August PNW Cruise: Sucia Island

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We found an old apple orchard on our hike.  Someone must be looking after it.


This is the view from the eastern side of the island.


Sucia is one of my favorite anchorages in the San Juan Islands.  From Echo Bay, Mount Baker dominates the skyline to the east.  Even in August, its upper slopes were still covered in snow.  We were meeting friends who anchored in Fossil Bay, so that was our destination.  


Fossil Bay is much smaller that Echo Bay which limits the number of boats you’ll have as neighbors.  Additionally, there are two docks, which makes it easy to take a dinghy to shore.  


Echo Bay has no dinghy docks.  Adjacent to each dock are improved camping spots with tables and in some cases, shelters.  The park service pit toilets are composting.  There is also fresh potable water on the island.  With a container, you could take water back to your boat and replenish your water supply.

It was fun to spend an evening with old friends from Santa Rosa.  They moved their boat to the PNW 3 years ago as they enjoy the many cruising options in Washington state and British Columbia.  After visiting for a bit, they prepared a delicious meal of fresh salmon!  It was our lucky night.


The next day Beth and I did a pleasant hike around Sucia Island.  The island is mostly ancient sandstone with lush forests and in many places dense growth of ferns and berries.  We also saw madrone in some locations.  It was so quiet and peaceful walking in a lush green forest.  We passed a spring, which is the source of the islands drinking water.  Sucia has ridges which separate the bays, much like an outstretched hand.  Boats anchor in the space defined by the fingers of land.  So are sized so only a couple of boats can anchor, while others are quite large.

The sunsets both nights were very colorful.  It was pleasant sitting on the bow watching the sky change colors.  You can bet we will return to Sucia again at some point.

Location: Sucia Islands, Washington 98245, USA

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