Island Activities & Culture

Orcas Island is an outdoor paradise for hiking, walking and camping. Moran State Park’s protected 5000 acres stands as the land-based nirvana with multitudes of trails including loops around Cascade Lake & Mountain Lake. Of course, the drive to the highest point in the San Juan’s, the Lookout Tower atop Mt Constitution, must be seen.

Turtleback Mountain is our newest jewel with 1500 acres of protected majestic land with superb hiking trails that offer amazing views over Crow Valley and the south sound. For beachcombers, the County Beach Park on Main Street and Crescent Beach in Eastsound are easily accessed while Obstruction Pass State Park is a more remote alternative access by a short hike.

The sound surrounding Orcas Island will easily entrap the kayakers, boaters and adventurers. There are kayak rentals, tours and guides available while whale watching, boat tours and boat rentals are available. Of course, you can bring your own and launch from various sites.  

If the Arts attract you, the Orcas Center will be a local source for your entertainment or outlet for your talent. In addition, there is a movie theater, clubs, a local Grange, assortments of classes, groups and social spheres that will meet your interests, hobbies and whims.

The Eastsound Airport also has the annual Fly-In that amounts to our local air show. Open to the public, planes and their owners local and from afar meet on a beautiful summer weekend and watch historic military aircraft roar overhead.

Orcas Island has culture, there is no doubt. The eclectic side to Orcas Island culture shines brightly during the unorthodox and wacky Solstice Parades, the organic and deeply rooted Farmer’s Markets and the connection to the elementary school clearly spelled out in the charming Letter Land Parade. Orcas Island is an eclectic, non-conforming population sample that establishes a cohesive community with amazing depth in intelligence, interest and experience.

As artistic, earthy and unpretentious as Orcas Island is, San Juan County is the most affluent county in Washington State but with a large rural base. These seemingly opposite poles do find a magnetic common ground that is the source of our unique, creative culture.