James Island Marine State Park
James Island, WA
James Island is a boat access only park near Decatur Island and Rosario Strait, administratively part of San Juan County despite sitting closer to Anacortes. Two sandy, light colored beaches sit on the isthmus connecting the island's two lobes, genuinely sandy rather than the cobble and gravel typical of most marine parks here.
One of the few marine parks here with an actual sand beach rather than gravel, though the crossing is longer and more exposed than the closer islands.
How we score beachesWest Cove's dock is the primary landing, with wooden stairs on the south side of the cove. Moorage fees apply on the buoys and floats between 1pm and 8am.
No road access; a 128-foot moorage float and mooring buoys serve boats arriving by water.
Summer boating season is the realistic window for a visit.
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