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There is magic to be found throughout the San Juan Islands.

Choose island(s) to read about: San Juan Island Orcas Island Lopez Island Shaw Island Outer Islands Privately Owned Islands Uninhabited Islands Marine State Parks

Even a complete stranger to the San Juan Islands can thumb through this booklet and quickly realize that these islands anchored off the Washington coast near Canada are among the most beautiful island groups in the world.

The western and northern boundaries of the San Juan Islands follow the Canadian border along Haro Strait and Boundary Pass, respectively. Different resources say different things about which islands constitute the eastern boundary. Even though they are not in San Juan County, we are going to include Cypress and Sinclair Islands in this publication, making the eastern boundary of the San Juan Islands Rosario Strait from the south up through Bellingham Channel.

The San Juan archipelago, a geological description, includes Canadian Gulf Islands and the offshore islands of several mainland counties.

There are around 172 islands in San Juan County, with people residing on 50 of them.

The county has about 175 square miles of territory above the high-tide line shared by a little more than 14,000 residents.

What is missing from this short description of the San Juans is the magic. You might see it first from the deck of a boat, watching the sunset reflected in still waters, or the cry of a bald eagle soaring over Friday Harbor, or the quiet hiss of kayak paddles through a school of salmon at dawn, riding the tide towards a new adventure.

HOW TO VISIT THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

From the main ferry terminal in Anacortes, you may journey by auto, bicycle or foot via Washington State ferry to San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Island. The same islands are served by smaller inter-island ferries. An international ferry journeys between Vancouver Island, Friday Harbor and Anacortes.

All other inhabited islands are referred to as Outer Islands. There are various smaller private passenger and freight ferries that provide service to the Outer Islands, but most access is by private boat from either the mainland or one of the ferry-served islands. Many Outer Islands have private airstrips, and both scheduled and charter seaplane service is available. Scheduled airlines, large private aircraft and business jets land on San Juan and Orcas Islands.

Click here for information about ferries, flights, and for a map.