Jones Island Marine State Park
Jones Island, WA
Jones Island is a boat access only marine park a mile off Orcas Island's southwest tip, often cited as one of the more scenic stops in the archipelago. Deer here are notably tame, and the two coves, North and South, each have their own gravel landing beach for boaters and kayakers.
Real, well documented, and genuinely scenic, but boat-in only access limits it to people already out on the water rather than a general audience.
How we score beachesNorth Cove has a seasonal dock removed for winter; South Cove suits smaller boats and kayaks better year round if the dock isn't in.
No road access; moorage buoys and a seasonal dock serve boats arriving by water.
Best visited in the summer boating season when the dock is in place and weather is calmer for the crossing.
This isn't one entrance, it's a stretch with a few. Here's where locals actually meet up.
North Cove
A dock, seasonal and removed for winter, plus year-round mooring buoys and a steep gravel beach.
Get directions →South Cove
Mooring buoys suited to larger boats and a rounded gravel beach good for kayaks, canoes, and dinghies.
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