument , thus further preserving the coastline for future generations . Encompassing a total of 955 acres , the monument spans as far north as Patos Island and is known as the San Juan Islands National Monument . It is here that many of the island ’ s best hikes are found .
28 explore : NW | The Official Magazine of kenmore air | Spring 2016