Last updated: November 19, 2022
Place
James Island Marine State Park
Quick Facts
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Amenities
6 listed
Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Dock/Pier, Primitive Campsites, Tent Campsites, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Water - Bottle-Filling Station
At 581 acres, though small compared to other islands in our archipelago, James Island is one of the larger islands that comprise the Marine State Parks of Washington State. Like other marine state parks, it can only be accessed via boat or kayak, but its sandy beaches make excellent places to land your watercraft.
James Island has been a Coast Salish homeland since time immemorial. The federal government intended to build a lighthouse on James Island, but it never got around to it; instead, it was transferred to the state of Washington and became a State Park in 1974.This lack of human alteration means that James Island has highly pristine ecosystems and much of the island is designated as a Natural Forest Area that is closed to human access.
However, there are still extensive visitor facilities on the island's edge, including 1.5 miles of bluff-top walking trails, 13 primitive campsites, a dock for boats, and mooring buoys for boats. Visitors can take advantage of excellent crabbing, oystering, and fishing during their visit!
James Island has been a Coast Salish homeland since time immemorial. The federal government intended to build a lighthouse on James Island, but it never got around to it; instead, it was transferred to the state of Washington and became a State Park in 1974.This lack of human alteration means that James Island has highly pristine ecosystems and much of the island is designated as a Natural Forest Area that is closed to human access.
However, there are still extensive visitor facilities on the island's edge, including 1.5 miles of bluff-top walking trails, 13 primitive campsites, a dock for boats, and mooring buoys for boats. Visitors can take advantage of excellent crabbing, oystering, and fishing during their visit!