Orcas Island

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Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands, which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County, Washington. Orcas Island is one of four stops on the inter-island Washington State Ferry route serving the San Juans. Ferry access to the islands is achieved from the mainland terminal at Anacortes, Washington (an hour and fifteen minutes), or from Sidney, British Columbia.

With a land area of 57.3 square miles (148.4 km²) and a population of 4,453 (2000 census), Orcas Island is slightly larger, but less populous, than neighboring San Juan Island. Orcas is shaped like a pair of saddlebags, separated by fjord-like East Sound. At the northern end of East Sound is the village of Eastsound, the largest town on Orcas and the second largest in San Juan County. In 1989 the Lummi Nation regained a village and burial site on Orcas Island's Madrona Point near Eastsound, and now operates it as Madrona Point Park, a public-access preserve characterized by hundreds of twisting madrona trees sprouting from the rocky shoreline, with miles of hiking trails. There are daily commercial flights to and from Orcas Island Airport in Eastsound.

Other, smaller towns on the island include Orcas (where the inter-island ferry lands), West Sound, Deer Harbor, Rosario, Olga and Doe Bay. There are overnight accommodations for visitors in each. Of these Olga and Doe Bay are on the less-populated and generally quieter east side of the island. At Olga, there is a popular cafe and art gallery in a former strawberry-barreling plant, where local artists sell their work, and studios for pottery and glass art.

View eastwards from Mount Constitution over the Rosario Strait with Mount Baker visible

Half mile (800 m) high Mount Constitution is a prime attraction. The easy drive to the top (except in the worst winter weather when park rangers close the road) provides a 360-degree marine view said to be one of the finest anywhere in the world. The mountain is part of Moran State Park, the most popular attraction in the San Juan Islands and the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands. Moran State Park encompasses over 5,000 acres (20 km²) of woodland, the park has several lakes, great for swimming, fishing and non motorized boating, especially kayaking, there are numerous waterfalls, including miles of walking, hiking, biking trails, and a campground.

Moran State Park rangers manage Obstruction Pass State Park, a marine park three miles past Moran State Park that is used for hike-in or boat-in camping. The Obstruction Pass Park has a half mile trail leading to a public beach and campground area. There are 11 campsites and 3 mooring buoys at the park. The only public boat launch on Orcas Island, with a small loading/off-loading public dock trash dumpster and compost toilet, is located a mile past the trailhead road on Obstruction Pass Road. Lieber Haven Resort and Marina is next to the boat launch and has a boat landing dock where mainland and interisland small passenger ferries, water taxis, and boat charters make daily scheduled stops, they also has a guest dock with short term boat moorage and a sandy beach area designated for passing kayakers to land, enabling private boaters to get supplies and visit the island. There is a small visitor information center on the dock and next to the nearby grocery store, which includes a public phone and provides on-island car rentals.

Orcas Island is also home to three historic camps: Camp Orkila, Four Winds Westward Ho and Camp Indralaya. Camp Orkila, operated by the Greater Seattle area YMCA, is located on the island's northwest shoulder. In operation since 1906, Orkila caters to families, schools, and other organizations during the school year, and during the summer operates an overnight camp for boys and girls entering grades 3-12. Four Winds, located on the southwest corner of Orcas Island in Four Winds Bay, is a non-profit summer camp founded in 1927 which offers activities such as sailing, canoeing, horseback riding, arts and crafts and landsports to 7-18 year olds. Camp Indralaya was founded in 1927 by the Theosophical Society as an experiment in theosophical living. It operates year-round with a program season from April to October.