Orcas Island in November with Kids: A Fall Weekend Itinerary
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If there is one thing to know about me, it is that I love to plan. That is how this website came about, because I plan and research to an insane degree before any trip. The idea of this trip came just about 24 hours before we left for it. It was a half-day Friday at school, the weather for the upcoming weekend looked so nice, how do we make the most of it? We are spoiled here in western Washington by the shear number of gorgeous weekend getaways a few hours away. While a spontaneous trip to the San Juan Islands usually isn’t possible in the summer, it is definitely more doable in the off season. After a supportive text from my husband who is always willing to go along with any of my plans, I booked the ferry and hotel then plugged in our car. Below is a great itinerary to follow in the fall whether you have planned a year in advance or just a day.
Cascade Falls Trail - Cascade Falls
How to get on the island
Orcas Island is the largest island in the San Juan Island Archipelago. While it does not have the largest population or most visitors, it is frequently visited enough where there are multiple options to reach it, even in the off season. The most common way is via the Washington State Ferry System which leaves from Anacortes, WA. You can also get onto the island with a seaplane (Kenmore Air), a small plane to one of the small airstrips on the island, or a private boat.
The most economical way to get there is via a ferry and how we got there. These ferries are one of the only ferries in the system that require a reservation. The schedule can be a bit confusing to understand when you first look at it, but it helps to know that typically the ferry leaves Anacortes and visits either all of the islands or some of them before heading back to Anacortes. Some ferries are just interisland ferries and some of the ferries that return back to Anacortes load inter island cars/passengers. Some go counterclockwise and other go clockwise. Some sailings are only on certain days. The best way to understand the options is to go through the process of reserving your ferry route. The fall schedule starts on September 20th and goes through till December. You can start make reservations 2 months before the season starts, meaning mid- July. 30% of the spots on the ferries are released on that day, another 30% are released two weeks before hand, and another 30% are released two days prior. The final 10% is left for people that show up day of. It is highly recommended that you get a ferry reservation in advance and make sure you show up at the ferry terminal within the time they say on your confirmation email. However, I will note that for the fall sailings, especially later in the fall – it is far less likely for the ferries to book out. We planned our fall trip about 24 hours before we left and were able to secure a ferry reservation. For this itinerary, you will need a car. Make sure when you make your ferry reservation, that you also make your reservation for your ferry ride back to Anacortes at the end of your trip. People do get stuck on the island and have to extend their trip. Fares vary but we paid a bit over $60 for a round trip ticket for 2 adults (including 1 driver w/ the vehicle cost and 1 adult passenger) and 2 kids (no charge).
View of a Washington State Ferry from the ferry
View of Mount Baker from the beach near the Anacortes Ferry Terminal
For more information about kids and the Washington State Ferries, visit our post detailing all of our tips and the different routes you can take. One thing to note is that you will need to arrive to the Anacortes ferry port 45-60 minutes prior to sailing. Otherwise you are at risk of missing your ferry or them giving your spot to someone else in line.
While we have not taken a seaplane to the San Juan islands, we have to Victoria and really loved our experience with Kenmore Air. Flying via seaplane to the San Juan island takes less total time from Seattle than driving + ferry. The flight itself is about 45 minutes and with about an hour of checking in and debarking, it would take you less than 2 hours in total to travel to the islands. With driving up to Anacortes, waiting the 45 minutes minimum you need to and the ferry over to the island, it takes at minimum 3.5 hours. The flight is also incredibly scenic, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people, and fun. However, the price is significantly more expensive at currently $216 per person each way. You also end up on the island without a car. If you are not planning on exploring the island much and just wanting to relax at your hotel, or if you are visiting friends on the island with a car – this is a viable option.
However, I would recommend taking the ferry with your car. The ferry ride over is beautiful, relaxing and gives you a chance of possibly seeing orcas. We have taken several ferries around the San Juan Island and I still remember the magic of our first ferry there seeing Orcas right off the ferry. It is not super common but does happen occasionally.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1:
9:30am – Drive up to Anacortes
11:10am – Arrive at Anacortes ferry terminal, wait for ferry
11:55am – Ferry to Orcas Island
1:00pm – Treat at Brown Bear Baking in Eastsound
1:45pm – Drive up Mount Constitution
2:45pm – Hike the Cascade Loop Trail
4:00pm – Check into hotel in Rosario
5:30pm – Dinner in Eastsound
Day 2:
7:15am – Enjoy sunrise from our hotel
8:00am – Eat breakfast in our hotel
9:15am – Hike around Cascade Lake
11:30am – Orcas Island Pottery
12:20pm – pick up lunch near ferry terminal
1:30pm – Ferry to Anacortes
2:45pm – Drive Home
Where to Stay
There are three main areas on Orcas Island where people stay, I’ll give you pros and cons for each of them and some recommendations of specific accommodations.
Eastsound
If I had to give one recommendation, it would be Eastsound. It is by far the easiest for a short weekend. You are right in the main town for getting coffee, dinner, ice cream or just wanting to wander around the shops. It is nice to be able to go out on adventures, come back to your accommodations, freshen up a bit and then walk a couple minutes to dinner rather than having to drive another 15 minutes into town. Especially in the fall when a lot of restaurants and spots outside of Eastsound are closed for the season.
While the island is the biggest in the archipelago, it doesn’t take that long to reach anything, especially from Eastsound that is centrally located in the middle of the island.
There are the most lodging choices from hotels to vrbos.
Eastsound gives you a cozy village feel. If you are looking for more of a secluded, fall weekend in a cabin vibe – I would look elsewhere. If you want the focus of your weekend to be the nature, the other two spots are likely a better fit.
In Eastsound, I would recommend The Outlook Inn with its beautiful water views and quick access to the main village.
Rosario Resort and Cascade Bay
Olga/Moran State Park/Rosario
This trip we stayed at Rosario Resort which we enjoyed for its serene bay views, few people and quick access to Moran State Park. Most of the resort amenities were closed in the fall season so we had to travel into Eastsound for meals.
We spent a lot of our days in Moran State Park and staying on this side of the island gives you the best access to it. This is a beautiful spot for fall foliage, hiking, lake views, and more.
Vrbo options include lots of cabins, cottages and other nice vacation rentals. Many of which have kitchens so you can cook for yourself, eliminating the need to travel 15 minutes into Eastsound for dinner.
While some people love the idea of a slightly more remote cabin in the woods or along the coast, others might prefer easier access to restaurants and stores.
Deer Harbor
If you are wanting even more remote and even more of a peaceful atmosphere, then check out the west side of the island near Deer Harbor.
There are several of waterfront lodging options, cabins and vacation rentals with a cozy fall feel.
Deer harbor is a great place to stay if you are interested in kayaking, however in the fall time, the kayak rental stores are closed and the chilly season might not be great for kayaking. In the fall, this area definitely has a lot less things to do. If your idea of a perfect weekend is staying inside a cabin most of the day in a beautiful setting – this might be the spot for you.
To get to some of the best places to see, you will need to drive.
One of the best options in this area is the Deer Harbor Inn or one of the VRBOs.
Day 1
Ferry to Orcas Island
We arrived to the Anacortes ferry terminal right around 11:00am for our 11:55am ferry, within the 45-60 minute window. Once you are parked in the waiting lanes of the terminal, you can get out of the car and walk over to the cafe or food truck there to pick up some lunch. Or on the right side of the car waiting lanes, there is a beach that you can walk along or look out at waiting for your ferry to come in. Be sure at least some in your group is stay close enough to the terminal to hear any announcements. They will let you know when to return to your vehicle to prepare for boarding the boat. Typically, boarding starts about 10-15 minutes before sailing time, but it depends on if the boats are running ahead or behind schedule.
After driving onto the ferry, you can take the steps up to the passenger deck where you can get a snack from the cafeteria or look out on the outdoor decks. The ferry ride through the San Juan Islands is beautiful and if the weather is nice enough, I highly encourage you to spend some time outside enjoying the views and trying to spot whales in the distance. Depending on the route, Orcas island is either the 2nd or 3rd stop. You will be told to return back to your cars when the ferry starts approaching the Orcas terminal.
Brown Bear Baking
The Orcas island ferry terminal is about 9 miles or 16 minutes away from the main town on Orcas island, Eastsound. The drive takes you past farmland and our kids often have fun pointing out all of the different types of animals they see. One of the first places on the island we like to visit is Brown Bear Baking, if it is still open when we arrive, to pick up a pastry or other treat. The bakery is right off Main Street which has lots of other cute shops and restaurants, along with parking along the street.
View from Mount Constitution
Mount Constitution
After grabbing our treat, we drove to Moran State Park on the eastern side of the island. We drove right up to the top of Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands for the most amazing view. Note, that if the weather and visibility is not ideal, I would save this for a clearer time. On a nice day you can see Mount Baker and possibly even Mount Rainier and the olympic mountains. If you see cities out in the distance, they might be Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Along with these distant sights, you will get breathtaking views of the San Juan archipelago and nearby islands. The pictures of this view do not do it justice as it is nearly 360-degree views of some of the best of the Pacific Northwest.
Tower at the top of Mount Constitution at Moran State Park
View of Vancouver, B.C. from the top of Mount Constitution
The parking within Moran State Park does require a Discover Pass or to pay for a day pass. If you are a Washington local, I would highly recommend getting the annual pass as we end up using it a great deal and it is good for 2 cars. The annual pass fee has been steadily going up the past couple years, but it is currently at $50 annually or $11.50 per day. At the top of the mountain, there were a decent amount of spots. There was also a small visitor center and bathrooms near the parking lot. The main views are seen after you head up the short but steep path up to the stone observation tower and overlook. The stone tower is open to visit and is quite striking in its medieval-style. In the tower, there is a very helpful map that names all of the points and islands you can see from the view. We end up spending far more time than we expect just sitting admiring the view from up here. It just so happened that our trip coincided with the annual Round the County Sailboat race and we were able to spot a large group of 100 sailboats from the top of the mountain.
View from the top of the tower at Mount Constitution
Sailboats in the San Juan Archipelago seen from atop Mount Constitution
Cascade Falls Trail
After visiting the top of the mountain, we drove down most of the way and stopped at the trailhead for the Cascade Falls Trail. This a popular trail and parking is fairly limited, but hopefully in fall the crowds should be lower. We ended up having to wait just a few minutes for a spot to open up. This trail is one of my favorite for kids, while also being quite pleasant for adults as well. Alltrails lists it at 0.8 miles but you can make it longer or shorter if you wish. While I didn’t put it in the next days schedule, we did end up actually doing this trail both days as we had some time and wanted to make it to Hidden falls which increases the length of the trail a bit. The hike takes you through a serene forest which is even more beautiful in the fall time with the large and colorful falling leaves. A very short distance on your hike, you make it to Rusty Falls. This is the easiest of the waterfalls to reach the creek and play a bit on its banks. You can go either left or right after this falls, but we typically go right and see Cascade Falls next. This is the most impressive of the waterfalls on this trail. There is also an area to get to the creek bed to the lower viewpoint and the brave amongst you – or brave amongst a different group might be walking across the down logs that are situated over the creek.
Cascade Falls Trail - Rusty Falls
Cascade Falls Trail - Cascade Falls
If you are planning to have your kids go near the creek, bring a change of clothes or shoes or have them wear rain boots or waterproof shoes. After you are done with Cascade Falls, head back the way you came, passing by Rusty Falls again and up to Cavern Falls. This was another cute waterfall, not too far from the others. The farthest of the four waterfalls along this trail is Hidden Falls. If you have more energy and want to make it over there you can, however for the extra mileage, we found it not to be worth it.
Along with the waterfalls, on the trail we saw slugs, very unique colored fungi, woodpeckers and other fun birds, and very friendly people.
Cascade Falls Trail - Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls Trail - fungi on a log
Cascade Falls Trail
Dinner in Eastsound
After the hike, it was a bit before 4pm and we were able to check into our hotel room. We ended up staying in a hotel room that was ran like a VRBO and we were able to pick up our key just with a lockbox. After getting settled and freshening up, we headed into Eastsound for dinner. We assumed with it being fall and around 5pm, that we would be able to go to a restaurant (Mijitas Mexican Kitchen) without a reservation and get a table. That was unfortunately not the case - so make the reservation if you are confident of where you want to eat. Several of the other restaurants were closed for the season. We ended up getting pizza slices from Ladybug Pizza and eating it at the park along Beach Road while the kids went back and forth playing and eating. The pizza was great and it is a great spot if you want a causal meal. Note that there are restaurants, like the Lower Tavern, that are not kid-friendly.
While we were in town, we also walked the cute streets and picked up some food from the grocery store for breakfast the next morning.
Day 2
Sunrise in Rosario
We visited after daylight savings time ended in the first week of November, so sunrise was early for fall at around 7:00am. That didn’t stop my kids already naturally waking up before sunrise. However, it was hard to be mad at it. We looked out the window when they woke up and the sun was just beginning to rise so we quickly put sweaters over our pajamas and headed outside to enjoy the beautiful sunrise over the bay. We saw just a couple of other people, but it felt like we had the resort mostly to ourselves. We are normally sunset people but this experience changed us a bit and if we are able to we try to catch sunrise on vacations if we can. We had an easy rest of the start to the morning, eating breakfast on our balcony and packing up.
Rosario Resort at sunrise
Cascade Bay at sunrise
Cascade Lake Hike
Back in Moran State Park, we headed over to Cascade Lake to attempt to hike around the entirety of the lake. Entire Cascade Lake trail look is listed at 2.7 miles and 288ft of elevation gain. While it is listed as moderate and there are a couple short moderate sections, the majority of the hike is easy and was doable for our kids (aged 4 & 6). We went into the hike with the base goal of making it to the bridge on the other side of the lake, with a stretch goal of making it around the entire lake. We started a little after 9:00am and our goal was to be done with the hike by 11:30am at the latest so we could make it to the ferry on time.
There are a few locations to park, including along Olga Rd either at the main parking lot for Cascade Lake near the playground or a bit further down Olga Rd heading towards the Southend campground there is day use parking near a trailhead for the hike. You can also park on Palisades Dr near the lagoon. Just like up on Mount Constitution, you will need your Discover Pass to park near the lake.
Cascade Lake Trail
Wooden bridge along the Cascade Lake Trail
We ended up parking at the south end parking lot and heading towards the wooden bridge. There was some up and down elevation. My kids always start hikes excited and running, which they did with this hike and there was a small fall only 0.25 miles in. No scraps and a hug helped it feel better enough to continue. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear! If it has been raining recently, there will likely be spots on the trail that are muddy. This was on the longer end of hikes that we attempted with them recently, so we made a little nature scavenger hunt to try to keep their spirits up and their feet moving forward. I included items like slugs, different colors of leaves, a bridge, hikers using hiking poles, a funny shaped tree, canoes, footprints in the mud and more. There was some laughs and debates on what counted as a funny shaped tree. We also had fun naming the slugs we saw and of course eating snacks as we walked. I’ve learned M&Ms or gummy bears every 5-10 minutes is a good motivation tool.
The hike was beautiful. Sometimes we were completely surrounded by the forest and would occasionally get glimpses of the lake, other times we were walking along side it. Once you make it to the wooden bridge, there is a way to extend your hike and do an extra loop around the loop. This is a great addition if your group is feeling up to it.
Cascade Lake Trail
Wooden bridge along the Cascade Lake Trail
On the other hand, for our group, once we made it to the bridge, at least one member of our group’s patience with hiking was quickly waning. We decided to split up. One kid-parent duo would continue on the trail and the other would head back the mile the same way we came to the car. The continuing on duo would either do the entire loop, or get picked up at the playground at the north end parking lot by the second duo. They chose the later. So in total, we all walked about 2 miles of the 2.7 mile loop and 2 of us got most of the views of the lake. We all still enjoyed the hike and I would recommend it to others!
If you are doing the whole loop, you will need to do a couple road crossings – don’t be like the people that are walking right on the side of Olga Rd as there is not a sidewalk or a safe place to walk for most of it. Part of the lake trail is meant to go across that road and on a dedicated trail with some views above the lake. You can also extend the hike by going up the Sunrise Rock Trail.
Orcas Island Pottery
After our time in Moran State Park, we headed to the other side of the island to visit Orcas Island Pottery. This is an adorable studio selling locally-made pottery. The pottery itself is beautiful but the setting just makes it magical. The pottery is on display out in the garden, in little cottages and in the larger building where the studio is. There is also a cool multi-level treehouse for kids to play in. The property is also waterfront! While we didn’t intend to buy anything, we bought some cool sea start shaped magnets and yard decorations. It is a great place to get gifts or gift yourself something nice. The prices were quite reasonable.
This, unfortunately, was our last stop on Orcas Island and next we headed to the ferry terminal.
Orcas Island Pottery
View from ferry to Anacortes
Ferry to Anacortes
After getting into the waiting lanes for our boat, my husband walked to go pick up lunch from Harmony Hive Bistro. It was quite busy for just one person working but they somehow managed to make all of our food before the ferry left. Before accepting orders, she was asking what ferry we were waiting to catch so she could decide if she could make the food in time. The food was delicious and fairly large portions. There was some anxiety on whether it would be done in time but we ended up getting the food a little bit before we started boarding. We then were able to eat our food on board the 1:30pm ferry back to Anacortes, before our drive back home.
More to do on Orcas Island
If you have more time or want to switch around the itinerary, here are some other options of things to do on Orcas Island in the fall.
Obstruction Pass State Park
While I absolutely love Orcas island, the majority of the coastline belongs to private properties. There are limited number of places to access the coast or a beach. Obstruction Pass State Park is located on the bottom of the east side of the island. There are some short trails down to the water, pebbly beaches, camping options and beautiful water vies.
Hike the Mountain Lake Loop
This 4-mile loop trail is a moderate to easy trail on Mountain Constitution that takes you through old-growth forests and around a beautiful lake.
Turtleback Mountain Preserve
On the west side of Orcas Island, this preserve includes 1,500 acres and includes over 8 miles of trails. The trails include short trails to overlooks and longer more moderate trails to peaks. The view from this park are breathtaking, both of Orcas Island and its surroundings.
Go Whale Watching
Most whale watching tours are not running in the fall, or have limited schedules. Peak whale season in the San Juan Islands is the summer but whales can be seen all year round. If you are set on seeing whales on this trip, I would head over to San Juan Island and there are a couple companies that provide weekend whale watching tours from Friday harbor in the fall. Book in advance because they do sell out.
Cascade Falls Trail - Rusty Falls
Orcas Moon Alpacas
The only alpaca farm on Orcas Island. Along with alpacas, the farm has sheep, donkeys, cows, chickens and a farm store. They offer tours of the farm on a donation basis. The farm is open from 1-4pm but in the offseason, call in advance to ensure they are open.
Visit all of the farm stands
There are dozens of farms throughout Orcas and nearly the same amount of farm stands. You can often find little farm stands near the main roads with offers from each of the farm that are replenished daily. We’ve spotted honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly baked bread, soaps, jams, and so much more. We found the most located on the western side of the island and on the drive from the ferry terminal to Eastsound.
Visit a winery
Orcas Island Winery is a family owned vineyard near the base of Turtleback Mountain.
Orcas Island Historical Museum
This unique museum includes original homestead cabins and artifacts from the beginning of life on Orcas and is free to visit, however donations are encouraged. There are scavenger hunts for kids, a gift shop, and more. It is located right in the center of town.
Cascade Falls Trail - Rusty Falls
View from atop of tower on Mount Constitution
What to read while on Orcas Island
I love reading books that fit the destination I am visiting - whether they took place there, were inspired by it or just give off similar vibes. There are actually far more books that are set in the San Juan Islands than I would expect. But is easy to see once you come to the island why it would be such a muse for writers. Here are some of my recommendations across different genres:
Bear by Julia Phillips - A fictional story about two sisters who live on San Juan Island and a bear that mysteriously shows up.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes - An historical fictional book about a racism that blends a modern storyline with history. It takes place on Orcas Island.
Light on the Island by Helene Glidden - A non-fiction book detailing the hardships of a lighthouse keeper’s family on a remote island in the San Juan Islands in the early 1900s.
The Writer by D.W. Ulsterman - The first book in a series of San Juan Islands Mysteries
Folly by Laurie R. King - A psychological suspense novel about a woman who moves to a remote island in the San Juan Islands.
The Search by Nora Roberts - a fictional book about a widow rebuilding her life on Orcas Island
We are spoiled here in western Washington by the shear number of gorgeous weekend getaways a few hours away. While a spontaneous trip to the San Juan Islands usually isn’t possible in the summer, it is definitely more doable in the off season. Below is a great itinerary to follow in the fall whether you have planned a year in advance or just a day.