We Anchored in Fox Cove for a Peaceful Night on the Hook –

Our much-anticipated return to Sucia Island did not disappoint. This time we anchored in Fox Cove cove near the beach to the campground, across a small stretch of land from Fossil Bay and the boat docks. When we arrived, one lone sailboat sat anchored between the mooring balls. Another small sailboat arrived near the end of the day. We decided to spend two nights in this spot.

We found out that this woman’s (photo – below) husband built this boat from scratch. We think he used plans from Devlin Designing Boat Builders. A Black Crown 30. It’s a beauty!

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Stunning Views from Lover’s Leap on Stuart Island!  –

Just when we think we’ve seen most of the amazing spots in the San Juan Islands, along comes this stop at Stuart Island. Located in the northern sector of the San Juan Islands, Stuart Island sports two harbors, Prevost and Reid. Prevost Harbor has seven offshore buoys and 256 feet of dock space. Reid Harbor offers fifteen offshore buoys and 572 feet of dock space on three different docks, two of which are offshore. Stuart Island has 18 primitive campsites, and potable water is available most of the year, as are composting and pit toilets. For boaters, a handy barge sits in Reid Harbor for manual pump-outs. A big plus in our world of boating. Otherwise, you must pack out what you bring onto the island. There are two communities on the island, but it is a very remote setting without access to stores or facilities of any kind, etc. We anchored in Reid Harbor with plenty of room, the surrounding scenery was a big plus.

The View from Lover’s Leap Was Definitely Worth the hike!

Jim had a plan for the day which led us to dinghy ashore to the dock in Reid harbor. He’d heard about a trail that climbed the island to a bluff called Lover’s Leap. The beginning of the hike was quite strenuous, due to having to negotiate fallen trees and debris while climbing uphill all the way to where the island’s one-room schoolhouse, library, and little local history museum are located. Soon after we left the schoolhouse we found a road that took us to an open field area before it turned northwest and uphill again through woods and eventually broke out into the well-known, mossy cliff on top of the island.

We’d hoped to have a sighting of whales transiting the area, but no luck this time. The magnificent view from Lover’s Leap was so spectacular, we decided not to walk the rest of the way down to the Turn Point Light Station (used to guide shipping in Boundary Pass to the island’s north). We sat on the bluff for the longest time, it was hard to leave such a great spot.

There were several Ranger Tugs docked or anchored in Reid Harbor during our stay. Probably three or four other than ourselves. We were fortunate to meet Lois and Dan, on North Star, during our first Desolation Sound Cruise in 2013. Every time we come out to the Pacific Northwest, we run into them while cruising or at a Ranger Tugs cruise or rendezvous. They are experienced boaters in the area, always willing to share local knowledge with us.

Prevost Harbor (above).

We took a little break from hiking when we came upon the old schoolhouse and museum.

Mt. Baker (above and below).

We took advantage of the manual pump-out station. What a great idea to make this available to cruisers and sailors.

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Sucia Island Marina State Park –

As long-distance cruisers, we are routinely motivated by an appetite to explore the unknown. We push ourselves to seek out that which we have not yet seen, filling in with returns to some of our favorite finds. Sucia Island is one of those “return” places for us – this being our third visit to this horseshoe-shaped island refuge. We still remember the first time we set foot on this island paradise with its natural sandstone caves. The park includes 564 acres of parkland with over 77,000 feet of shoreline

Spanish explorers, circa 1781, called the island “Sucia” or “foul.” A nautical term describing navigational obstacles such as the rocks around the island.

Previously we’ve moored in Shallow Bay and another time anchored in Fox Cove, but this time we opted to tie Kismet up at the southern dock in Fossil Bay. Sucia Island is roughly two-and-a-half miles long and one-half mile wide. The island offers scenic hiking trails, primitive campsites, plenty of room for anchoring as well as being able to tie to a dock or catch a mooring ball. The reason we love visiting Sucia Island is probably for the same reason others do… the island’s natural beauty and that laid-back feeling you can get when afforded few creature comforts other than the ones you have on your boat. Which we have to admit is quite cushy on a Ranger Tug.

Sucia Island is ideal for boaters who like to get off their boats and stretch their legs.

After docking, with a full view of Fossil Bay from the cockpit of our boat, we set off for a long hike over to Echo Bay. The next day we took a trail up through the woods. It gave us some stunning views of the surrounding bays and open water that encompasses the island. From the bluffs, located on the western side of Fox Cove, you can look out into the southern reaches of the Strait of Georgia and the Canadian/USA water border. Sucia Island provided a backdrop to relax and enjoy nature, which we did for two glorious days and nights.

Staying on the dock gave us more of a social environment than we experienced when anchored or moored previously off the island. The dock is a popular spot, usually, spots are taken right away as soon as one is vacated. This would be a fun spot to come off-season if you require a more isolated experience. The boating season in the Pacific Northwest can really extend year-round if you want to take advantage of the mild winters and avoid crowds.

Kismet is docked in Fossil Bay (above).

Kismet is not the only Ranger Tugs here on Sucia Island we enjoyed having the crew from Puffin join us on the dock for a chat one afternoon. They were not far from us, on the other dock located in Fossil Bay.

Looking down at Fossil Bay and, in the distance, Fox Cove (above).

Fox Cove (above & below).

Echo Bay (above).

Shallow Bay (above).

Our view of Fossil Bay from the cockpit of Kismet (above).

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