Smaller jewels in the crown of the San Juan Islands, uninhabited islands fall into two broad categories: those for people and wildlife and those just for wildlife.

There is a wonderful system of Washington State Marine Parks on the smaller outlying islands. Most have floats, docks and mooring buoys. Tremendously popular in the summer, it is possible to have theses coves and harbors nearly to oneself in the spring and fall.

Many of the more isolated rocks and islets are included in The San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Gulls, cormorants, oystercatches and pigeon guillemots all have nesting colonies. Since humans can drive the parents from the nests, exposing chicks to predation from other birds, it is important to leave these islands for the birds. It is crucial to their existence.

Deadman Island
DEADMAN & GOOSE ISLANDS. Off the southwest shore of Lopez Island and southeast shore of San Juan Island. Owned by the Nature Conservancy. Part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Not generally open to public use. Access is treacherous.

Sentinel Island
15 acre Sentinel Island is located just off the southwest shore of Spieden Island, north of San Juan Island. It was homesteaded by Farrar and June Burn in 1940, (the last island in the San Juans to be homesteaded), and is a primary subject in June Burns wonderful autobiography, Living High. Sentinel is now owned by the Nature Conservancy and public access is not generally allowed.

Skipjack Island
SKIPJACK AND BARE ISLANDS North of Waldron Island. Part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Closed to public use.

Yellow Island
Yellow Island, due west of Shaw Island is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Its precious 11 acres have more than 150 varieties of wildflowers-nearly every natural species to be found in the San Juans, including cactus. From March through June the island is particularly full of natural colors. You can visit Yellow Island so long as you go ashore where the caretakers cabin is, stay on designated trails and follow other restrictions. More can be learned about this island and its prior inhabitants.

 

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