🌤 Weather at Stuart Island Marine State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38–64 °F | 48–73 °F | 40–68 °F | 36–48 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Friday Harbor Airport, 14 mi away, elevation 109 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🏆 Turn Point Lighthouse — Remote 153-acre island with one of the most dramatic lighthouses in the Pacific Northwest — Turn Point Light marks the westernmost point of the San Juan Islands
Stuart Island Marine State Park is a remote 153-acre park on Stuart Island — the westernmost island in the San Juan archipelago. The island’s Turn Point Lighthouse (built 1893) marks where Haro Strait turns sharply — a dangerous navigational hazard that has caused numerous shipwrecks. Stuart Island has no ferry service — it’s accessible only by private boat or seaplane. The island supports a tiny year-round community of about 45 people who live entirely off-grid. Stuart Island offers what many consider the finest kayaking and hiking in the San Juans.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | San Juan Islands, WA (westernmost!) |
| Entry Fee | Discover Pass required |
| Size | 153 acres! |
| Lighthouse | Turn Point — 1893, shipwreck point! |
| Community | 45 people — OFF-GRID! |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Stuart Island?
Stuart Island has no ferry service — access is by private boat, kayak, or seaplane only. Most visitors kayak from San Juan Island (about 3–5 hours depending on conditions) or motor over from Roche Harbor. The park has dock space for boats and primitive campsites.
About Stuart Island
Stuart Island Marine State Park is one of the most remote and rewarding of Washington’s San Juan Islands parks. The island features the Turn Point Lighthouse — perched on dramatic cliffs at the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States. Orca whales pass so close to Turn Point that you can hear them breathe. The island has no roads and is accessible only by boat or floatplane.
Things to Do
Hiking to Turn Point Lighthouse (3 miles from Prevost Harbor — the most dramatic lighthouse hike in Washington), boat-in camping, kayaking, whale watching from shore, and exploring the one-room schoolhouse that still operates for the island’s handful of resident children.
Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Posey Island SMP (a short drive away) or Posey Island Marine State Park (a short drive away).
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for Washington state parks online at washington.goingtocamp.com.
🗼 Visit Stuart Island Marine SP
Westernmost San Juan — Turn Point Light, 45-person off-grid island!
Wildlife & Nature
Stuart Island Marine State Park — a 85-acre park on the northwestern San Juan Island, accessible only by boat — features the Turn Point Lighthouse with views of Boundary Pass (the US-Canada maritime border) and the Canadian Gulf Islands. The lighthouse marks the turning point where ships change course entering/leaving the Strait of Georgia. Orca whales — both Southern Resident and Bigg’s transient pods — pass through Boundary Pass regularly. Harbor seals and Steller sea lions haul out on rocks. Bald eagles nest in the old-growth.
Nearby Attractions
Roche Harbor (San Juan Island) — 5 miles southeast by boat — has resort and marina. Posey Island Marine State Park — 3 miles southeast. Patos Island — 5 miles northeast — has the Alden Point Lighthouse. Friday Harbor (San Juan Island) — 10 miles south.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Stuart Island Marine State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 8 ft maximum leash required; pets must be under physical control
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted on designated swim beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are not allowed inside vacation houses but are permitted in designated pet-friendly cabins and yurts (e.g. Grayland Beach, Seaquest, Ike Kinswa — Cape Disappointment does NOT allow pets in its yurts), typically up to two pets, with a pet fee
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $15 per night pet fee in pet-friendly cabins/yurts
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Director-designated off-leash areas are exempt from the leash rule and are conspicuously posted
Are dogs allowed at Stuart Island Marine State Park?
Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.wa.gov. More: Washington state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
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