Obstruction Pass State Park
Orcas Island, WA
Obstruction Pass is one of the few genuinely public beaches on Orcas Island, most of whose shoreline is private. Getting there takes a three quarter mile forest trail and a set of stairs down to a crescent of smooth, marble sized, multicolored pebbles that's reportedly the longest beach on the island.
Genuinely public on an island where that's rare, a real reason locals value it, though the walk in keeps it from being a casual stop.
How we score beachesThe walk in is real, about fifteen minutes each way through madrone forest, so it's not a park and stroll beach. Bring water and don't rush it.
A Discover Pass is required for the trailhead lot.
A forested trail with stairs at the end leads to the beach, not suited to strollers or limited mobility.
Good for hiking year round. Summer is the draw for actual beach time.
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