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6 days San Juan Island Selfguided tour

Summary

The San Juan Islands are a bucolic wonderland with a pace of life reminiscent of a time long passed on the mainland. Many drivers wave as they pass and you will receive one of the friendliest welcomes anywhere in the United States. You ride on quiet lanes through lush forests, past small farms, and around coves where the sun sparkles off the water. The ferries between the islands are all part of the adventure: it is not uncommon to see seals, sea lions, porpoises and even orca whales breaching.

Recreational, Road bike

6 days

201 km / 125 mi

$ 2,460.-

Quiet roads and hidden coves
San Juan, Orcas, Lopez & Shaw Island
Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Optional extras: Whale-watching tour or sea kayaking
Customize your tour

Deposit for this tour is 25%

Gallery

Details

Type

Recreational, Road bike

Duration

6 days

Level

Moderate

Support

Self-Guided

Daily distance

40-60 km / 25-37 mi

Total distance

201 km / 125 mi

Lodging

Deluxe, room & breakfast

Luggage transport

Daily luggage transfers

Bicycle

Rental

Dates

01 May 2022 - 30 Sep 2022

Single fee ask for price

Start

Friday Harbor

Finish

Friday Harbor

Airport at start

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Airport at finish

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Prices Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

Price per person / please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

The tour price per person

$ 2,460.-

Itinerary

Included / Not included

Day 1: San Juan Island Southern Loops

You will be met by your guide in the vibrant port town of Friday Harbor. Your guide will serve you
lunch, give you your trip briefing, and then ride with you for a few miles – just to help you get oriented. Your riding today is focused on the southern part of San Juan Island.
IntermediateThe ride heads to American Camp at the southernmost tip of San Juan Island. (American Camp was home to the US Army during the joint occupation of the islands by the Americans and the British in 1859.) Your route then continues around the marine sanctuary at False Bay to Pelindaba Lavender Farm – in full purple bloom during the summer months. You then circle back to FridayHarbor. 30 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing
Leisure riders follow the Intermediate ride above but skip the southernmost tip of the island to loop around False Bay before heading directly back to Friday Harbor. 15 miles with
900 feet of climbing
Challenge riders follow the Intermediate ride and add on a loop out to Lime Kiln State Park – the nation’s only whale watching park with its iconic lighthouse and old lime kilns. 40 miles with 2,400 feet of climbing
Overnight town: Friday Harbor is a quaint, well-preserved town with several art galleries, bookshops, and boutiques dotted along its historic streets. There is a whale museum and whale-watching tours. There are also several great places to eat. As you would expect, seafood is a major feature on many menus.

Day 2: San Juan Island Northern Loops

Today you do a loop ride in the northern part of the island.

IntermediateThe ride follows rolling back roads to Roche Harbor. This sheltered cove has been a
haven for sailors for over 150 years. There are several waterfront restaurants – ideal for a leisurely
lunch in the sunshine.
After lunch, you go on to explore British Camp (the site used by the British troops during the joint
military occupation of the Island in 1859). From here it’s a meandering loop back to Friday Harbor along the west coast. In places, you’re less than 3 miles from the Canadian border, and the snowcapped mountains of Vancouver Island frame the western horizon. Sites en route include an outdoor sculpture park, an alpaca farm, and Lime Kiln State Park – the nation’s only whale watching park. Wildlife is a common sight – orcas in the ocean, deer on the land and bald eagles in the air. 30 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing
Leisure riders follow the Intermediate route to Roche Harbor and English camp before heading straight back to Friday Harbor across the center of the island. 25 miles with 1,400 feet of climbing

Day 3: Friday Harbor to Eastsound (Orcas Island)

Today you head across the water to Orcas Island. Here, dense forests, placid lakes and multiple inlets create a rugged, unspoiled beauty. The day starts with a ferry ride from Friday Harbor to Orcas.
IntermediateFrom the ferry terminal, the riders follow the curving shoreline past a series of small inlets to Deer Harbor. The little sandy beach and dock make this a great place for a picnic lunch. Crow Valley Road then takes you across the heart of the Island past Turtleback Mountain Preserve and a succession of small farms. A short detour takes you to Orcas Island Pottery – a world-renowned institution perched on a 100-foot-high bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From here, it’s just a short ride to Eastsound. 25 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing
Leisure The riders start out on the Intermediate route but head straight across the island on Crow Valley Road via Orcas Island Pottery, skipping the out-and- back to Deer Harbor. 15 miles with 1,000 feet of climbing.
Overnight town: Eastsound is a charming seaside town and artist community. The laid- back atmosphere here can make even Friday Harbor seem hectic by comparison. That said, the clutch
of galleries and stores are enough to while away a pleasant couple of hours. Eastsound also has the best ice cream on the archipelago.

Day 4: Orcas Island Loops or Out on the Water

Be as active or as relaxed as you choose. The cycling routes are focused on the eastern side of the Island. The non-cycling options get you out on the water.
Intermediatethe route heads south past the placid waters of Cascade Lake and through the densely-forested Moran State Park. After a side-trip to Obstruction Pass you head to the idyllic beach at Doe Bay for lunch. 25 miles with 2,500 feet of climbing
Leisure The riders follow the Intermediate route but skip the detour to Obstruction Pass.20 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing
Challenge The riders follow the Intermediate route but add in a steep out-and-back to the top of Mount Constitution. At 2,400 feet, this is the highest point on the San Juan Islands. 35 miles with
4,300 feet of climbing

Day 5: Lopez Island Excursion

Today, you head over to Lopez Island – the “Friendly Isle.” This 15-mile island is one of the most peaceful and relaxed islands in the San Juan chain.
Intermediate Once on Lopez Island, the riders cycle past driftwood-scattered beaches to Spencer Spit with stunning views of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains. After cycling past small farms that produce fruits and vegetables, you get to Shark Reef Sanctuary where seals bask in the sunshine. From here you head back up to Lopez Village. 30 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing
Leisure riders follow the Intermediate route but head straight to Lopez Village from Spencer Spit -skipping the loop to Sharks Reef. 20 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing
Challenge riders follow all of the Intermediate route but also add in an extra loop to MacKaye Harbor on the southern tip of the island. 35 miles with 1,900 feet of climbing
Friday Harbor is a quaint, well- preserved town with several art galleries, bookshops, and boutiques dotted along its historic streets. There is a whale museum and whale-watching tours. There are also several great places to eat. As you would expect, seafood is a major feature on many menus. For all routes, the best place for lunch is Lopez
Village; beautifully situated at the north end of Fisherman Bay. At the end of the day, you take the ferry back to Friday Harbor.

Day 6: Shaw Island Excursion - Last Day

Shaw Island is today’s destination. Shaw is the smallest of the islands serviced by the regular ferries. On Shaw Island you will find sandy beaches, quiet roads and a historic general store – but not much else. And that’s just how the population of 240 likes it. One of the few places to visit – other than the beaches and parks – is the Benedictine monastery. The resident nuns farm the land here and welcome visitors. Indeed, nuns operated the store and ferry terminal here until 2004. The island is small and the riding is leisurely. 15 miles with 900 feet of climbing
Optional (not included): Today is also a good day to enjoy sea kayaking or whale-watching or you can simply relax in Friday Harbor – shopping, browsing the galleries or visiting the Whale Museum.

*Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

For more information about bicycle rent, accommodation and arrival and departure information see the PDFs below this page

Included

Private transfers from/to Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal or Airport.
Inter-island ferry tickets.
GPS units, cycling maps, and a custom guidebook; one set per couple.
Guide available by phone from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. On-call roadside assistance available from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for mechanical issues.
Luggage transported between lodgings and wine collection service.
Transfers along all or part of the route to coincide with luggage moves – to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance.
Snacks and ride food.
Concierge service for activity and meal reservations.
Accommodation for each night of your tour with breakfast the following morning (unless breakfast is explicitly excluded in the accommodation description earlier).
Prices quoted are per person but assume there are two people sharing a room. We book standard rooms with one bed unless an upgrade is requested and then extra charges may apply. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Not Included

Flights to and from the tour
Lunches and dinners though we are pleased to make reservations for you.
An on-bike guide.
Transport from/to the mainland to/from Friday Harbor. See Arrival and Departure Information below for options on getting to/from Friday Harbor.
Activities such as kayaking, whale watching, and spa treatments – though we are pleased to make suggestions and reservations on your behalf.

Travel Safely

Our health-screened guides are available throughout your tour and will wear masks and take distancing precautions.
Overnight accommodations have been screened to help ensure they follow distancing protocols and sanitize rooms between guests.
Our equipment, from bikes to vans, are sanitized before and after serving guests.

Map & Routes

Map

Satellite

Bicycle

See PDF file below for bicycle rent details.

E-bikes

rental available

Downloads

San Juan Accommodation

bicycle rental San Juan Islands SG

Arrival and Departure information