Northwestern Washington & the San Juan Islands - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 216

BOAT
The majority of people who visit the San Juans arrive on Washington State Ferries
(WSF; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries ) , which runs a fleet of comfortable and efficient car ferries.
The main port on the mainland is Anacortes; ferries for the four principal islands of
Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan depart from here. From April to December, two Wash-
ington State Ferries a day continue on to Sidney, near Victoria on Vancouver Island, be-
fore returning in the opposite direction. There is no US-Canada service from January to
March.
You can pick up an easy-to-decipher WSF timetable at any ferry outlet or access it on
the website. The timetable varies depending on the season, but follows a standard route
of Anacortes-Lopez (45 minutes), then Shaw (one hour), Orcas (70 minutes), Friday
Harbor (80 minutes) and Sidney (three hours). Four or five ferries a day are interisland,
in that they don't call at either Sidney or Anacortes.
Fares are collected on westbound ferries only. They are $12.45 for foot passengers to
any destination except Sidney, which is $18. Car and driver fares range from $32.25
(Lopez) to $47.75 (Sidney). Bike passengers pay a $4 surcharge. Foot passengers and
cyclists can ride inter-island ferries for free in either direction.
You can only reserve tickets for the Sidney sailing. All other ferries operate on a first-
come, first-served basis. In winter drivers are advised to arrive 45 minutes before sailing;
in summer arrive two hours early.
There are three additional privately owned passenger-only ferries (no cars) that travel
to the San Juans:
Puget Sound Express ( www.pugetsoundexpress.com ) Runs from Port Townsend to Friday
Harbor from March to September.
Victoria Clipper ( www.victoriaclipper.com ) A Seattle-Friday Harbor link, with service on to
Victoria, BC. It only runs from late June to late September.
Victoria San Juan Cruises ( www.whales.com ; 355 Harris Ave, Suite 104, Bellingham) Operates
between Bellingham, San Juan Island, Orcas and Victoria from May to September.
TOP OF CHAPTER
San Juan Island
POP 6894
The most exciting aspects of the archipelago's history have been preserved on San Juan
Island (how does a near war between Britain and the US grab you?) in a couple of old
military camps. It is also the island with the 'biggest' town; compact Friday Harbor acts