Cypress Island, Natural conservation island in Skagit County, United States
Cypress Island is a 5,500-acre landmass situated between mainland Washington and San Juan County, bordered by Rosario Strait and Bellingham Channel. The island is heavily forested and surrounded by water, making it a remote destination accessible only by private boat.
Captain George Vancouver named the island in 1792 after mistaking juniper trees for cypress during his exploration of the Pacific Northwest. The name persisted even after the botanical error became known.
The island holds significance for the Samish people, who established fishing villages here and depended on the rich marine resources until the early 1900s.
This destination requires private boat access, as no ferry service connects it to the mainland, so you must arrange your own transportation. Two camping sites on the east side offer overnight options for visitors.
The island contains the only protected low-elevation serpentine forest in Washington, a geological feature that shapes the soil composition and plant life. This rare forest type supports plant species found nowhere else in the region.
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