Cattle Point
San Juan Island, WA
Cattle Point sits at the southeast tip of San Juan Island, a rocky beach below a bluff top interpretive area with panoramic views over San Juan Channel and a working 1888 lighthouse. Managed jointly as a state Natural Resources Conservation Area and part of San Juan Islands National Monument, it's as much a wildlife stop as a beach.
Real, well documented, and scenic with a genuine lighthouse and wildlife watching, though it reads more as a rocky viewpoint than a classic swim beach.
How we score beachesThe short trail down from the picnic shelter is easy, but it's a rocky, gravel shoreline, not sand, so come for the tide pooling and views rather than a swim.
A Discover Pass is generally required for parking; some sources note limited free parking, so bring a pass to be safe.
Land based whale and marine mammal watching is best in the warmer months. The lighthouse and views hold up year round.
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