In 1859 an American shot an Englishman's pig which kept breaking through a fence and rooting in his potato patch. This incident erupted into the Pig War, an international dispute over whether Great Britain or the United States owned the islands of what is now San Juan County. 

From 1860-72 both countries occupied the island - the American Army at American Camp and the Royal Marines at English Camp. The Pig War was conducted in a very civilized manner at conference tables with final arbitration by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany awarding the island to the United States.

Thus the only casualty of the war was - one pig! And that's the story behind the island's two largest parks, American Camp and English Camp (also called British Camp).

Public Trail-heads on San Juan Island

SAN JUAN ISLAND NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Includes the American Camp and English Camp, plus the Friday Harbor Administrative Offices.

AMERICAN CAMP
1220 acres - 5 miles of beach - Day Use Only.
Picnic tables, fire pits, privies. Bluffs, lagoon, sand and driftwood.
Interpretive Center at Entrance - Get map here for unique hikes.

SOUTH BEACH
Walk the beach, find a tide pool, marvel at the complexity of life in a small hollow of rock, or hike a 3/4 mile trail on the bluffs to the Hudson's Bay Farm site above Grandma's Cove.

FOURTH OF JULY BEACH
Beautiful cove and gravel beach.

MT. FINLAYSON
Hike the trail up 290' Mt. Finlayson - see American and Canadian mountains on the horizon, seascape below; return on the nature trail above Jakle's Lagoon.

ENGLISH CAMP
See the formal garden, 1860's guardhouse and the parade ground now Home to Deer, Raccoons, Otters, and lots of birds.
  • 530 acres - 2 miles of shoreline - Day Use Only
  • Picnic tables, privies.
  • Boaters - Small dinghy dock - anchor in Garrison Bay
  • Barracks - Visitor information and slide program - Get map for:
  • Bell Point - Saunter wooded trail to Bell Point on Westcott Bay. British Cemetery - Visit this grassy knoll with sheltering trees.
  • Mt. Young Hike up 650' and feel on top of the world
  • Wade in Griffin Bay on a warm day, picnic, or fly kites or Frisbee in the large grass field.

SAN JUAN COUNTY PARK
www.sanjuanco.com/parks
Pebble beach, woods, trails, snorkeling, diving, views of the Olympic Mountains, whales and Victoria, British Columbia. For phone reservations call (360) 378-1842 (hours vary).
  • Public Park
  • Overnight Camping
  • Picnic tables, Restrooms, Drinking Water
  • 20 campsites (No RV hook-ups)
  • Boaters - Launch Ramp, First come, first served for any unreserved spaces.

CATTLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Walk over windswept fields to the Lighthouse. Picnic on the beach or, on a rainy day, in the restored Coast Guard Radio Station.
  • Day Use Only
  • Picnic Tables
  • Privies

EDDIE AND FRIENDS DOG PARK
A favorite park for pet lovers is Eddie and Friends Dog Park, an off-leash dog park where you can safely exercise and socialize your pooch, located on Mullis Street in Friday Harbor, between Browne's Home Center and the San Juan County Fire Station.
  • The park is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until dusk.

EGG LAKE
  • Day Use Only
  • Fish and Bird watch
  • No Facilities
  • Dock and Launch Ramp on Egg Lake Road
  • No gas motors

JACKSON BEACH
  • Picnic and go wading, Sandy beach, play volleyball, skimboard.
  • Day Use Only
  • Boat Launch Ramp

LIME KILN STATE PARK - WHALE WATCH PARK
Requires State Discovery Pass to park. Hike trail to lookout points - see the displays describing whales, porpoises and dolphins .Walk the high bank trail to Lime Kiln Lighthouse and return on a path under fir, cedar and madrona.
  • Day Use Only - High rocky banks - no beach
  • Drinking Water
  • Picnic Tables
  • Privies

REUBEN TARTE PARK
  • Roadside parking - walk down steep trail to a pebble beach.
  • Day Use Only
  • No facilities

SPORTMAN'S LAKE
  • Launch ramp on Roche Harbor Road only access to lake 
  • Fish or bird watch.
  • Day Use Only
  • No facilities

TURN POINT PARK
  • Launch kayaks/canoes only - carry from the parking area.
  • Day Use Only
  • No facilities

EAGLE COVE BEACH PUBLIC ACCESS
  • Park at trail head off Cattle Pt. Rd. and Eagle Cove Dr.- walk to beach.
  • Day Use Only
  • No facilities
 
SCULPTURE PARK AT ROCHE HARBOR RESORT​
  • An exhibit of over 100 sculptures
  • 19 open acres
  • Available for Wedding and Events
  • Located next to Roche Harbor Resort