Doe Island Marine State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Doe Island Marine State Park is located in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, and is a popular destination for boaters, kayakers, and hikers.
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Summary
The park offers stunning views of the surrounding islands and waters, and boasts a variety of unique features and landmarks.
Some good reasons to visit Doe Island Marine State Park include the abundance of outdoor recreational activities available, including hiking, kayaking, fishing, and wildlife watching. The park also offers several camping options, including beach camping and primitive campsites.
Specific points of interest to see in the park include the rugged coastline, sea caves, and tide pools that are home to a variety of sea creatures. Visitors can also explore the island's forests, which are home to a variety of plant and animal species, including bald eagles and harbor seals.
One interesting fact about Doe Island Marine State Park is that the island was once used as a military base during World War II, and remnants of the military structures can still be seen today. In addition, the park is known for its rich history of Native American tribes who once called the area home.
The best time of year to visit Doe Island Marine State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is mild and the park is bustling with activity. However, visitors should be aware that the park can be quite crowded during peak season, and reservations for camping should be made well in advance.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Odlin County Park