San Juan Islands
★ Featured Anchorage
Fossil Bay — Sucia Island
Holding: Excellent
Shelter: Excellent
48 mooring buoys
Shore access
Anchorage Pacific Northwest
About This Anchorage
Fossil Bay is the crown jewel of Washington State Parks marine camping. Tucked into the eastern shore of Sucia Island, this horseshoe-shaped cove offers outstanding protection, easy anchoring in mud and sand, and a backdrop of sandstone formations sculpted by millennia of tidal action. The surrounding 564-acre state park is car-free and accessible only by boat, making it a true wilderness escape within day-sailing distance of Bellingham or the San Juan Islands.
Highlights
- 48 Washington State Parks mooring buoys available
- Fossil-rich sandstone formations and tide pools
- Miles of hiking trails through old-growth forest
- Kayak-accessible caves and coves on north shore
- Some of the best sunsets in the San Juan Islands
Cautions & Notes
- Fills to capacity on summer weekends — arrive by Thursday
- No garbage service; pack-it-in, pack-it-out
- Buoy fees apply (Discover Pass or nightly fee)
- Watch for submerged rocks at entry — stay center channel