Lime Kiln State Park, a Washington State Park

LIME KILN STATE PARK

LIME KILN STATE PARK
1567 West Side Road
Friday Harbor, Washington 98250

(lat:48.516 lon:-123.151)

Phone: 360-378-2044

Lime Kiln Point is a 36-acre day-use park set on the west side of San Juan Island. The park is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land-based facility. Orca whales are common in the waters off Lime Kiln. The park, which features a richly diverse environment, includes the remnants and landscapes of a history filled with change, along the rocky shoreline and through the wooded uplands. Situated on a rocky point, this park is a popular whale-watching location. Minke whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions and otters cruise the shoreline. The peak whale-watching season is May through September, with June and July being the most likely months to see whales.The lighthouse was built in 1919 and still serves as a navigational beacon for ships in the Haro Strait. Interpretive programs and lighthouse tours are available during the summer months.

Nature of the Area

History of the Area

In 1860, a lime producing operation began to operate in what is now part of the park. For 60 years, the area adjacent to the park was quarried for limestone. Kilns were built to fire the limestone to produce lime. Buildings were built, roads were cut and much of the island was logged to feed the fires of the kilns. The U.S. Coast Guard operated the area adjacent to the lime operation as a lighthouse preserve. In 1919, the Lime Kiln lighthouse and two adjacent lighthouse keepers' quarters were built. When electricity was run to the site in 1960, the need to have lighthouse keepers on site diminished. In 1984, the Coast Guard turned the area over to Washington State Parks and the park was created. The Coast Guard still maintains the lighthouse as an active aid to navigation, but the building is used for orca whale research, interpretation and lighthouse tours. One of the lime kilns was acquired by State Parks in 1996 and has been renovated and interpreted for the public.

Passes

A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the Discover Pass web page.

Camping

This is a day-use only park. There are no camping fees associated with using this park.

Location

Lime Kiln State Park is

Nearby Parks

Posey Island State Park

Turn Island State Park

Jones Island Marine State Park

Jones Island State Park National Wildlife Refuge

Reid Harbor State Park

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area

Stuart Island Marine State Park

San Juan Island National Historical Park

Upright Channel State Park

Victim Island State Park

Picnicking

There are 12 picnic sites and one site that is ADA compliant. Sites are scattered along the rocky shoreline and around the lighthouse. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nature Programs

The Lime Kiln Point Interpretive Center, converted from an old Coast Guard garage, features orca statues, a replica of an orca dorsal fin, and interactive displays and activities to educate visitors about orcas. The center also offers interpretive features focusing on the mining of lime in the old lime kiln for which the park was named. A self-guided interpretive trail is available year round with interpreters available for lighthouse tours, guided walks and marine mammal programs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Area Attractions

The park is surrounded by approximately 200 acres of county land that is open to the public. Whale watching boats and guided kayak trips are available on San Juan Island and operate off of Lime Kiln. Fishing is excellent off of San Juan Island for bottom fish and salmon, but is difficult from shore due to the presence of kelp beds.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews

December 21 Best Site for Land-Based Whale Watching

This park is one of the best sites in the world for land-based whale watching. Thanks to the State of Washington for providing such an excellent resource. Boat-based whale watching is inherently unsustainable. We should all enjoy orca from land, as can be done uniquely from this park. For more information about the problems with boat-based and advantages of land-based whale watching such as at this premier park, please see http://triskelon.net/terence/orca/

February 25 Best Place in USA to view Orcas by Dennis Eccleston

This is a very small park but it has two nice features. The first is the lighthouse you can visit for free and the second is the great view one can get as a pod of Orcas comes up the channel and regularly gets within a few feet of the rocks. Nowhere else in the USA can you get such a good view. Bald eagles are sometimes seen in the park and they plus red and black form red foxes are common on the island.

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Directions

Located on San Juan Island, accessible by ferry from Anacortes.

Take I-5 to Highway 20, follow the signs to the ferry landing. Take the ferry to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. From Friday Harbor, take Spring St, past the Friday Harbor Airport and turn onto San Juan Valley Road. Drive approximately one mile and turn left onto Douglas Road (which changes to Bailer Hill Road and then Westside Road). The park is approximately 10 miles from Friday Harbor and transit buses are available during summer months for visitors who walk onto the ferry, rather than bringing a vehicle.