Established Camping
Patos Island State Park Campground
About
Bureau of Land Management
Welcome to the northwestern-most point in the lower 48 states! Patos Island is a wild and remote 200-acre island in the beautiful Salish Sea. The mountains of Canada and the spectacular Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges provide scenic backdrops to this special area. Recreational activities include hiking, camping, boating, sea kayaking, watching wildlife, and viewing wildflowers along the beaches, wooded areas, and at overlooks. The BLM cooperatively manages the area with Washington State Parks. Patos Island Lighthouse, built in 1893, stands on the western-most end of the island, providing light and reference to mariners. Know Before You Go: Patos Island is open YEAR ROUND. Limited mooring buoys and campsites in Active Cove are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Patos Island is only accessible by watercraft. Patos Island is very primitive and there is no fresh water available on site. On October 7, 2014, San Juan County became the first County in the U.S. designated as a voluntary Leave No Trace Area. Point of Interest: Keepers of the Patos Light are a nonprofit partner group that operates a small interpretive museum during the summer weekends from June through September, based on weather and available volunteers. Patos Island Brochure
Fee Info
Washington State Park fees apply.
Access
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Super Remote Island Camping
It was an awesome trip. We camped right out in the open and watched the barges go past in the night. The stars and the sunsets were incredible. The view from the lighthouse is pretty incredible. Can only get there by boat, so it's pretty quiet.
My Favorite of the San Juan Islands!
Patos Island is incredible. A little bit hard to get to, the cove on Patos boasts strong currents that require you to anchor with care if not using one of the few mooring buoys. Some of the campsites are rather exposed while others are well tucked into the woods.
The walk to the Patos Lighthouse is easy, short, and a must do. My favorite is going to the lighthouse for sunset. If you're lucky enough to be there when the lighthouse is open for tours you'll get a quick glimpse into the history of the islands.
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Location
Patos Island State Park Campground is located in Washington
Directions
Patos Island State Park is located five miles northwest of Orcas Island in San Juan County. It is accessible only by boat and there is no commercial ferry service to the park. The nearest launch sites are at Point Roberts Marina (13 miles north), Blaine Harbor (11 miles northeast), and Squallicum Harbor in Bellingham (24 miles east).
Coordinates
48.79785073 N
122.95218 W