About San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it was also here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over possession of the island, the crisis ignited by the death of a pig.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 60 F. Wildflowers are at their peak around May. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 45 F to 70 F. On very sunny days, be prepared with water-heat exhaustion is a common complaint among park visitors who are unprepared. Fall: Temperatures usually range…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Washington. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Park grounds are open 24 hours per-day, year-round.
Activities
Current Alerts
Effective Thursday, August 6 building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, or campfire, charcoal grill, tiki torches, incense burners, candles, propane campfire, wood burning stoves, and devices using pressurized liquid or gas is prohibited. This includes the designated fire rings at South Beach. Propane fire pits are not allowed during the ban.
San Juan Island National Historical Park provides habitat for many species of animals. When you visit the park, you are visiting their home. Do not approach any wildlife within 75 ft/23 m (two school bus lengths).
Getting There
San Juan Island is served by Washington State Ferries, several private cruise and shuttle craft and two air carriers (one of which has both land and seaplane service). The Washington State Ferries terminal is 85 miles north of Seattle and 90 miles south of Vancouver, BC in Anacortes, WA.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Tide Pooling at San Juan Island
Tide pooling is a fun way to get to know the sea life surrounding San Juan Island
Hike The Mount Finlayson Loop Trail
This popular trail is a 2.9 mile loop. It visits numerous ecosystems and provides excellent views of the Cascades and…
Hike to Young Hill
The hike to the top of Young Hill provides a panoramic view of San Juan Island’s bays, English Camp, and…
Hike the Mitchell Hill Moderate Loop
The Mitchell Hill Moderate Loop incorporates some of the best trail segments along a slightly more challenging route. The trail…
Hike the Mitchell Hill Easy Loop
The Mitchell Hill Easy Loop follows the Inner Loop Road trail - a picturesque journey through the lush landscapes at…
Hike the Bell Point Loop
The Bell Point trail traverses a mature madrona forest and hugs the shores of Garrison Bay and Westcott Bay.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Hike to Grandma's Cove
The hike to Grandma's Cove is one mile round trip and visits a sheltered ocean cove great for swimming and looking at…
Hike to Fourth of July Beach
This beach access is a great way to explore the shoreline and the lagoons. Walking south will take you to Old Town…
Hike the South Beach Trail
Visit South Beach via this short 1 mile hike! The trail travels through the American Camp prairie; keep an eye out for…
Hike the Jakle's Lagoon Nature Trail
This 1 mile trail is an excellent place to take young people to learn more about our environment. Informational waysides along the…
Hike the Old Military Road Trail
The Old Military Road Trail (also known and more often signed as “The American Camp Trail”) is a 1 mile trail that…
American Camp History Walk
Embark on a captivating 1 mile guided walk through San Juan Island National Historical Park, where you can relive the intriguing events…
Hike the Bluff Trail
The Bluff Trail is a phenomenal way to experience the environmental richness of American Camp. Keep an eye out for orca whales…
Hike Officer's Hill
The trails surrounding the Officers’ Quarters at English Camp offer a captivating journey through history and nature.
Hike the Westcott Bay Trail
The Westcott Bay Trail is a 1.0 mile trail that hugs the shore of Westcott Bay, a tranquil section of shoreline to…
Go Kayaking
Many people come to San Juan Island seeking the adventure of exploring the area by boat. Sea kayaks are very popular for…
Biking on San Juan Island
Biking is a great way of exploring the island!
San Juan Island Junior Ranger Program
Junior Ranger programs are a great way for people of all ages to explore multiple facets of the park
Showing 18 of 23 NPS Things to Do records available for San Juan Island National Historical Park.
Visitor Centers
American Camp Visitor Center
The American Camp visitor center is located on Cattle Point Road on the island's southern peninsula. This visitor center opened to the public in June…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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