2Cattle Point LIghthouse
3Mount Finlayson Trail
Trailhead Location From the ferry dock on San Juan Island, follow Spring
Street and turn left on Argyle Road. This will become Cattle Point
Road and take you to the very southeastern tip of the island. Pass by
American Camp. As Cattle Point road makes an abrupt left hand turn,
park in the DNR picnic and interpretive site.
Trail Advice Don’t forget your Discover Pass. This area is managed by
the State Department of Natural Resources.
Trailhead Location From the ferry dock on San Juan Island, follow Spring
Street for a half-mile through town. Turn left onto Mullis Road, which
turns into Cattle Point Road. Continue for five miles to American
Camp in the San Juan Island National Historical Park. Continue on
Cattle Point Road for 1.7 more miles to the trailhead, on the left and
signed “Jakle’s Lagoon”.
Trail Advice At the 1.3 mile mark take the trail that leads left. Continue
for a tenth of a mile where you’ll reach a small summit that allows for
spectacular views of Cattle Point.
At San Juan Island’s southernmost
tip, Cattle Point Lighthouse offers sweeping views of the
Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This iconic
structure was completed in 1935, but a navigational beacon
has stood on the glacier-scraped rock since 1888.
It’s named after the cattle that roamed the point’s rocky
grassland in 1853. They were brought by when the Hudson’s
Bay Company which established a ranch on the south end of
the island to feed its employees. The trail winds through wind
swept grassy dunes and
culminates at the lighthouse.
Look for blacktailed deer,
Difficulty JJ
eagles, seals, and sea lions.
Views JJJJJ
Open from dawn to dusk,
Peak Season July through Sept.
trail maps are available at
Distance ½ mile
the San Juan Island NationTime 15 to 30 minutes
al Historical Park visitor
center.
Cattle Point Lighthouse trail is an easy half-mile hike that is
kid friendly and offers an incredible views of Haro Strait
30
explore:NW | The Official Magazine of kenmore air | Spring 2016
As a sequel to your Cattle Point
Lighthouse jaunt, the 3½-mile Mount Finlayson trail
offers an overlooking view of the lighthouse and its sweeping
grasslands. The 285-foot elevation gain begins gently with a
forest of wind-defying twisted firs on your left. On your right,
the majestic Olympic Mountain Range takes center stage.
It was here an American shot and killed a Hudson’s Bay pig,
which was rooting in his garden. This event triggered the infamous Pig War between the British and United States that never
did take place.
Keep an eye out while
you hike. This is one of the
Difficulty JJJ
island’s best bird watching
Views JJJJ
locations. Frequent visitors
Peak Season May through Sept.
include eagles, plovers,
Distance 3½ miles
sandpipers, and hawks. The
Time 2 hours
trail is open from dawn to
dusk.