Salish Sea - U.S.A. Islands 2
Part of 2024-2025 Island Trip
USA ISLANDS 1 - USA ISLANDS 2 - CANADA ISLANDS 1 - CANADA ISLANDS 2 - USA ATTRACTIONS 1 - USA ATTRACTIONS 2 - CANADA ATTRACTIONS 2
These islands are known as “the good ones" with actual stuff on them and cool landscapes” as opposed to part 1 which were mainly just waterfront properties for rich people. READ PART 1 HERE
Right: Sneaking a view on this steep hill where you can peak above the many houses that block the view on most of the waterfront.
Camano
Bridge Access
Fun Fact: “The area had a large population of Chinese and Norwegian immigrants who worked at the mill until the former were expelled by anti-Chinese riots in the 1880s”.
Samish
Approx Loop Size Reach: 10km
Bridge Access
Fun Fact: “The eastern end is named A7ts’íqen in Samish and qʷəqʷaliqs in Lushootseed.” This island almost doesn't count but there's a 1 foot wide creek that sort of separates it from the mainland.
While the island itself only has a few residences the coastal area here is gorgeous and you’re getting very close to Mt. Baker which peeks out behind flat farm land and industrial towns.
Fidalgo Island
Approx Loop Size: 80km Bridge Access
Fun Fact: “Seasonal ferry service from Anacortes to Sidney, British Columbia was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic;[6] it was later announced that ferry service to Sidney would not return until 2030 at the earliest.[7]”
Thanks a lot.
Fidalgo hosts Anacortes, where you take the ferry to the 3 big nice Puget Sound Islands: Orcas, Lopez and San Juan. 20$ USD ferry for bikes + 13$ if you park your car…. It ain’t cheap!
The island itself has a lot of rolling hills and huge nature preserves for migratory waterfowl. It’s also one of the few places you can car camp in the Seattle region as they’ve really cracked down on overnighters due to Meth Zombies and ProfessionalDipshits ruining everything for everyone by staying at Wal-Marts and Rest Stops for months and trashing the place.
Guemes Island
Approx Loop Size: 30km Ferry Only
Fun Fact: “Guemes Island was also commonly known locally as Dog Island in the early 20th century, from the large number of Salish Wool Dogs living wild on the island.[9]”
”Guemes Island has a rural character with limited facilities.
Some of the island’s beaches are public but most beaches' access is private. There are also two parks: one in the middle of the island known as Schoolhouse Park,[2] and another, Young's Park,[3] located on North Beach near The Guemes Island Resort.”
Yeah this describes all the smaller islands pretty well haha. Thanks Wikipedia. Due to sparse ferry service you might have time to actually bike every single road of this island in a day.
Whidbey Island
Bridge Access
Fun Fact: “In the waters of Deception Pass, just east of the present-day Deception Pass Bridge, is a small island known as Ben Ure Island. The island became infamous for its activity of human smuggling of migrant Chinese people for local labor.”
By far the largest Island of the bunch with just about everything on it from many seaside touristy towns to campgrounds and people trying to live a quiet life, yelling at cyclists who left their parked car on a seemingly public gravel lot near a convenience store… “You go! You go now!”.
The northern tip of Whidbey is connected by this massive bridge that is definitely the striking feature of this particular island.
Lopez Island
Ferry Only
Fun Fact: “The island is known for the longstanding custom of waving at every motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian encountered on the island's roads.”
That taproom was my favorite place to stop and eat out of any of the islands strictly because of the popcorn machine. Buy anything and you get all-you-can-eat popcorn plus a bunch of seasonings you can put on it. I’m a simple man to please. Give me 20 cents worth of free corn with my overpriced local craft brew and I’m almost ready to buy a house next to your store.
San Juan Island
ferry access only
Fun fact: “One notable resident would be Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, a retired female professional wrestler of World Wrestling Entertainment fame. In addition, many Hollywood stars and celebrities spend time on the island to avoid publicity and to seek some peace and quiet.”
These pictures are from my 2021 little road trip. Maybe I would have gone back if I knew it had a whale museum...
This Island is the Salt Spring Island of the USA side, essentially. You can spend the day here and find something to do almost no matter what you’re interested in and it’s great for a big day of challenging cycling as well.
Shaw Island
ferry access only
Fun Fact: “There have been three Catholic religious institutes of nuns on Shaw Island. Benedictine nuns established a monastery on 150 acres (61 hectares) in the 1970s; while the Sisters of Mercy have owned an unofficial retreat on the island since the 1980s.[2] Nuns of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist ran the island's only store and the ferry terminal for almost 3 decades, until 2004, when they relocated elsewhere.[3]”
Due to ferry being late I didn’t have time to do a full loop of the island. You can’t risk being stuck here because it’s 3 hours between ferries and there sure isn’t much to do. You really have to commit if you want to bike this one.
Orcas Island
ferry access only
Fun Fact: “Mount Constitution (elevation 2,409 feet (734 meters) is the highest point in the San Juan islands.”
This is the best Island for cycling specifically because of the Mount Constitution and its lookout. Like the other large San Juan islands, it’s quite a roller coaster that will shred your legs if you aren’t fit and badass like I am.
It also has a nice little museum featuring log cabins and a 12 000 year old bison skull with human tool markings that was found on the Island.
Check out the view from the top:
Lummi is quite small and as you can see about half the Island is occupied by a big mountain. There's no road up it but you can hike up to the peak at a respectable 450m elevation. The view must be quite something. Why do I bike again? Why don't I just hike? How much do shoes cost?
Lummi Island
Bridge access
Fun Fact: “Lummi Island is best known for its unique reef net salmon fishery developed by the indigenous Lummi of the area.”
That does it for the USA side, at the very least I hope that one extra person in the world will go to Orcas island because of me, it’s well worth the detour in my opinion. If they only had a popcorn machine pub like Lopez they would be perfect.