Echo Bay Sucia Island - Sucia Island Marine Park Washington

SUCIA ISLAND MARINE PARK - Sucia Island Washington 

Sucia Island Anchorages

Sucia Island FOSSIL BAY 

Sucia Island EWING COVE

Sucia Island SNORING BAY

Sucia Island ECHO BAY

Sucia Island SHALLOW BAY

Sucia Island FOX COVE

Park Registration  -  MATIA -  PATOS ISLAND - ORCAS

Echo Bay Sunrise Photo - Sucia Island Marine Park Washington

   48 Mooring Buoys                          564.08 Acres

Sucia Island Marine Park WashingtonBeautiful Sucia Island

If you've never been to Sucia Island marine park and you're trying to decide where to go first,  you'll want to explore each of Sucia's  six bays and coves at the links above.    Each Sucia Island anchorage has a unique personality and you are sure to find one that is right for you.      You will also want to visit the Park Registration Instructions to learn how to register and pay once you arrive on Sucia Island and other helpful information.

Echo Bay Rock Formations - Sucia IslandSailing To Sucia Island Marine Park WashingtonLa Isla Sucia 

Sucia Island Marine Park is located just north of Orcas island,  and is considered by many to be one of the San Juan's most beautiful destinations.     Sucia island is not reachable by car or served by the Washington State ferry system yet it is one of the most popular marine parks on Puget Sound with more than 100,000 visitors recorded each year.    Its 11 islands with unique sandstone formations has become a favorite destination for Bellinghamsters and boaters from both Washington and Canada.  Wild Ducks - Sucia Island Marine Park Washington      The unique terrain of this 564 acre island park accommodates its visitors in 6 different bays and coves- each of which has its own unique personality.     Echo Bay - Fossil Bay - Ewing Cove - Snoring Bay - Fox Cove - Shallow Bay.
If you prefer solitude you might prefer to visit during the week or in the off season, or choose one of Sucia's smaller coves like Snoring bay.   but if the weather or your free time are a consideration you shouldn't wouldn't worry about what day of the week you visit Sucia Island marine park.   There tends to be a camaraderie amongst boaters that can make meeting new people a pleasure. 

The San Juan Islands Are An Excellent Place To Go Camping And The Ferry System Makes Getting There Half The FunThe unique shoreline around Sucia island makes exploring the coastline in a dinghy a favorite past-time.      Every nook and cove has something special to discover like eroded sandstone cliffs and shorelines with patterns and shapes that are both beautiful and bizarre.    Sucia is also teaming with wildlife-- Bald eagles, seals, Canadian geese, ducks, and puffins are a common sight, and of course there are plenty of Seagulls eager for a handout. 

Sucia Island Rock Formations - Sucia Island Marine Park WashingtonACQUISITION OF SUCIA ISLAND

How much would you expect to pay for an island getaway in the middle of Puget Sound?  An undeveloped one acre island in the San Juans can cost over a million dollars so how much is a 564 acre island worth?   

Sucia Island, now run by the Washington state park service was purchased for less than seven thousand dollars.($6,818.67).  That comes out to about  $12.00 dollars per acre.    The first parcel was purchased in 1952 and the most recent parcel was acquired in 1974.

Note: The two finger islands in Echo bay are still private but they too could eventually become part of the Sucia island marine park.  Another excellent anchorage is on San Juan Island's western side in Garrison Bay at English Camp. Now a historic park commemorating the Pig War during the 1800's.

Sucia Island Marine Park Washington - Echo Bay Anchorage - Mooring Buoy Lines

DIRTY ISLAND

Sucia in Spanish means  "Dirty".    When Captain Eliza named Sucia  in 1791 it wasn't  because it was filthy,  it was due to the  many submerged reefs in the bays and around the island that made it unsuitable for ships to land.     Eliza and his crew on the San Carlos  were frustrated by the strong currents and lack of wind that carried their ship off where they didn't want to go and to make matters worse, they ran their ship aground three times.  They had set out exploring Puget Sound to find riches for his motherland and discover suitable places to establish new settlements but all he found was dreary weather, fog, and rocky islands.    Finally Captain Eliza and his crew had enough of the Pacific Northwest, turned their boat around and headed back to California, leaving it for the British Americans to explore and state their claims.

Picnic Table Overlooking Ewing Cove - Sucia Island Marine Park WashingtonA Long Way From Home

Geologists say that the west side of  Sucia Island was once at the ocean floor  in Baja California before making its way up to Puget Sound.  During its long migration north it picked up portions of the east side of the island in various places along the way.     Matia Island Is Just 1.5 Miles East Of Sucia-- Within Easy Kayaking Distance And Only Minutes Away By Motorboat or Sailboat.   Visit our Matia Island Page