San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge contains 83 small uninhabited islands across 454 acres in the Salish Sea, featuring rocky shorelines, forests, and marine habitats.

Established in 1976, the refuge integrated Smith Island National Wildlife Refuge from 1914 and other protected territories to form a consolidated conservation area.

The islands hold centuries of Native American heritage, reflecting traditional relationships between indigenous communities and marine environments in the Pacific Northwest.

Visitors must maintain a distance of 200 yards from island shores, except for Matia Island which permits camping and hiking on its one-mile trail.

The refuge provides nesting grounds for 200 bird species annually, including cormorants, guillemots, puffins, and bald eagles in undisturbed natural conditions.

Location: San Juan County

Inception: 1976

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/san_juan_islands

GPS coordinates: 48.64704,-123.08296

Latest update: March 3, 2025 01:39