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Resident of Jones |
STATE PARK GEMS JONES ISLAND STATE PARK Information: Jones Island State Park is a 188-acre marine camping park with 25,000 feet of saltwater shoreline on the San Jaun channel. The park features a beautiful loop trail down the center of the island then around the western shore. Access: The Park is located one mile west of the southwest tip of Orcas Island. This Park is accessible only by boat. Drinking water is available April through September. The park has two pit toilets and four composting toilets. There are seven permanent mooring buoys and 128 linear feet of dock moorage at the North Cove. The moorage dock is removed from October through March. Anchorage is good at both the north and south coves. Comments: Without question one of the more popular destinations of the San Juan Islands. Take a walk along the 2 miles of hiking trails and you may see deer, birds, or mink, or search for the foundation of a pioneer's homesite on the south side of the island.
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JONES ISLAND STATE PARK
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many cruisers in the San Juans, this is their favorite island. It certainly
is a wonderful place, especially for children. There are large grassy areas
for playing games, interesting but easy trails to walk, accessible wildlife
(both terrestrial and marine) and several well-maintained toilet facilities.
There is a dock, mooring balls, and anchoring space in the North Bay and moorings
and anchoring in the South Bay. One can easily use a dinghy for shore access
in either bay.
CLet's take a photographic tour of the island to give you an impression of the treats in store for you if you choose to visit in your boat.
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Anchored in North Bay, Pebbles for Kids, Trails to Stroll
CRemember that word for folks who are afraid of strangers -- xenophobe? Well, in geological parlance we use that 'stranger' root word, xeno, to describe rocks, liths, that are foreign to the 'country rock.' In other words, a rock that is out of place, but incorporated, in a larger world of rocks. Here are some xenoliths found on Jones Island. Go on a treasure hunt and see if you can find xenoliths (don't be confused by the biological stuff on the surface of rock, like gull poops, lichens or green moss -- to geologists, that's bioscuzz).
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Dark Xenoliths Incorporated in Lighter Rocks
CThis island, like all the San Juan Islands, was recently (geologically speaking) under more than a mile of ice. This continental glacier ripped or scraped rocks from the mountains that lie north and inland from the islands and carried them along within the ice. These rocks were later dumped unceremoniously by the melting glacier at random places on the island and in the sea. We have a descriptive name for such rocks -- glacial erratics.
An Erratic
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Beauty
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Beauty, With Some of the 'Lower' (And Often, More Complex) Forms of Plant Life
CThere is, of course, ample biobeauty to relish on the island. Some of the trees have interesting biological tales or history to relate to the curious observer.
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Madrone, 'Stretch Marks." and A Pileated Woodpecker Picnic Spot
CTrees also have other uses, especially if you are a young person with a spirit of adventure and fun.
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A Treed Bryce
CThen there are mysteries for the kids (and curious adults) to observe and figure out.
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CThere are some picnic tables on the dock for shared meals, and time for chatting and sharing with friends with some of the finest water views in Washington.
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Crew of the R-Matey and Halcyon; El and Ruth
CAnd there are some outstanding vistas. Stay awhile, relax and enjoy this gem of the State Park System.
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(07/07)
