15 Best Things To Do At Orcas Island, San Juan County, WA

Hike Waterfalls in Moran State Park

If you have not booked your room yet I recommend you get a room or cabin in Moran State Park.  Moran State Park has many things to offer also you can explore the island very easily from here. So the first thing you can do is to hike the waterfalls in Moran State Park.

Moran State Park has plenty of waterfalls and is worth visiting. You can explore Cascade Falls which is the largest waterfall on San Juan islands along with Cavern Falls, Rustic Falls, and Hidden Falls.

All the waterfalls are easy to access just follow the trailhead and Signs. You may discover some unnamed falls too.

Hike TurtleBack Mountain

For an amazing view hike to the top of Turtlehead, take the Turtlehead trail to the end when you reach the top you will be rewarded.

NOTE: if you want to take your dog with you keep the dog with leases and visit only in the daytime cause no camping is allowed there.

Majestic Views From Mount Constitution

The Long Tower is located in Moran State Park and it’s a replica of Russian watchtowers built back in 1930. This is a must if you are visiting Orcas Island. Climb up the tower and enjoy the Majestic 360-degree views of the surrounding areas.

If you are visiting in the summer try to go early in the morning to watch the stunning sunshine.

Go And Watch Whales Sightseeing

Whale Watching is on everyone’s list when visiting Orcas Island. Whales are sighted all year round on San Juan Island. In the open water, not only whales are sighted you may see many other marine animals. So do not forget to take your camera with you.

From Deer Harbor, you can go and watch the whales. You can find some private tour companies that will offer guaranteed whale-watching tours.

Walk And Do Some Fun Activities On The Beach

The island is not famous for beaches but you can visit some pebble beaches on Orcas Island.

You can visit the beach on Cascade Lake in Moran State Park and do some fun activities with your family.

If you want to explore a sandy beach, you should visit the Obstruction Pass State Park in Olga. for a unique experience, You can go there by kayaking or boating. The 80-acre public beach has many campsites and picnic spots. You don’t need any reservation to camp there.

For those who are looking to spend some private time on a private beach, Doa Bay Resort has a private beach service you can check out.

Explore The Sea by Kayaking Or Boating

Kayaking is one of the favorite things to do at Orcas Island, prepare yourself and explore the wildlife by kayak or paddleboat tour. The best time to kayak is in summer this time you can see orca whales, birds, sea seals, and much other wildlife.

Kayak or paddleboat tour companies are available at Orcas Island. You can rent kayaks or paddle boats from Eastsound, Obstruction Pass State Park also some private resorts that provide kayak services.

You can check out Shearwater Adventures at Deer Harbor, they have many tour packages with professional guides. You can choose different or custom hourly packages too. 

There is a small nature preserve island known for wildflowers, so when exploring the sea try to visit that amazing place. 

Swim in a Fresh Water Lake

If you go to an island but don’t swim, it’s not worth your time. Orcas Island has a couple of lakes where you can swim and play water games. Cascade Lake is one of them, it has a swimming beach and a Pool designed for everyone.

If you don’t want a crowd then Twin Lake is for you, It is located at the Moran State Park. 

Lost in the Beauty Of Sunset From CasCade Lake

Watching the sunset from the water is something I can not describe in words. Many visitors go to Cascade Lakes in the evening time, for watch the stunning sunset. You should enjoy it, at least once when you are visiting Orcas Island. 

I recommend booking a kayak for the evening time, paddling in the water and lost in the beauty of the sunset.

Grab Some Knowledge From The Historic Museum

The historical museum is located in the Eastsound, visit the historical museum and learn something about orcas island and admire some antiques.

There is another museum at the Whale & Marine Life Interpretive Center. From here you can learn many interesting things about whales and other marine life. also, you can sign up for a whale-watching trip from here.

Visit The Village Market

Orcas Island village market is located at Village Green-Eastsound. Every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. In this village market, you can get organic foods, handmade crafts, jewelry, unique pottery, and some other fancy stuff. 

The village market is open every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, every tourist is welcome here and a free parking lot is available.

Go Shopping for Some Art And Pottery

Orcas Island Pottery is located on West Beach, Eastsound. Visiting Orcas Island pottery is a must-have thing to do on Orcas Island, so make it part of your adventure. If you are an art lover, this place will amaze you in many different ways. if you don’t want to buy anything just visit there and watch amazing and unique handmade pottery.

There is a treehouse, a beautiful garden, and swings. All of the pottery is displayed on the picnic tables or benches around the property. You can buy some for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones.

Taste a Variety Of Delicious food

Orcas Island is known for its true beauty and seafood. Once you are at Orcas Island you will discover many restaurants, that serve a variety of food items including seafood. so, you have many options to choose from.

For a delicious Mexican dish visit Mijitas, the Mexican chef Raul is superb at preparing the dishes. If you love Mexican food then you should visit the place and taste amazing foods while exploring the island.

There are so many delicious foods you can taste on Orcas Island, for your kind information I have already posted an article about where you can eat delicious food on Orcas Island, you can check that too after reading this article.

Ice Cream Party

Whether it’s summer or winter have some amazing flavors of ice creams. after finishing your dinner or after a short hike an ice cream party is not that bad, right? An ice cream party is perfect for big ones or little ones, it’s everyone’s favorite. 

For an ice cream party at Orcas Island, you can visit Clever Cow Creamery at Eastsound. here you can choose your favorite one or try something new cause they have a great selection of flavors.

Spend a Night in a Hobbit House

For a truly unique stay, book a night in a Hobbit House. These charming, whimsical accommodations offer a cozy and magical retreat, making your Orcas Island experience even more memorable

Explore the island on an E-Bike

Exploring Local Areas on an E-bike is a fun thing to do at Orcas Island. Just rent an E-bike from the checkpoints and start your exploration.

If you want to Explore Best State Parks In Texas You Can Check Out This.

The Bottomline:

I believe now you know which things you can do on Orcas Island. Visiting Orcas Island is a great feeling and adventure at the same time. This island is like one of the places where you want to visit again and again. If you are visiting Orcas Island for the first time remember, like most Washington State Parks, Moran State Park requires a discovery pass. Fees are $10 per visit and $30 for an annual pass.