Stuart Island State Park park
Stuart Island State Park
Reasons to Visit:
1. Natural Beauty: Stuart Island State Park is renowned for its unspoiled natural scenery. Visitors can marvel at stunning forested areas, rocky shorelines, and pristine beaches.
2. Wildlife Watching: The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, bald eagles, seals, and various marine species. Birdwatchers will also enjoy spotting migratory birds passing through the area.
3. Recreational Activities: Visitors can engage in a variety of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, fishing, and boating. The park offers a picturesque backdrop for these pursuits.
Points of Interest:
1. Turn Point Lighthouse: This historic lighthouse, built in 1893, stands on the park's northern tip. It offers panoramic views and is a great spot for watching sunsets.
2. Prevost Harbor: A well-protected anchorage, Prevost Harbor provides opportunities for boating, swimming, and beachcombing. It also features a dock and moorage facilities.
3. Reid Harbor: Located on the east side of the island, Reid Harbor offers stunning views and ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping.
Interesting Facts:
1. Stuart Island State Park is part of the San Juan Islands, which lie along the Salish Sea between Washington State and Vancouver Island, Canada.
2. The island was named after Frederick D. Stuart, who explored the area in the 1840s and later became the first customs collector of Puget Sound.
3. The park was officially established in 1954 as a state park and is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Stuart Island State Park is during the summer months, from June to September, when the weather is generally pleasant and conducive to outdoor activities. The park tends to be less crowded during weekdays, providing a quieter experience. However, it's important to check weather conditions and plan ahead, as the region can experience rain and fog at any time of year.
Sources:
- Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission: https://parks.state.wa.us/677/Stuart-Island
- San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau: https://www.visitsanjuans.com/destinations/stuart-island
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- 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 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.
- 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.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Stuart Island State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdonald - Gulf Island National Park Reserve | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Shallow Bay South | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Fox Cove Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Shallow Bay North Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Echo Bay East Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Echo Bay North Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Stuart Island State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Stuart Island State Park
What can I do at Stuart Island State Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Stuart Island State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Stuart Island State Park.