San Juan County Conservation Land Bank
Westside Preserve
San Juan Island
Activities
Features
The Westside Preserve protects 16-acres and over one-half mile of rocky coastline just south of the Conservation Land Bank’s Deadman Bay Preserve and Limekiln Point State Park. Most notable among this land’s features is the biologically-rich, rocky, inter-tidal habitat and offshore reef. Its open grasslands and high rocky bluffs offer panoramic views overlooking Haro Strait where visitors may watch for whales and other marine life. While best known for its scenic attributes, the Westside Preserve also has ecological significance as a remnant of an ancient prairie ecosystem. Maintaining and restoring its rare native prairie is one of the Land Bank’s goals here. The Preserve has been assembled through a series of transactions with private landowners beginning in 1993 and culminating with a generous donation of 30-acres in 2015.
16
ACRES PRESERVED
Trail Description
Visitors come to enjoy sunsets and early spring wildflowers, to watch for whales and other marine life, and to explore a mile and a half of rustic trails. Visitors are asked to remain on designated trails to limit impacts to these unusual and fragile habitats. A privately owned residence is located between two portions of the preserve—please respect the owners’ privacy.
Preserve Map
When you visit
• Stay on designated trails.
• Day use only, no camping.
• No fires.
• Leash your dog and pack out waste.
• Follow leave no trace principles. Take nothing and leave nothing.
• Operation of drones prohibited.
Driving Directions
From the Friday Harbor ferry landing:
Turn left onto Spring Street and continue out of town. At 1.1 miles Spring Street becomes San Juan Valley Road. At 1.8 miles, turn left onto Douglas Road. At 3.5 miles road bends to right onto Bailer Hill Road. Bailer Hill Road becomes Westside Road at 7.5 miles. Parking consists of three parking pullouts on the left at 8.1 miles (4 vehicles), 8.2 miles (8 vehicles), and 8.4 miles (6 vehicles).
Click the links below to see what flora and fauna others are observing at this Preserve.
