Anchorage· D'Arcy· Salish Sea — San Juans, Gulf Islands & Desolation Sound
D'Arcy Island (Haro Strait)
48° 34.1′ N · 123° 17.2′ W · approximate
A small wooded island at the southern edge of the park reserve, facing Haro Strait. It was a leper colony for Chinese immigrants from 1891 to 1924, and traces of the settlement remain in the trees. It is a quiet, rugged day stop or overnight in settled weather.
Practical
Position is approximate, off the west shore; check chart 3441 for a spot clear of rocks. Strong Haro Strait currents run past and there is little shelter from south or east winds; treat it as a fair-weather stop. Parks Canada's fee page lists buoys at D'Arcy, but its boating page lists only Sidney Spit, Beaumont and Cabbage Island, so do not count on finding a buoy. Seven boat-access backcountry campsites, first come first served: C$15 per person a night, pit toilets, no drinking water and no fires. Stay at least 100 m off nearby islets and wildlife.
Best for
History, solitude, a fair-weather lunch stop
Season
June-September in settled weather
Nearby
- Sidney Spit (Sidney Island)4.6 NM away
- Snug Harbor Resort, Mitchell Bay (San Juan Island)4.8 NM away
- Garrison Bay and English Camp (San Juan Island)5.3 NM away
- Roche Harbor Anchorage (San Juan Island)5.6 NM away
- Westcott Bay (San Juan Island)5.6 NM away
- Roche Harbor Resort Marina (San Juan Island)5.9 NM away
- Lime Kiln Point State Park (San Juan Island)6.2 NM away
- Port Sidney Marina (Sidney)6.6 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).