San Juan Islands
Pelican Beach — Cypress Island
Holding: Good
Shelter: Fair
6 mooring buoys
Shore access
Anchorage Pacific Northwest
About This Anchorage
Pelican Beach sits on the southeast corner of Cypress Island, offering a quieter alternative to the more popular Eagle Harbor. It's more exposed than Eagle Harbor but catches less traffic and rewards those who time a good weather window with a picturesque gravel beach, tidepools, and easy access to the island's southern trail network.
Highlights
- Less crowded than Eagle Harbor — great for solitude
- Gravel beach perfect for beach fires (with permit)
- Rich tide pools at low water
- Trailhead to island interior and Eagle Cliff
Cautions & Notes
- Exposed to south and southeast — watch weather forecasts
- Swell can roll in from Saratoga Passage on south wind
- Shallow approach; time entry around higher tides
- Few buoys — anchoring skill required