San Juan Islands September 2026

By Ann Morrow

I am continuing to plan a San Juan Islands trip this September.

Typically, these rides have been group/semi-group format as riders make choices independently on each island to stop at some locations for more sightseeing or to pedal on to the next viewpoint. So the rides tend to naturally split into leapfrogging our friends, then rejoining them and then splintering again. I anticipate that occurring again this year, but we will mostly be on the same roads and intercepting each other as we set our own pace.

I hope you all consider this option, as it affords some beautiful riding. Over the years we have done this ride multiple times.  My version will be similar.

The general plan is:

• Catch the 12 p.m. ferry  from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on Tuesday, September 8. If you are driving you need to make a ferry reservation (https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/policies/ferry-reservation-policy). If you are camping, we will work together to share vehicles to haul gear on the ferry and to LakeDale resort. We will meet at Anacortes prior to the ferry departure and then some will bike from Anacortes to the ferry and then to LakeDale resort on San Juan Island while their gear is carried in a car. Cyclists will help with the ferry fees for the drivers.

• We’ll ride around San Juan Island on Wednesday, the 9th. As Bud always reasons, you just arrived and you don’t know where anything is, so we don’t want to race to catch a ferry the first day. We’ll acclimate on San Juan and enjoy Friday Harbor.

• Thursday, September 10th we will catch a ferry to Lopez Island and ride around the perimeter. There is a little community and we can eat and have coffee there before catching the ferry back. Lopez is the flattest of the 3 Islands.
• Friday, September 11th we’ll head to Orcas Island. There are many options on this horseshoe-shaped Island. One is Mt. Constitution, the highest point in the San Juans. It is possible to get off the ferry, ride up the mountain and catch the ferry back to Friday Harbor. I would encourage you to check this out seriously as it will not be a leisurely endeavor. There are many other fun excursions without climbing Mt Constitution.

• Saturday, September 12th we head back to the lovely Rose City. 

Obviously, you can make this trip what you want. Arrive sooner, stay longer. Don’t ride one day and kayak or hike or just do what you want to do. 

Accommodations can also vary–motels, AirBnB, bring your RV, camp or stay in a cabin at Lakedale Resort https://www.lakedale.com . I  have reserved 2 family camp sites. One is full. One has about 6 vacancies. Let me know if you are going to join me in the family sites and we will share the costs. 

Let me know your e-mail address, and we will have a ZOOM meeting soon.

Looking forward to this summer adventure with my cycling friends.

Ann Morrow – [email protected]