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Sucia Island's Echo Bay has
14 mooring
Buoys @ $10.00 Per Night And Campsites Ashore |
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 Echo
Bay Is Sucia Island's Largest Anchorage
Sucia Island's largest and most popular anchorage is Echo Bay. This is where you want to be if you don't mind a lot of activity around you and enjoy watching boats
& dinghies coming and going. Many people like
Echo Bay because of its central location between Snoring
Bay and Ewing Cove
Important!
Check Your Chart For Rocks!
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Know
Before You Go! Current Weather Conditions For
The San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor Wa) |
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  Big
Bay - Big Yachts
There is much more room to maneuver compared to the smaller coves and bays on
Sucia Island
although there certainly are rocks and reefs to watch out for. I've heard it said that when you
think you've gone far enough to miss a reef, go farther. I would
just add that you shouldn't go so far that you hit yet another reef!
(Again... consult your charts). Another reason echo bay is a
Bellinghamster.com favorite is the view of
Mt Baker from the bay entrance.
(Photo: View of Mt. Baker near Lopez island)
 Floating
Docklines
Echo bay has 14 mooring
buoys and some innovative floating mooring dock lines. They seem odd at
first but it's easy to see their virtues once you see them in use, and
after watching some people attempt to hook up to a mooring buoy you realize who
they made them for. You simply maneuver your boat next to the dock line, grab a ring and tie up as if floating dock.
If you visit Sucia Island on a weekend you'll want to get there early if you plan to
get a buoy and dock space gets filled up even faster. Once you're tied up
and paid up you can settle down for a game of "Name That Boat" with
your friends or just people watch and count eagles. While you're watching the eagles and seals, don't be 
surprised to see a large
Coast Guard vessel dipping into Echo bay to check on things and possibly a
Homeland Security boat or two.
 Eagle Islands
In this photo you can see
the two long finger islands from inside Echo bay. These are private
islands so you can't land on them but the rest of the island is part of the
Sucia Island marine park. As I passed between the islands I
saw several Bald Eagles soaring around with some dipping down to the water near
my dinghy. These finger islands seem to be a favorite place for the
eagles perhaps because the general public isn't allowed on them. You'll notice docks
along side them and a few houses nestled in the trees but other than that they
are very quiet and unspoiled. What a
special place to have a 2nd home.
Echo Bay Pay
Station
If you're going to use a
mooring buoy you will need to make your way ashore to the pay station within 30
minutes of your arrival. The beach has patches of rocky areas
but there are two main areas clear for making a landing. On a busy
weekend the beach is covered with dinghy's and beachcombers and you might even
see a seal or two.
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West of Sucia Isand is the charming Patos
Island marine park. Like Sucia it is accessible only from boat. Patos
or "Duck" island has a lighthouse and beautiful views of Mount
Baker. Patos has only a couple of buoys which are almost always
taken but persistence will eventually pay off. On your next trip to
Sucia be sure to swing by Patos first and if a buoy is available
Grab It!
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MORE ABOUT SUCIA
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