The Ultimate Guide to Lopez Island, WA
Small town vibes, island living, farm fresh foods, handcrafted art, and coastal charm, Lopez Island is a magical little getaway for those looking to unplug from their busy lives, avoid people (its population is just 2,500!), and live in the now. Hop on a Washington State Ferry and sail into the Salish Sea to this 15-mile friendly isle where everyone waves as you drive by, and experience the “Slowpez” lifestyle year-round. Here’s everything to know to visit Lopez Island, WA.
Top of Chadwick Hill
FAQ
Where is Lopez Island, Washington?
Lopez Island in Washington’s Salish Sea.
How Big is Lopez Island?
Lopez Island is the third-largest island in the San Juan Islands at 29.5 square miles.
Can you Drive to Lopez Island?
Yes! In fact, I’d recommend it! Driving on the ferry allows you the freedom to experience the entire island at your leisure!
Shark Reef Sanctuary Trail
Table of Contents
A Brief Lopez Island History
Originally settled by the Coast Salish tribe (with evidence of early settlement as far back as the end of the ice age 14,000 years ago), a few Europeans found their way to the islands. The first non-Native settler arrived in 1850 at the age of 19 or 20, defended the Coast Salish from raiders with his gun, and they invited him into their community. He married a Tlinglit woman and he became Lopez’s postmaster and storekeeper in Fisherman’s Bay, which is still the island’s main town center. More settlers started arriving in 1873 after a boundary dispute between the British and the US was finally settled. The locals started farming, fishing, and ranching, and creating a self-sustaining community. If the world comes to an end, I’m convinced Lopez will continue on unscathed. You’ll know where to find me.
Iceberg Point’s glacially scarred rocks.
The Geology
If you know me, you knowww I love rocks and geology, and the San Juan Islands have a pretty dang cool history. They were actually the tops of a mountain range that was once covered in glacial ice. Today, the hikes I’ll talk about below take you over some epic glacially scarred rocks–they’re smooth and rounded and often covered in moss.
Washington State Ferry
How to Get to Lopez Island
Rope swing on top of Chadwick Hill
Some travelers take private boats or charter planes, but the easiest way to get to Lopez Island, WA, is aboard a Washington State Ferry. I’d recommend driving on for ultimate flexibility and freedom! The island is also super biker friendly.
The San Juan Islands ferry system lets you book reservations up to two months in advance, and 90% of the space on each vessel is reservable. I HIGHLY recommend reserving a spot. There are only a few ferries each day, and they fill up, especially in high season (summer). Making a reservation ensures you have a spot regardless of how busy it gets!
Note that a reservation is not a ticket. You must show up and drive through the toll booth at the ferry terminal 31 minutes before your ferry is scheduled to depart (I learned this one the hard way) to pay for and receive your ticket. If you don’t show up, you’ll be charged a no-show fee.
Click for the Lopez Island Ferry Schedule
Lopez Farm Cottages
Where to Stay on Lopez Island, WA
There are plenty of Lopez Island lodging options to choose from–we ended up choosing the Lopez Farm Cottages and it was a magical couple nights’ stay! We booked Cabin #1–it’s a little more private than the other four, and has its own hot tub. You bet your booty we took full advantage of it! They also have glamping tents and a campground with plenty of amenities if you’d like something a little more nature-oriented! Lopez island camping could be such a blast!
Where to Eat on Lopez Island, WA
Lopez Village may be small but their food options don’t disappoint. Each spot is unique and nearly all find their own way of incorporating Lopez Island’s farmed goods. Here are a few of my favorite Lopez Island restaurants.
Setsunai Noodle Bar
Setsunai Noodle Bar
If handmade udon and ramen noodles with vegetables and hand-smoked meats sourced straight from Lopez Island farms sounds like your cup of broth, do NOT miss Setsunai Noodle Bar. Seriously. We tried a stir fry smoked pork belly udon and a salmon ramen and my god, it was delicious. Definitely make a reservation if you’re thinking of dining in–it gets poppin’. Especially in the summer!
Haven Kitchen and Bar
Go for the view, stay for the food. This waterfront Lopez Island restaurant has it all–baked brie, burgers, linguini, and fish tacos–but the view is easily the best in town. Try to snag a reservation for sunset if you can!
Smoked salmon quesadilla from Vortex, Lopez Island, WA
Vortex
This mainstay has been around for more than a few decades and for good reason. They create some pretty bomb dihses, transforming local produce and organic whole foods into soups, salads, wraps, quesadillas, juices, and smoothies. I had a smoked salmon quesadilla. Fire. Bonus: pair it with a not so healthy but equally delicious beer from next door!
Brewvado Taproom and Lopez Island Brewing Company
Lopez Island Brewing Company Golden Ale
Brewvado Taproom
Brewvado has a solid selection of local Lopez Island Brewing Company’s beer and a few additional Washington favorites. Stop in to taste them all and indulge in some delicious complimentary popcorn. You won’t be able to resist.
Blue Heron Bistro
This poppin’ spot is popular for its breakfast–fried chicken and waffles or biscuits and gravy, anyone? It’s honestly a nice spot to grab some locally sourced grub any time of the day!
El Taco ‘Bout It
Looking for a quick bite to-go? Swing by El Taco ‘Bout it Friday through Sunday for a big burrito or tacos for the road.
Isabel’s Espresso
Isabel’s Espresso
You know I’ve gotta start every single morning with a cup of coffee, and Isabel’s Espresso definitely has the island vibe I was looking for with locally roasted beans (and free wifi). There’s no service on this island, so that was a nice bonus!
Lopez Grind
Lopez Grind has the best lavender latte I’ve ever had. ‘Nuff said.
Point Colville
The Best Lopez Island Parks and Hikes
Lopez Island, WA’s coastal landscape is unmatched in my opinion. I think it’s the best in the San Juan Islands. I know, bold statement. There are plenty of nature escapes and outdoor adventures to explore on Lopez Island–here are a few of my favorites!
Iceberg Point
Iceberg Point
A 3-mile loop hike takes you through coastal forest and along rocky cliffs with epic views of the Olympics on a clear day. It’s a sweet spot to catch views of our resident Orcas too! Park at Agate Beach County Park and hike out to the hidden cove with a tidal beach and take in the crazy looking orange rocks before rounding the rocky tip for a coastal adventure the rest of the way! There’s a little history here too–it used to be a reef net site where you could get fish straight off the boats. Swing by the Treaty of 1908 marker before you head out! But dress warm, it tends to get pretty dang windy.
Chadwick Hill
Watmough Bay and Chadwick Hill
A short 1.6-mile RT hike takes you to a cool beach nestled back in a deep cove and winds up Chadwick Hill for epic east-facing views over that same cove and beyond. You gain about 440’ in under a mile, so it’s decently steep in some sections but so worth it! Promise!
Point Colville
Point Colville
Point Colville is easily one of my favorite spots on the island. It reminded me a bit of the Big Island, Hawaii. I know, I wouldn’t believe me either. You have to experience the magic for yourself! It’s wild and coastal with a few islands off shore. Absolutely gorgeous. AND it’s a loop hike. So, that’s cool.
Boardwalk out to Shark Reef Sanctuary.
Shark Reef is such a beautiful little coastal park! The trail is a 0.8-mile loop and takes about 16 min to complete if you’re trying to run through it. Don’t. Stay a while and enjoy the seals sunbathing on the rocks, take a closer look at the moss-covered rocks–there’s some cool stuff in there–and breath in the salty air. It’s a joy.
Leave No Trace
Always remember to leave no trace–pack out what you pack in, leave what you find, prepare for every adventure, and respect the outdoors and each other every step of the way. Learn more about how to leave no trace here.
And if you do decide to venture out, drop a comment below or shoot me an email to tell me how it went!
Happy adventuring!
Watmough Bay from Chadwick Hill
What to Pack
Clothes you can adventure in!
There are a ton of hikes on the island, but none technical enough where I thought I needed hiking clothes or boots. I wore my REI overalls and Blundstones to almost all of them!
A good pair of leggings is always a good idea. I brought my REI Take Your Time 7/8 leggings.
And, as always, invest in some solid merino wool socks. Love my Margarita socks by Smartwool.
If you’re staying at the Lopez Farm Cottages, don’t forget your swimsuit for the hot tub! I have this one in blue and I LOVE IT.
A warm sweater or puffer. I’d recommend the Patagonia Synchilla fleece or Stio’s Pinion Down Pullover.
A waterproof outer layer. You’ll find me in REI’s XeroDry GTX shell!
An Everywhere Mat!
We grabbed El Taco ‘Bout It to go and had a picnic on the beach. The ground was a little wet and seaweed-y, so we laid down our Everywhere Mat to stay clean and dry!
It got a little chilly throughout the day, so having an adventure-proof down blanket to toss over our legs when we were chillin’ at the beach kept us warm and toasty!
A camera!
I brought my Sony A7r II along for the ride–it’s small, lightweight, high quality, and captured all the photos in this post. The one I linked is the newer version (A7r III) because mine is sadly discontinued.
