There are dozens of Washington State Marine Parks, State Dept. of Natural Resource Parks (DNR), San Juan County Parks, British Columbia Provincial Parks, and Canadian National Parks that are accessible by boat.
Click on the following links to go to pages that address each distinct area.
SAN JUAN ISLANDS. GULF ISLANDS. SUNSHINE COAST. DISCOVERY ISLANDS. BROUGHTON ISLANDS
Choosing a destination involves more than just picking a place out of a cruising guide. All parks and harbors are different. Some are simple to enter and leave, with mooring buoys and docks or ample space to safely anchor. Others can present special challenges such as currents or obstructions or limited space to anchor.
Cruising guides have voluminous information but they contain far more than you need for a vacation that may last 1-3 weeks. You should have at least one of the really good cruising guides for information about harbors, towns, marinas and resorts. (For recommendations, go to our “Guide Books” page.) However, it works best to plan a cruise in advance at home and place specific information you will need in a 3 ring notebook. You can decide on destinations based upon how crowded they might be, the best time to arrive, moorage availability and its cost, whether you can go ashore and what to do if you can go ashore, services and facilities ashore, protection from adverse weather, ease of entry and exit, etc. Plan at home so you can use a cruising guide and the resources on the internet.
We have explored the waters of the Pacific Northwest for nearly 30 years. We have visited the parks, towns, cities, and most of the marinas numerous times and have watched them grow and prosper and in some cases, disappear. The information on the pages listed above is derived from our years of cruising and our research each year. Please understand that we have listed our favorite places but there are hundreds more anchorages, bays, coves, marinas, towns and resorts for you to visit and explore.