I love taking a cruise for a few days at this time of the year. The weather is not bad and both marinas and anchorages are quiet and not crowded. Because it can get a little cool overnight I tend to do a bit more marina stays and have typically stayed on the Canadian side (Port Browning, Thetis Island, Ganges etc.). I always enjoy Friday Harbor but if I head over there where else should I visit? Typically I anchor out round Orcas, Lopez, Shaw or wherever. In the summer the marinas have a bit of life but are they the best places in the Fall? Should I head for Bellingham or somewhere new? I am thinking about a 5 - 6 day trip with FH as the first night. Any locals want to give me free advice please?
A good time for the San Juans?
- Thread starter chimoii
- Start date
PaulNBriannaLynn
New member
It would be a really good time to visit the San Juans. There will still be plenty of fisherman out there, but most of the pleasure cruisers will be gone.
I'd check out deer harbor and Jones Island, if you have a chance. Its late enough you might be able to get a spot on the dock at Jones Island.
If you go far enough south and want to venture into the Puget Sound, a personal favorite of ours is to come down the swinnomish channel from anacortes and spend a night in La Conner. The waterfront in La Conner is free to tie up to their docks at the moment if you can find an open spot. Likely this time of year. If not they have a big marina with lots of guest space. We like to tie off to the LaConner pub and have a nice meal, and stay the night. theres a public restroom directly across the street from the dock.
Have fun!
I'd check out deer harbor and Jones Island, if you have a chance. Its late enough you might be able to get a spot on the dock at Jones Island.
If you go far enough south and want to venture into the Puget Sound, a personal favorite of ours is to come down the swinnomish channel from anacortes and spend a night in La Conner. The waterfront in La Conner is free to tie up to their docks at the moment if you can find an open spot. Likely this time of year. If not they have a big marina with lots of guest space. We like to tie off to the LaConner pub and have a nice meal, and stay the night. theres a public restroom directly across the street from the dock.
Have fun!
PaulNBriannaLynn
New member
You might really enjoy going through Deception Pass instead of down the swinnomish channel. It is absolutely beautiful and has alot of current running usually, making it a fun trip. You'll have to watch the tides coming into LaConner from that direction. The entrance is very passable and easy, but at low tide it can be very shallow. We went through at low tide one day past a couple of keeled over and stuck sailboats, but we had to tilt up our motors and go through in about 1 ft or less of water.
I think the State Marine Parks pulls the dock at Jones Island for the winter, but I don't know just when. There are other dock that do stay in though. Stuart Island, Reid Harbor for one, maybe Prevost too. Deer Harbor is a nice stop, with good protection.
This is a beautiful time of year if the weather window is good.
Harvey
SleepyC:moon
This is a beautiful time of year if the weather window is good.
Harvey
SleepyC:moon
We too have gone to Friday Harbor the last 2 weekends in a row and it's really neat this time of year without all the tourists and still warm weather (both weekends it was in the mid to upper 70s and sunny, while the mainland was still cloudy / foggy). Note many of the popular shops / restaurants have closed for the season...but lots of other places are still open.
You mentioned preferring marinas but places like Sucia are great this time of year because they are so busy in the summer and now is the time when the weather is still nice but people are all gone.
Also on your way to/from LaConner you might check out James Island (we were there this weekend and there were only 2 other boats at the dock) and Anacortes / Cap Sante Marina. Personally, I wouldn't bother with Bellingham...most of the nice parts of town are quite a way from the marina, and B-ham bay is usually no fun (but I might be biased against Bellingham because it's my hometown). If you're fine just hanging around the marina you might like it.
I love the San Juans in the off season, it's the best time to go!
You mentioned preferring marinas but places like Sucia are great this time of year because they are so busy in the summer and now is the time when the weather is still nice but people are all gone.
Also on your way to/from LaConner you might check out James Island (we were there this weekend and there were only 2 other boats at the dock) and Anacortes / Cap Sante Marina. Personally, I wouldn't bother with Bellingham...most of the nice parts of town are quite a way from the marina, and B-ham bay is usually no fun (but I might be biased against Bellingham because it's my hometown). If you're fine just hanging around the marina you might like it.
I love the San Juans in the off season, it's the best time to go!
Pat Anderson
New member
There are LOTS of great places in the San Juan this time of year if you do not need a marina. If you have an anchor and a dinghy, your options increase exponentially! Our favorite places include Matia Cove (not on charts, the SE cove on Matia), Shallow Bay on Sucia, Tombolo Cove on Decatur (again not on your chart, it is the little cove on the very south end of Decatur by Lopez Pass), and Watmough Bay. And lots more. If you only stay at marinas, you are missing the BEST of the San Juans!