Sucia Island Marine State Park

Sucia Island Marine State Park: Crown Jewel Marine Destination with Fossil-Rich Beaches and World-Class Boating

Sucia Island Marine State Park offers visitors an extraordinary 564-acre marine paradise experience consistently ranked among the world’s top boating destinations, featuring 77,700 feet of pristine shoreline, dramatic sandstone formations embedded with ancient fossils, and comprehensive moorage facilities across six protected bays and coves. This crown jewel of Washington’s marine park system combines the natural beauty of emerald waters and forested trails with the remarkable discovery site of the state’s only dinosaur fossil, an 80-million-year-old theropod femur bone found at appropriately named Fossil Bay in 2012.

Sucia Island Marine State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

Sucia Island Marine State Park preserves a remarkable marine wilderness environment where Coast Salish peoples maintained traditional territories for thousands of years before Spanish explorer Captain Francisco de Eliza named it “Isla Sucia” in 1791, referencing either the challenging weather conditions or dangerous navigational hazards created by surrounding reefs and rocks.

The park’s distinctive character emerges from its extraordinary geological significance, featuring ancient sandstone formations that yielded Washington State’s only dinosaur fossil discovery, while its comprehensive marine facilities across Echo Bay, Shallow Bay, Fossil Bay, Ewing Cove, Fox Cove, and Snoring Bay create unmatched accessibility for boaters seeking pristine San Juan Islands experiences. This crown jewel destination combines the dramatic beauty of emerald waters and forested landscapes with the compelling human history of homesteaders Charles Henry Wiggins and his wife Mary Luzier, a Cowlitz Tribe member, who sought refuge on the island in the 1880s after their children were forcibly removed to boarding schools.

Established through the dedicated conservation efforts of Seattle yachtsman Everett Henry and the Recreational Boaters Association of Washington, who raised $25,000 to prevent development and donated the land to Washington State Parks in 1959, Sucia Island Marine State Park serves boaters and paddlers seeking world-class marine recreation without the crowds of more accessible destinations. The park’s unique combination of abundant wildlife, pristine trails, magnificent sunsets, and fossil-rich beaches makes it an essential destination for serious marine adventurers.

Activities & Recreation

Facilities & Amenities

Sucia Island Marine State Park provides exceptional marine facilities including 48 mooring buoys distributed across six locations, two linear moorage systems, and two docks with Dock Two removed from October through April to prevent storm damage. The park features comprehensive camping amenities with five picnic shelters, composting toilets throughout the island, and seasonal potable drinking water available at Fossil Bay from early April through September and at Echo Bay and Shallow Bay from May through September.

Phone-in buoy registration service streamlines moorage procedures, while anchorage remains available in all bays and coves with no fee for boats using their own anchor, though eelgrass and seaweed may complicate anchor setting in some locations with sandy mud bottoms.

Camping & Accommodations

Sucia Island Marine State Park offers 60 standard campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis, plus four reservable group camps providing options for organized marine camping experiences. All camping operates year-round though seasonal water availability varies, with visitors advised to call the park at (360) 376-2073 for moorage and camping accommodation assistance, particularly for accessibility needs. Day-use shelters and areas are reservable while remaining picnic tables operate first-come, first-served, and the park’s remote location requires visitors to bring comprehensive supplies as the nearest fuel and groceries are available seasonally at West Beach Resort on Orcas Island with full-service facilities located at Blaine, Deer, Roche, and Friday harbors.

Planning Your Visit

Sucia Island Marine State Park operates from 6:30 a.m. to dusk during standard season and 8 a.m. to dusk during winter months, requiring marine access only as no ferry service reaches the island. Visitors must arrange private boat transportation or water taxi services from Anacortes or Orcas Island, with Outer Island Excursions and Island Express providing recommended transportation options. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for park access, with seasonal water availability requiring advance planning and comprehensive provisioning for extended stays. The park’s world-class reputation means advance planning is essential during peak season, while the strict prohibition on fossil collecting requires visitors to observe but not remove the remarkable ancient specimens found throughout Fossil Bay and other locations.

What to Bring & Know

• Complete provisioning for extended stays, as no services exist on the remote island location
• Respect for fossil preservation, as collecting fossils is strictly prohibited throughout the park
• Marine navigation equipment for safely accessing the six different moorage locations with varying conditions
• Water supplies as backup, since seasonal availability varies and should be confirmed before arrival
• Appreciation for geological significance, as this site represents Washington State’s only dinosaur fossil discovery location

Final Word

Sucia Island Marine State Park delivers an unmatched combination of world-class marine recreation, remarkable fossil discoveries, and pristine San Juan Islands wilderness, earning its reputation as the crown jewel destination for serious boaters seeking extraordinary Pacific Northwest adventures.