Blind
Island
A tiny three-acre marine camping park tucked into Blind Bay beside Shaw Island, with four year-round mooring buoys and sweeping views across Cayou Channel.
Current fishing + crabbing information →
Favor the east.
Watch the rocks.
Blind Island is accessible only by boat. Four year-round buoys lie along its south side, protected somewhat from ferry wakes by the island. The approach contains numerous submerged rocks and shoals, so current charts, tide information, and careful visual navigation are essential.
4 moorings
Four year-round moorage buoys are located on the south side. The two eastern buoys sit in slightly deeper water than the western pair.
Year-round
Moorage fees apply from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. at docks, floats, and buoys. A pay station is located on the island.
48° 35′ 3.84″ N
122° 56′ 18.98″ W, near Blind Bay on Shaw Island.
East side preferred
Pass east of Blind Island when entering Blind Bay. The west passage contains numerous unmarked submerged rocks and is not recommended.
Submerged rock
A large rock lies about halfway between Blind Island and the Shaw Island ferry. A white diamond on a tripod pole serves as a local marker.
Central Blind Bay
Anchoring is reported as good in the central bay over a mixture of mud and seaweed.
None
There are no provisions or potable water on Blind Island. Bring everything needed and pack out all waste.
Public landing
Blind Island has a public landing. Only a small section of Blind Bay tideland is public; most surrounding tidelands and beaches are private.
Use current official charts and notices for navigation. Fishing and shellfish seasons, licenses, catch reporting, and closures change; consult Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before harvesting.
Three acres.
Big horizon.
Blind Island is a boat-access-only marine camping park on the Cascadia Marine Trail. Its position near Shaw Island creates broad views of Shaw, Orcas Island, and the narrow channel between them.
Two campsites sit near the top of the island among old fruit trees, grasses, and brush. There is no potable water; the wells are dry or stagnant, and visitors must pack out everything they bring.
Nearby provisions
Supplies may be available at the Shaw Island General Store or across the channel at the Orcas Village Store. Confirm hours before relying on either business.
Camping
Two primitive campsites provide 360-degree views. Bring drinking water and leave no waste behind.
Fishing + crabbing
Blind Bay can offer productive recreational crabbing. Check current seasons, licenses, emergency rules, and catch-reporting requirements on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing page.
A fisherman’s
island home.
Cayou Channel is named for local fisherman Henry Cayou and was previously called Harney Channel. In the late 1800s, German immigrant John Fox homesteaded Blind Island, fishing and tending a small garden. Traces of planted trees, rock-cut cisterns, and a spring enclosure remain. The island became a state park in 1970 under lease from the Bureau of Land Management; unsafe buildings were removed in 1972.
August 2022
Small island.
Memorable stop.
During an August 2022 stay, harbor seals were frequently seen on the surrounding rocks, especially at low tide. The mooring buoys were somewhat protected from ferry chop.
For provisions on Shaw Island, use the small dinghy dock near the store, notify the store that you are using it, and stay clear of the ferry ramp. Walking along Shaw’s quieter roads also revealed the Shaw Island Gatehouse and its honor-system display of handcrafted seed packets.
Send updated local intel →This is a dated firsthand observation. Conditions, access, fees, services, and wildlife activity can change.
Along the entrance to Blind bay, this sign warns of rocks that can be missed at higher tides. Pat attention to your tide charts and maps to beware of hidden rocks.
Boat on a buoy at Blind Island
Fields seen on a walk - looking back toward Blind Bay from Shaw Island
We stumbled across this adorable little seed shop while out on a walk on Shaw Island. The Gate House has little handcrafted seed packets that were just devine. You can purchase with cash on an honor system.