Pacific Northwest Anchorages
19 anchorages — depth, holding, shelter and shore access.
Blake Island State Marine Park
Puget Sound
Blake Island is the closest true wilderness anchorage to Seattle — just 8 miles from the downtown waterfront. The 475-acre state marine park is accessible only by boat and offers 17 miles of trails, sandy beaches, and spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle skyline. On weekends, the buoy field fills early, but there's ample anchoring ground in 20–35 feet of water around the mooring field.
Eagle Harbor — Cypress Island
San Juan Islands
Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island is among the most beloved anchorages in the San Juan Islands. A Washington DNR Natural Resources Conservation Area, the island is completely undeveloped — no ferry, no services, just old-growth forest, rocky bluffs, and stunning views of the Cascade Range. The harbor is well-protected, with a mix of DNR buoys and good anchoring ground in soft mud.
Fossil Bay — Sucia Island
San Juan Islands
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.
Pleasant Harbor — Hood Canal
Hood Canal
Pleasant Harbor is one of Hood Canal's premier anchorages — a near-circular basin punched into the western shoreline that functions like a natural bowl, cutting wind and swell from every direction. Washington State Parks maintains mooring buoys inside the harbor, and Pleasant Harbor Marina at the entrance offers fuel, guest moorage, and the only services within a dozen miles. Oysters, clams, and Dungeness crab thrive in Hood Canal's cold, clean waters.
Pleasant Harbor
Hood Canal
One of Hood Canal's best-protected anchorages, with a small marina and space to anchor off in the outer basin. The surrounding forest comes right to the water's edge and bald eagles are common overhead. A quiet, photogenic stop.
Reid Harbor — Stuart Island
San Juan Islands
Reid Harbor cuts deep into the southern shore of Stuart Island, offering excellent all-weather protection in a narrow fjord-like inlet. Stuart Island State Marine Park maintains both mooring buoys and a primitive campsite with composting toilets. The 2.5-mile trail to Turn Point Lighthouse — the westernmost lighthouse in Washington — rewards the effort with sweeping views toward the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.
Alderbrook — Hood Canal
Hood Canal
The anchorage off Alderbrook at the southern reach of Hood Canal is a scenic overnight stop with mountain views in three directions. The historic Alderbrook Resort provides a backdrop, and anchored boats can easily dinghy to the resort's dock for dinner at the restaurant. This is a destination anchorage — the point isn't just the protection (which is moderate) but the surroundings: the Olympic peaks, the Hood Canal's mirror surface, and the uncrowded sense of a quieter Washington.
Eagle Harbor — Bainbridge Island
Puget Sound
Eagle Harbor on the east side of Bainbridge Island gives you the best of both worlds: a protected anchorage a short dinghy ride from the walkable town of Winslow, with its restaurants, grocery stores, and the iconic Winslow Way. The harbor is large enough to swing comfortably, with good holding in soft mud, and the Bainbridge Island Marina provides guest moorage if you'd rather tie up.
Garrison Bay — San Juan Island
San Juan Islands
Garrison Bay lies within British Camp, the northern unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park. The bay anchors in history as the site of the 1860s Pig War standoff between American and British forces — a conflict resolved without a shot fired. Today it's a tranquil anchorage surrounded by open meadows and historic blockhouses, with a free dock for dinghy landing and exceptional wildlife viewing in the surrounding kelp beds.
Jarrell Cove State Marine Park
Puget Sound
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.
Jones Island State Park
San Juan Islands
Jones Island is a compact gem in the San Juans — only 188 acres, but packed with character. Two small coves on the north and south shores offer anchorage and mooring buoys maintained by Washington State Parks. The island is known for its remarkably tame black-tailed deer, old-growth forest, and sweeping views of the Canadian Gulf Islands. It's a short hop from Orcas Island and popular for overnight cruises.
Pelican Beach — Cypress Island
San Juan Islands
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.
Penrose Point State Marine Park
Puget Sound
Penrose Point State Park occupies a forested peninsula on the Key Peninsula, jutting into Carr Inlet in South Puget Sound. Mayo Cove on the park's north side offers a snug anchorage backed by towering Douglas fir and hemlock. The park maintains 2+ miles of shoreline, DNR mooring buoys, and a dock, with trails winding through second-growth forest to a sandy beach on the south side of the point.
Posey Island State Marine Park
San Juan Islands
Posey Island may be the smallest state park in Washington — barely an acre of land at high tide — but it punches well above its weight as a destination. Just a quarter-mile off the coast of San Juan Island near Roche Harbor, Posey offers a primitive campsite for one or two small boats and a pair of mooring buoys. It's the definition of a 'blink and you miss it' anchorage, perfect for couples looking for an intimate wilderness experience minutes from Roche Harbor's amenities.
Potlatch State Park
Hood Canal
A serene anchorage in southern Hood Canal with excellent holding in mud. The state park dock is available for day use; anchor off in 25–35 ft. Oyster beds nearby — check harvest regulations. Elk frequent the shoreline at dusk.
Prevost Harbor — Stuart Island
San Juan Islands
On the north side of Stuart Island, Prevost Harbor is the larger, more open of the island's two anchorages. Protected by Satellite Island on its western flank, the harbor is calmer than it appears on charts, though northerly winds can create a chop. The DNR maintains mooring buoys and a primitive campsite. A short hike connects Prevost to Reid Harbor on the island's south side.
Quartermaster Harbor — Vashon Island
Puget Sound
Quartermaster Harbor is a long, narrow tidal inlet on the south end of Vashon Island, offering some of the most protected anchorage in central Puget Sound. The harbor winds nearly 3 miles inland, past the small community of Burton and through a swing bridge into the inner harbor. It's a popular destination for Seattle sailors who want a quiet overnight without the ferry crowds of Puget Sound's busier stops.
Triton Cove
Hood Canal
A small but well-protected bight on the eastern shore of Hood Canal, just south of Eldon. Depths of 20–30 ft over good holding mud. Very few boats stop here, making it a genuine solitude anchorage. A state park picnic area is accessible by dinghy.
Twanoh State Park
Hood Canal
At the elbow of Hood Canal, Twanoh offers a buoyed swimming area and state park camping — anchor off in 15–25 ft over soft mud. The Canal is narrow here so tidal currents run faster; plan your approach accordingly. Popular with family cruisers.