Puget Sound
Jarrell Cove State Marine Park
Holding: Excellent
Shelter: Excellent
14 mooring buoys
Shore access
Anchorage Pacific Northwest
About This Anchorage
Jarrell Cove on the north end of Harstine Island is one of South Puget Sound's most sheltered anchorages. The long, narrow cove is virtually landlocked, offering protection from every direction. Washington State Parks maintains a small dock, mooring buoys, and primitive campsites in the surrounding forest. It's a popular destination for Seattle-area boaters making the two-day cruise down to South Sound.
Highlights
- Virtually landlocked — protected in any weather condition
- Excellent oyster harvesting on approved beaches (check harvest status)
- State Parks dock and campground with picnic facilities
- Great blue herons nesting nearby
- Quiet, uncrowded even on summer weekends
Cautions & Notes
- Cove shallows quickly at the head — stay in marked channel
- Check WDFW for shellfish harvest closures before eating oysters
- Access from Case Inlet involves significant tidal current
- Cell service is spotty; VHF 16 is the communication standard here