Canoe Island
Encyclopedia
Canoe Island lies in the center of the San Juan Islands
in Upright Channel between Shaw Island
and Lopez Island
. The two water approaches to Indian Cove County Park on Shaw Island
pass to either side of Canoe Island, which protects Indian Cove from high waves and surf. At low tide, mudflats in the shallow cove may be exposed. The island has a maximum elevation of 60 feet and has a 49.58 acres (200,643.3 m²) span. The island supports a moderately heavy growth of madrone
, cedar
, fir
and hemlock
trees growing on a small amount of soil. The shore of Canoe Island is fringed by kelp
and seagrass
. The narrowest part of Upright Channel lies between Canoe Island and Flat Point on Lopez Island
, where the channel is scarcely 400 yards wide.
The Washington State Ferry
route from Anacortes to Friday Harbor passes between the southern corner of the island and Lopez Island
.
Canoe Island is home to Canoe Island Camps
, and is privately owned by the camp, a non-profit organization.
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
in Upright Channel between Shaw Island
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 19.952 km² and a small year-round population of 240 , with only a slight increase during tourist season. The Wilkes Expedition, in 1841, named the island after John Shaw,...
and Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
. The two water approaches to Indian Cove County Park on Shaw Island
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 19.952 km² and a small year-round population of 240 , with only a slight increase during tourist season. The Wilkes Expedition, in 1841, named the island after John Shaw,...
pass to either side of Canoe Island, which protects Indian Cove from high waves and surf. At low tide, mudflats in the shallow cove may be exposed. The island has a maximum elevation of 60 feet and has a 49.58 acres (200,643.3 m²) span. The island supports a moderately heavy growth of madrone
Pacific Madrone
Arbutus menziesii, commonly known as the Pacific Madrone, is a species of Arbutus found on the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California...
, cedar
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
, fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and hemlock
Tsuga
Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. The common name hemlock is derived from a perceived similarity in the smell of its crushed foliage to that of the unrelated plant poison hemlock....
trees growing on a small amount of soil. The shore of Canoe Island is fringed by kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
and seagrass
Zostera
Zostera is a small genus of widely distributed seagrass, commonly called marine eelgrass or simply eelgrass . The genus Zostera contains sixteen species.-Ecology:Zostera is found on sandy substrates or in estuaries submerged or partially floating...
. The narrowest part of Upright Channel lies between Canoe Island and Flat Point on Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
, where the channel is scarcely 400 yards wide.
The Washington State Ferry
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
route from Anacortes to Friday Harbor passes between the southern corner of the island and Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
.
Canoe Island is home to Canoe Island Camps
Canoe Island French Camp
Canoe Island French Camp offers children ages nine to sixteen the opportunity to learn the French culture while participating in traditional camp activities. The camp is located on Canoe Island in the San Juan Islands in Washington state. CIFC capitalizes on its secluded island location by keeping...
, and is privately owned by the camp, a non-profit organization.