Blind Island Marine State Park is a public recreation area consisting of the entirety of Blind Island, a

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

at the entrance to Blind Bay on

Shaw Island Shaw Island is the smallest of the four San Juan Islands served by the Washington State Ferries. The island has a land area of and a small year-round population of 240 ( 2010 census). During the summer time, weekends swell with other resi ...

in San Juan County,

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

. It is part of the

San Juan Islands National Monument San Juan Islands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in the Salish Sea in the state of Washington. The monument protects archaeological sites of the Coast Salish peoples, lighthouses and relics of early European American sett ...

. The island lies one-third of a mile west of the Shaw Island ferry terminal and has of saltwater shoreline. The park is cooperatively managed by the

U.S. Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's la ...

and Washington State Parks.

History

In the late 1800s, a man named John Fox homesteaded the island and built a small house and storage sheds. Fox was an immigrant from Germany, where he had made his living as a fisherman. After his divorce from Katherine Fox Dickman, he moved to the island where he lived as a fisherman and tilled a small garden spot, evidence of which still remains today. Fox's son, also named John Fox, died around 1960 after living alone on the island. The elder Fox is buried on the island. The Foxes dug several holes into the rock, evidently to be used as cisterns. There is a small spring, around which a concrete retainer was built that is still in place. The water is unsafe to drink. The island became a state park in 1970 under lease from the BLM. All buildings were removed in 1972 due to their unsafe conditions.

Activities and amenities

As a stop on the

Cascadia Marine Trail The Cascadia Marine Trail is a water trail on Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. It is located along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washing ...

, the island's campsites are restricted to visitors arriving in non-motorized watercraft. Activities include observing the abundant wildlife and frequently passing ferries.

References

External links

Blind Island Marine State Park
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Blind Island Brochure and Map
U.S. Bureau of Land Management {{authority control Parks in San Juan County, Washington State parks of Washington (state) Protected areas established in 1970 1970 establishments in Washington (state) San Juan Islands Uninhabited islands of Washington (state)

History

Activities and amenities

See also

References

External links