Sailing the San Juans: Watmough Bay, Lopez Island
Our first stop in the San Juans was Watmough Bay on the southeast side of Lopez Island, a small bay lined with cliffs, a pebble beach for dingy access, hiking trails, and a few mooring balls. Salty Saguaro was one of three who arrived as “buddy boats” making for a full bay, but there was plenty of room to explore. We enjoyed hiking both sides of the bay and had a potluck picnic on the beach for sunset.
a feast for the senses
Upon arrival, we took dinghies to the beach and explored the short trail along the south side of the bay. Between the soft, mossy forest floor and the evergreen canopy mixing with the salty air, this hike was a grounding sensory welcome to Lopez Island.
immersed in nature
We made our way to the point and looked out on sea otters catching dinner next to our boats at anchor. Their little heads bobbed in the water at the bottom of the cliff, entertaining us for quite some time. We never tire of seeing our boats immersed in the natural beauty of spots we otherwise wouldn’t get to experience.
180° views of the Strait
Our second day in Watmough Bay, we hiked up the significantly steeper north side of the bay. The views from the top did not disappoint; they provided a 180° view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca where we could see the water color shift with the gnarly currents (fascinating to see from above). We looked down on our boats in the bay, had a snack, and even found Hannah’s favorite part: a rope swing!
dinner views of Mt Vernon
Our last night in Watmough Bay, we took the dinghies ashore for a potluck picnic. Bellies and hearts full, we watched the sun set on Mt Vernon behind our boats and planned our next stop in the San Juan Islands.