san juan islands san juan islands/james island …...san juan islands location: the island is about...
TRANSCRIPT
All information copyright Washington Water Trails Association, © 2014
Cascadia Marine Trail
www.wwta.org
LegendQ Caretaker's House Trail Marker % Campsite: Paddle/Sail In B Flush Toilet ¼ Waterless Toilet D Flush Toilet & Shower m Pay Station ! Campsite: Other > Picnic Area : Ranger Station
Page 134 Page 135
! Day Use P Kitsap Day Use# Campsite H Multi-Modal_ Kitsap Campsite
San Juan Islands
Location: The island is about .5 mi E of Decatur Island and 4 nautical mi E of Spencer Spit.
Coordinates:N 48° 30.609' W 122° 46.615'
Charts:NOAA chart 18429SeaTrails chart WA 001 & WA002
James Island Marine State Park This island, shaped like a dog bone, is a great place to observe the San Juans' prolific wildlife. The high rock bluffs provide excellent bird and whale watching. The western cove, facing Decatur Island, has a dock and is more popular than the eastern side.
Natural History: James Island was named by the Wilkes Expedition in 1841. Who the members of the expedition were hoping to commemorate, however, is a little hazy: there are two possible options for the origin of the island’s name. James Decatur accompanied brother Capt. Stephen Decatur into Tripoli to burn the captured American ship the Philadelphia. James was killed in the battle. Another candidate for the honor is Rueben James, also associated with Stephen Decatur. Rueben James is sometimes credited for saving Stephen Decatur, his commander, during the Tripoli raid.
!
!
#
!
#
#
#
BlakelyIsland
Hankin PT
Decatur Island
Lope
zSou
ndHumphrey
Head
Rosa
rio S
trait
Cypress Island
AnacortesR
osar
ioSt
rait
Thatcher Pass
Lopez Island Guemes Island
Burrows Is
BurrowsBay
WashingtonPark
Hunter BayBoat Ramp
James Island SP
#
^
#
#^
#
#
#
#
#
#
^
#
^
#
#
#
^
#
#
^
##
#
##
#
#
^
^
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Anacortes
Regional Locator Map
San Juan Islands/James Island State Park
Number of Sites: Overflow Camping:3 Between main W beach and E beach
Water: Sanitation Facilities:No Pit toilet
Extras: Ownership:Picnic tables, hiking trails Washington State Parks and Recreation
Fees: Fire Restrictions:$12/night for up to 8 in site Fireplaces available
Known Hazards: Special Considerations:Crossing Rosario Strait (3.2 mi minimum distance) exposes paddlers to potential 3 to 4 knot currents, turbulence, and breaking waves. Strong tidal currents in Thatcher Pass as well as heavy boat and ferry traffic.
Much of James Island has been designated a Natural Forest Area and is closed to public access, except for designated recreational areas and trails. Loop trails around the central and southwest portions of the island offer 1.5 miles of hiking trails.
James Island Marine State Park
Day Use/Trailheads: nmsWashington Park .......................... 2.4Guemes Islan ................................ 6.2Morans Beach .............................. 3.4
Adjacent Campsites: nmsSpencer Spit SP ............................. 4.4Burrows Is ..................................... 4.9Obstruction Pass .......................... 6.8
Beach Approach:Head for the wooden stairs on the S of the W cove
Reservations: No
Please Note: These maps are not intended for navigational purposes.
Stairs mark the landing
W W W . W W T A . O R G
¼
%
$
¼%
$!
% ¼
%
¼
%¼
%
¼
¼
%
:
D
%
$
%B
>
!
Q
%¼
$%
¼
Q
%
B
:
$D
>
%
$
¼
B
:
%%
D
Q
!>
%$
¼
:
B
>
%B
¼
>
%
%$
B
%¼
%%
¼%
%
%¼
%%¼
%
D
%
D
%D $
B
%
%
B
B
:
%¼
:
%%$
!
$
¼
B
%
¼
%
¼
%
%%
$¼
$
%:
¼
Q
D
¼
$Q
%
$
D
>>
%
¼
:
¼
!
%
$
$
$
!
%
B
:
%
$¼
$
%
$
B
:
%
%
$
¼
%
$
B
Q
!
%B
%
$
¼
%
$
B
B
%
$¼
Q
%
¼
%
¼
>
%Q
¼
%
¼ D$
:
%
¼
Q
f
%
¼
%%
¼
%%
¼
Q
%
$¼
¼% >
%
Q
B
!
$
>
¼
$
B>
%
%
D
%
B
$
$%
!B
>
%
¼
!
>
%
%
!
¼
$!
!
!!!
!
!$
%
$ú
%%
>B
%>
¼
B
¼
>
¼
¼
!
!
!
!!
¼
>
%
%
>!>
D$B
%
%
!
>
D$
¼
%
¼$
!!!!
!
!
!
!
!D
[
%
!¼
¼
$!!!
>
>
!
B!
!
!¼
!
¼
!
!
%>
>
$
%
!
$
¼
¼
James IslandState Park