If you are planning a trip to this magical island in the San Juan Islands group and you want to know what the best things to do in Orcas Island, look no further!
There are so many wonderful beaches and bays, cute shops, beautiful lakes, and great mountains for hiking.
Orcas Island is the place to come if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Once you get off the ferry on this little paradise, your cell phone signal will weaken. There isn’t a big city or chain stores to shop at.
Instead there is a small town with a few locally owned stores, and small coves where you can take it slow.
Getting to Orcas Island
The easiest and most affordable option for getting to Orcas Island is to take the ferry.
The ferry leaves from Anacortes and takes about an hour to get to Orcas Island. It takes about an hour and a half to drive from downtown Seattle to Anacortes.
Tickets are available up to two months in advance. If you check for tickets after that and it says sold out, worry not. More tickets become available two weeks before and then further tickets become available again two days before.
If you are traveling to Orcas Island during the summer months or on a weekend in late spring or early autumn, then be sure to pre-book your tickets on the ferry website.
The other, slightly fancier way to get to Orcas Island is to take a seaplane.
There are three seaplane options that can take you from Seattle to the Orcas Island Airport. You have to call them to see what options are available on the day you want to fly. Prices start around $200 per person one way.
Arriving by plane would leave you on the island without a car unless you rent one when you get there. There is a single car rental company on the island at the airport which you can rent from directly on their website.
There is so much natural beauty to explore while visiting Orcas Island and the best way to get around is to have a car.
Do You Need a Car in Orcas Island?
You don’t absolutely need a car on Orcas Island if you are traveling during summer, but it does make exploring the island a whole lot easier.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there is a shuttle bus that operates to a few of the island’s main attractions. It starts at the ferry terminal and stops at Eastsound, Rosario Resort, and Moran State Park.
If you want to explore all of the best things to do on Orcas Island as well as get off the beaten path to some of the smaller bays and tucked-away restaurants, then you’ll want to bring your car.
The ferry from Anacortes allows you to bring you car to the island and the price of the car ticket includes the driver.
You can bring a bike to Orcas Island and use that as your main mode of transportation, but it’s worth mentioning that Orcas Island is the hilliest island in the San Juans.
You will want to consider taking an electric bike to make life a little bit easier or prepare for some steep climbs out of town.
Where to Stay in Orcas Island
The island is small enough that you can pretty easily drive from one side of it to the other in about 30 minutes.
But there are some bays that offer more amenities. Depending on what you want to get out of your trip will help you determine the best place to stay on the island.
Eastsound is the largest town on the island. This is where the supermarket, bars, restaurants, and most of the local shops are located.
If you want to be able to walk to dinner or easily out to breakfast at the local bakery, then this is the best place to base yourself.
Outlook Inn is one of the most luxurious hotels in Orcas Island. The rooms are comfortable, there are dipping pools, and amazing views back over the sound.
You are also well located to walk everywhere in Eastsound. Rooms start at $240 per night. Book a stay at Outlook Inn here.
A few more budget friendly options in Eastsound include:
A few other great locations around the island to stay include Doe Bay and the stunning Doe Bay Resort and Retreat that is located here.
Rosario Bay has the Rosario Village with amazing views and a few restaurants. And for those that really want to get away from it all, grab a cabin at Deer Harbor Inn.
Best Things to Do in Orcas Island
1. Explore Eastsound
Eastsound is the largest town on Orcas Island and is where you’ll find all of the best restaurants, shops, and bars.
If you are staying in Eastsound, you’ll easily explore much of the town during your stay. But if you are staying in a different part of the island, be sure to spend at least a morning exploring this cute island town.
Have coffee and pastries at Brown Bear Bakery, visit the Orcas Island Historical Museum to learn more about the history of the island, and then stop into Darvill’s Book Store to find something to enjoy while you’re at the beach.
You also don’t want to miss getting a delicious sandwich from Olga Rising, which you can take with you into Moran Park or to the beach for a scrumptious lunch.
2. Sample Local Craft Beer
Long time readers will know that discovering local craft beer is a favorite when Luke and I are traveling and Washington never disappoints on that front.
Island Hoppin’ Brewery is located just on the outskirts of Eastsound. It has a small beer garden and a little bit more seating inside. It was established in 2012 and remains the only microbrewery on the island.
They have fantastic IPAs and Pale Ales, a zingy pilsner, and a nutty porter. The beers change regularly and they always have something unique and creative on tap like the chili blonde ale that had last summer!
If you want to take some to go, they sell cans of their beers. Just head to the bar and ask the bartender which beers are available to-go at the moment.
Relaxing by the water is one of the best things to do in Orcas Island, so be sure to choose a hotel or Airbnb that has a nice place to watch the sunrise or sunset!
3. Visit Orcas Island Winery
If wine is more your tipple of choice, don’t worry, Orcas Island has you covered. The Orcas Island Winery is not far from the ferry terminal so you can visit as your first stop or your last (or both!).
The setting of the winery is absolutely beautiful and tasting are available Thursday to Sunday from noon-6pm. Head here on a sunny afternoon and grab a table outside the barn where you can sample several of their wines and then no doubt buy a few bottles to take home with you.
On Fridays, they open as a restaurant and during the summer months they also have live music events which are almost always free to customers. Be sure to check out their website to see whats on during your trip.
4. Climb up Mt. Constitution
One of the most popular things to do in Orcas Island is to go to the top of Mt. Constitution. The viewpoint sits at just over 2,400 ft (730m) and is not only the highest point on Orcas Island but is the highest point in all of the San Juan Islands.
The funner, longer way to get to the top is to hike. You can park at the Twin Lakes Trailhead and then it’s about an hour to an hour and a half to get to the top.
You will need a Discover Pass to park anywhere within Moran State Park, which is where Mt. Constitution is located. You can get one online before your trip and they will mail it to you. If you don’t think about it until you’ve already arrived, you can purchase it from the state park visitor’s center.
The Discover Pass is good for a whole year and allows you to park in any state park in Washington State. So if you plan on visiting a few different destinations around the state, it’s good to have. If you are only visiting Moran, you can pay a one-time $10 fee to park.
The trail is a loop track, so you don’t have to come back the same way you came. Instead you can stop off at Twin Lakes on the way back or take a dip in Mountain Lake. The views along the trail are stunning.
The whole loop trail is 7 miles and takes about 2.5-3 hours in total. I recommend hiking clockwise because the way down is much steeper and is easier to hike on the way down. See the map on AllTrails here.
If you don’t like hiking or you have already been doing a little bit while you’ve been on the island, then you can also simply drive to the top of Mt. Constitution. There is a paved road all the way to the top with a large parking lot near the lookout point.
There are bathrooms and water fountains at the top of the mountain as well.
At the top of Mt. Constitution is this stone viewing tower which you can climb up to get a clear 360-degree view.
5. Hike Turtleback Mountain
The wonderful thing about Orcas Island is that it is something of a haven for hikers in a state that is already something of a haven for hikers.
Named for its shape, Turtleback Mountain is best viewed from Rosario Bay to get a full view of the turtleshell shape.
Turtleback Mountain has a wonderful story behind it. Much of the land was originally owned by Norton Clapp, the chairman of a large lumber company. When he died, the land was put up for sale and was, of course, of great interest to many developers.
The people of the island did not want that area to be developed. It is home to fragile wetlands, wild orchids, insane views, and is a habitat for countless wildlife.
So they organized over $18 million to purchase it and keep it a nature preserve. It is now owned and maintained by the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank.
There are 8 miles of trails and views that will rival the larger Mt. Constitution. Pack a lunch and enjoy it at Turtlehead Lookout, a short walk from the North Trailhead parking lot.
You do not need a Discover Pass to park at Turtleback Mountain.
Hike around Cascade Lake for a flat and easy trail where there are plenty of places to stop along the way to take photos or go swimming.
6. Spend the Day in Moran State Park
There is so much more to Moran State Park than just Mt. Constitution. If you are coming to Orcas Island to enjoy nature, this is one of the best places to explore it.
Cascade Lake is the smaller of the two main lakes in the park and you can come here to swim, paddleboard, or rent a kayak. There is a small beach, bathrooms, and picnic tables.
There is a loop trail around the lake which can also take you to Cascade Falls, about an hour roundtrip walk from the parking area.
If you are going to hike to Mt. Constitution, pack a bag with a bathing suit and towels to leave in the car. Once you get back to the parking lot, you can change into your suit and take a dip in Mountain Lake.
There is also a loop trail around this lake which is the largest lake in the state park. There are campsites scattered all over Moran State Park. If you want to bring your tent or have a campervan to park here, this would be a fantastic place to wake up each morning on your trip to Orcas Island.
Head to the Moran State Park website to learn about how to reserve a spot at the campsites within the state park.
As mentioned above, you will need a Discover Pass to park anywhere within the state park if you are visiting for the day.
7. Explore the Small Bays
Orcas Island is home to so many little bays and nearly non-existent villages that are worth going out of your way for. Tucked away at the far reaches of the island you’ll find general stores, coffee shops, beachfront restaurants, and solitude.
A few bays to explore on the east side include Doe Bay and Olga (the general store here was my favorite!). While in Olga you can go to Buck Bay Shellfish Farm where you can sample the freshest oysters (raised right in this bay!), steamed clams, fish and chips, and whole Dungeness crab.
Deer Harbor on the west side of the island is another of the more popular places to visit in Orcas Island. Here you’ll find good pizza at Island Pie and seriously good barbecue at Matthew’s Smokehouse.
If you have a rental car, simply grab Google Maps and find some more bays that look inviting. Just be careful about heading onto private land. Some of these smaller bays don’t have any public access, so obey the road signs to make sure you’re not trespassing!
Olga General Store is a great place to come for coffee, lunch, pastries, or some last minute sundries that you may have forgotten!
8. Eat the Best Burger in Town
The Lower Tavern deserves its own place on the list of the best things to do in Orcas Island.
The Lower Tavern’s tagline is “the living room of Orcas Island” and it really feels like that. They also promise to deliver the best burger in town and I didn’t bother to try any other burgers in town because, it was honestly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. I didn’t need to go elsewhere to be disappointed.
The burger here is juicy, thick, packed with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. They serve some ketchup and mustard on the side so you can add whatever else you want. It comes with a huge serving of crispy yet fluffy French fries and all for under $15.
They have a ton of craft beers on draft as well as plenty of other cocktail and wine options available.
9. Visit Orcas Island Distillery
You’ve sampled the wine, the beer, and the local burgers, now it’s time to try the local distillery.
At Orcas Island Distillery they are making award-winning spirits with local grains and fruits. At the tasting room, located in the center of Eastsound, you can sample their aged whiskey, apple brandy, and barrel-rested gin.
The apple brandy is made from apples that are grown right there on Orcas Island. The grains used in the whiskey and gin are grown in nearby Skagit Valley.
They ferment and distill everything in small batches in their distillery on the island. This distillery really is as local as it gets and they are serving up some absolutely delicious spirits.
The Historical Museum is a cute little cabin in Eastsound that is worth checking. out to learn a little bit more about the island.
10. Go Whale Watching
You may be inclined to believe that Orcas Island was so named because of the abundance of Orcas in the surrounding waters.
Don’t feel bad, I thought so too. But Orcas Island was actually named by a Spanish explorer in honor of the sponsor of his expedition, Viceroy Juan Vicente Guemes de Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo.
Horcasitas was shortened to Orcas.
Coincidentally, there are also Orcas as well as several other types of whales that can be seen within a short distance from the port and it is one of the best things to do in Orcas Island.
Whales can be seen in this area from April to October, with the best time being right smack dab in the middle of summer.
This 3.5 hour whale watching tour will do their best to help you see Orcas, humpback whales, minke, and gray whales.
It will take you around the different islands during your trip so you can see even more of the San Juan Islands. They promise a 98% chance of seeing whales if you book with them. Book that tour here.
11. Go Kayaking or SUPing
If you packed your own SUP or Kayak for your trip to Orcas Island, then you can head to any public beach or lake and launch it straight into the water. The lakes in Moran State Park are ideal, so is the bay at Crescent Beach or along North Beach.
If you want to rent them for a few hours while you’re on the island, there are a few options. Along Crescent Beach, there is the Crescent Beach Kayak Rentals. You can rent for $20 an hour or for $55 for a half day. If you have never kayaked before, they will give you some paddling lessons beforehand.
Heading out form here allows you the freedom to wind your way along the coastline, which is ideal for more experienced kayakers.
If you head to Cascade Lake inside Moran State Park, you’ll find another rental spot where you can go out in much calmer waters.
This is a better option if you don’t have a ton of confidence kayaking yet or you are kayaking with kids. In addition to Kayaks, Orcas Adventures rentals also have row boats available to rent.
Rent some kayaks inside Moran State Park to enjoy a paddle on the lake.
12. Obstruction Pass State Park
Home to one of the best beaches in Orcas Island, this little state park is a great place to head on a sunny day to escape the crowds.
You have to hike out to the beach which is about a half a mile from the parking lot. It’s not particularly far, but just far enough that only those that really want to get there tend to bother making the trip.
It keeps it a little bit quieter than some of the other easier to reach beaches. There’s a small campground here if you want to camp (you just pay once you arrive).
There are a few different trails if you want to do a short and relatively flat hike during your trip to Orcas. You will need a Discover Pass to park here.