Anchorage· San Juan· Salish Sea — San Juans, Gulf Islands & Desolation Sound
Garrison Bay and English Camp (San Juan Island)
48° 35.2′ N · 123° 9.4′ W
A quiet, shallow bay off Mosquito Pass where the British garrison camped during the 1859-1872 'Pig War' standoff. English Camp is now part of San Juan Island National Historical Park, with the old camp grounds and trails just above the beach. Garrison Bay also glows with bioluminescence on dark summer nights.
Practical
Coordinate is the OSM bay. Small craft reach it through Mosquito Pass, which the Coast Pilot says needs local knowledge; go near slack and follow the markers on a current chart. Holding is in mud; check depth against a minus tide before you settle, as the head of the bay is shallow. The park dinghy dock reaches 115 ft into the bay so you can land at low tide; boats up to 20 ft only, and no more than 4 hours in any 24. Shellfish harvest is allowed just north of the dinghy dock subject to WDFW health advisories. Guss Island in the bay is closed: no landing. No services ashore beyond park toilets; Roche Harbor is about 3 nm by water.
Best for
Calm night at anchor and a walk through history
Season
Year-round; park buildings and programs mainly in summer
Nearby
- Westcott Bay (San Juan Island)0.8 NM away
- Snug Harbor Resort, Mitchell Bay (San Juan Island)1 NM away
- Roche Harbor Anchorage (San Juan Island)1.4 NM away
- Roche Harbor Resort Marina (San Juan Island)1.4 NM away
- Spieden Island (from the water)2.8 NM away
- Lime Kiln Point State Park (San Juan Island)4.2 NM away
- Jones Island Marine State Park (Jones Island)4.8 NM away
- D'Arcy Island (Haro Strait)5.3 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).