Camping on Orcas Island

On my solo road trip up the West Coast with my dog Juliet, we got a tip to check out Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands in Washington north of Seattle. I was able to snag a last minute campsite at the quiet, low-key Mountain Lake Campground, and off we went.

How to get there:

You have to take a ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. The timeline and availability are here. You can drive your car onto the ferry, but they recommend reserving a spot in advance. If you’re walking on, there’s usually more space to jump on at the last minute.

Where to stay:

I highly recommend Mountain Lake Campground. It’s a little more rustic and remote than the camps around Cascade Lake, but I loved how private Mountain Lake was. There is a loop of campsites, and the outer ones look right onto the lake. There’s a boat ramp just next to the campsite, and hiking trails nearby as well. No hookups or showers, but there are primitive toilets, picnic tables, and firepits.

As you can see, there are plenty of spots to set up a hammock between trees with a perfect view of the lake. And while we were there in September, we only saw the very occasional kayak/canoe paddle by; Mountain Lake is significantly quieter than Cascade Lake.

What to do:

• Wander around Eastsound, a charming little village on Orcas Island. There are plenty of boutique shops, restaurants, and my favorite: Brown Bear Bakery
• Hike Turtleback Mountain South Trail or Mt. Constitution Trail
• Walk the loop around Mountain Lake
• Rent a canoe or a kayak from Cascade Lake (if you want to paddle on Mountain Lake, you will rent from the same shop at Cascade Lake, and they will give you a key to unlock one of the boats already on the ramp at Mountain Lake)

Orcas Island was one of my favorite stops in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you enjoy it too!