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Sucia Island's Echo Bay has
14 mooring
Buoys @ $10.00 Per Night And Campsites Ashore |
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Echo
Bay Is Sucia Island's Largest Anchorage
Sucia Island's largest and most popular anchorage is Echo Bay
on the east side of the island. This is where you want to be in
the middle of the action and don't mind a lot of activity around you.
There's usually a steady parade of boats cruising in or out of the
bay and the usual people and kids putting around in dinghies. Many people like
Echo Bay because of its central location between Snoring
Bay and Ewing Cove
and the sea floor is good for anchoring.
Important!
Check Your Chart For Rocks! There are some submerged rocks in the northern
side of the bay.
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Know
Before You Go! Current Weather Conditions For
The San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor Wa) |
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Sea Kayaking To Sucia
Sucia Island is located 2.5 miles north of Orcas Island Making
it a popular destination for Sea Kayakers day tripping to the
island as well as overnighters who set up camp for multi day
trips. There are Sea Kayak tour operators offering 3-5 day
Kayak Adventures to Sucia Island and also explore nearby Patos
(Duck) Island known for its lighthouse often seen in postcards
and scenic lighthouse calendars, and Matia Island just east of
Sucia. (Meals included).
On a typical Kayak tour to Sucia
you are likely to see a number of seals, bald eagles, deer,
and perhaps even a whale or two, however whale spotting is
never a sure thing. (Be Sure To Bring Multiple Dry Sacks
For Your Belongings) |
Whale Watching
Sucia Island is technically within the prime habitat area for
whales and locals and regulars to these islands do see them but on a
day to day basis you just don't know where the whales will be because
they are always on the go. Whale Watching excursion operators rely on
a large network of informants--some residents and some fishermen who
report whale pod sightings, and some even have their own whale
spotting seaplanes to keep track of whale migrations.
 Big
Bay Attracts Big Yachts
For owners of larger sailboats and
motoryachts Echo allows much more room to maneuver compared to the smaller coves and bays on Sucia Island.
This is especially important if you plan on dropping anchor for the
weekend because you need to allow room to swing around 360' and not
hit nearby boats. Deep draft boats need to pay extra careful
attention to nautical maps because there plenty of submerged rocks
and rock shelves to  greet
the unsuspecting boater. You may have heard it said before
that when you think you've gone far enough to miss a reef, go
farther.
Floating
Docklines
Echo bay has 14 mooring
buoys and some innovative floating mooring dock lines. They seem odd at
first but it's easy to see their virtues once you see them in use, and
after watching some people attempt to hook up to a mooring buoy you realize who
they made them for. You simply maneuver your boat next to the dock line, grab a ring and tie up as if floating dock.
If you visit Sucia Island on a weekend you'll want to get there early if you plan to
get a buoy and dock space gets filled up even faster. Once you're tied up
and paid up you can settle down for a game of "Name That Boat" with
your friends or just people watch and count eagles. While you're watching the eagles and seals, don't be
surprised to see a large
Coast Guard vessel dipping into Echo bay to check on things and possibly a
Homeland Security boat or two.
  Eagle Islands
In this photo you can see
the two long finger islands from inside Echo bay. These are private
islands so you can't land on them but the rest of the island is part of the
Sucia Island marine park. As I passed between the islands I
saw several Bald Eagles soaring around with some dipping down to the water near
my dinghy. These finger islands seem to be a favorite place for the
eagles perhaps because the general public isn't allowed on them. You'll notice docks
along side them and a few houses nestled in the trees but other than that they
are very quiet and unspoiled. What a
special place to have a 2nd home.
Echo Bay Pay
Station
If you're going to use a
mooring buoy you will need to make your way ashore to the pay station within 30
minutes of your arrival. The beach has patches of rocky areas
but there are two main areas clear for making a landing. On a busy
weekend the beach is covered with dinghy's and beachcombers and you might even
see a seal or two.
More Islands To Explore -
Patos
Island Marine Park To The West
West of Sucia Isand is the charming Patos
Island marine park. Like Sucia it is accessible only from boat. Patos
or "Duck" island has a lighthouse and beautiful views of Mount
Baker. Patos has only a couple of buoys which are almost always
taken but persistence will eventually pay off. On your next trip to
Sucia be sure to swing by Patos first and if a buoy is available
Grab It!
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