In 1859 an American shot an Englishman's pig which kept breaking through a fence and rooting in his potato patch. This incident erupted into the Pig War, an international dispute over whether Great Britain or the United States owned the islands of what is now San Juan County.

From 1860-72 both countries occupied the island - the American Army at American Camp and the Royal Marines at English Camp. The Pig War was conducted in a very civilized manner at conference tables with final arbitration by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany awarding the island to the United States.

Thus the only casualty of the war was - one pig! And that's the story behind the island's two largest parks, American Camp and English Camp (also called British Camp).

SAN JUAN ISLAND NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Includes the American Camp and English Camp, plus the Friday Harbor visitor center.

Photo courtesy of San Juan Island National Historical Park

AMERICAN CAMP

• 1220 acres - 5 miles of beach - Day Use Only.
• Picnic tables, fire pits, privies. Bluffs, lagoon, sand and driftwood.
• Interpretive Center at Entrance - Get map here for unique hikes.

WESTCOTT BAY SCULPTURE PARK

• An exhibit of over 70 sculptures
• 19 open acres
• Available for Wedding and Events
• Located next to Roche Harbor Resort

 

SOUTH BEACH

Walk the beach, find a tide pool, marvel at the complexity of life in a small hollow of rock, or hike a 3/4 mile trail on the bluffs to the Hudson's Bay Farm site above Grandma's Cove.

 

FOURTH OF JULY BEACH

Wade in Griffin Bay on a warm day, picnic, or fly kites or Frisbees in the large grass field.

MT. FINLAYSON - NATURE TRAIL

Hike the trail up 290' Mt. Finlayson - see American and Canadian mountains on the horizon, seascape below; return on the nature trail above Jakle's Lagoon.

 

ENGLISH CAMP

See the formal garden, 1860's guardhouse and the parade ground now home to wild turkeys and Canada geese.

• 530 acres - 2 miles of shoreline - Day Use Only
• Picnic tables, privies.
• Boaters - Small dinghy dock - anchor in Garrison Bay
• Barracks - Visitor information and slide program - Get map for:
• Bell Point - Saunter wooded trail to Bell Point on Westcott Bay.
  
• British Cemetery - Visit this grassy knoll with sheltering trees.
  
• Mt. Young Hike up 650' and feel on top of the world.

 

 

SAN JUAN COUNTY PARK
http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/parks/index.html

Pebble beach, woods, trails, snorkeling, diving, views of the Olympic Mountains, whales and Victoria, British Columbia. For phone reservations call (360) 378-1842 (hours vary).

• Public Park
• Overnight Camping
• Picnic tables, Restrooms, Drinking Water
• 20 campsites (No RV hook-ups)
• Boaters - Launch Ramp, First come, first served for any unreserved spaces..

 

CATTLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE

Walk over windswept fields to the Lighthouse. Picnic on the beach or, on a rainy day, in the restored Coast Guard Radio Station.

• Day Use Only
• Picnic Tables
• Privies

 

EGG LAKE

• Day Use Only
• Fish and Birdwatch
• No Facilities
• Dock and Launch Ramp on Egg Lake Road
• No gas motors

 

JACKSON BEACH

Picnic and go wading, Sandy beach, play volleyball, skimboard.

• Day Use Only
• Boat Launch Ramp

 

LIME KILN STATE PARK - WHALE WATCHING SITE

Hike trail to lookout points - see the displays describing whales, porpoises and dolphins .Walk the high bank trail to Lime Kiln Lighthouse and return on a path under fir, cedar and madrone.

• Day Use Only - High rocky banks - no beach
• Drinking Water
• Picnic Tables
• Privies

 

 

REUBEN TARTE PICNIC AREA

Roadside parking - walk down steep trail to a pebble beach.

• Day Use Only
• No facilities

 

SPORTSMAN'S LAKE

Launch ramp on Roche Harbor Road only access to lake - Fish or birdwatch.

• Day Use Only
• No facilities

 

TURN POINT PARK

Launch kayaks/canoes only - carry from the parking area.

• Day Use Only
• No facilities

 

EAGLE COVE BEACH PUBLIC ACCESS

Park at trailhead off Cattle Pt. Rd. - walk to beach.

• Day Use Only
• No facilities