Lime Kiln Point State Park

Located on San Juan Island, this park is a serene spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Known for its breathtaking coastal views, the park offers beautiful experience with stunning cliffs, a historic lighthouse, and the opportunity to spot orcas in the wild. It's often called one of the best places in the world to view orcas from land, especially during the summer months when the Southern Resident orca pods frequent the waters around the park. The park features a variety of hiking trails some maintained and some rugged - all winding through forests along the shoreline, providing spectacular vistas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. Lime Kiln Point is also a fantastic spot for wildlife watchers—beyond orcas, you can often spot seals, otters, and an array of bird species.

Nothing spectacular…would not return. Trails were pretty muddy, even with all the maintenance done on the property, seems like something some gravel or some other mitigation would fix. Views were good, not great. Parking was ample.

This is one of the most beautiful places on the island. I could have spent all day here and been happy. Lots of beautiful coastal hiking, so bring good shoes. Great whale-watching, so bring your binoculars. A pod of orcas was swimming back and forth for 30 minutes while I was there.

Lime Kiln Point State Park: A Serene Escape for Sunset Chasers Situated on the picturesque shores of the San Juan Islands, Lime Kiln Point State Park offers a breathtaking spectacle that draws visitors from far and wide – the awe-inspiring sunset. As the day winds down, the park transforms into a canvas of vivid hues, painting the sky with hues of orange, pink, and purple, casting a warm glow over the tranquil waters of the Salish Sea. The journey to witness this natural marvel begins with a short, leisurely stroll from the parking area, leading you to the edge of the ocean. The well-maintained trail meanders through lush greenery, offering glimpses of the surrounding beauty along the way. As you reach the shoreline, the true magic unfolds – if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the majestic Orcas gracefully gliding through the waters, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the experience. Among the park's many charms stands the iconic Lime Kiln Lighthouse, a testament to the area's rich maritime history. This towering structure, with its distinctive red and white stripes, serves as a striking backdrop to the sunset, lending an air of timeless beauty to the scene. As the sun dips below the horizon, the park's tranquil ambiance envelops visitors, offering a sense of peace and calm that is truly unparalleled. The moments spent here are nothing short of rejuvenating, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the serenity of nature. The journey to Lime Kiln Point State Park is equally captivating, with winding roads flanked by lush greenery and glimpses of the sparkling waterfront, adding to the overall magical experience. Whether you're a local seeking a respite from the city or a visitor in search of natural beauty, this park promises an unforgettable evening of serenity and awe-inspiring vistas.

This is a really beautiful park. The trail and hike aren't too far or too strenuous, but the views are phenomenal. The lighthouse was open, and a volunteer was letting people inside and up to the top. There were lots of places to sit a rest. There are plenty of picnic benches to enjoy a meal. Perfect day!

We hoped to see some kind of wild life, but no luck, no seals, let alone orcas, day was very windy and chilly, so only did a little hike and left. Beautiful views from everywhere you go! There is enough parking, a general store, lots of picnic benches and restrooms!

This is a beautiful park for whale watching. Plus, the trails are nice and you can easily walk to the lighthouse.

Beautiful park and lighthouse that is well worth the stop. Lots of trails and shoreline to explore. Picnic tables and benches are everywhere. This has never been a quick stop for me. There is an interpretive center, gift and snack shop. The lighthouse is often open where there is a small whale watching center. They provide lots of info on sightings and animal identification. I have seen whales from the shoreline before but it's been years for me, I can never get my timing right. Some trails/paths are level but most are dirt and gravel. Pretty sure they have signs around the park to let you know what trails are accessible and which ones are not. Bathrooms are available by the parking lot and have been pretty clean every time I've visited.

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB host INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

This was a beautiful park that we visited multiple times during our short stay on San Juan Island. Make sure you have your Discovery Pass (or pay) to park here. The building right by the parking lot contains bathrooms, which seem pretty well maintained. Big plus for me... cuz an empty bladder & such are quite important when I wanna explore! There was another building that I believe had snacks and other stuff, but I didn't check it out because I was too excited to head straight to the shoreline and look for whales. The trail from the lot has a winding path through the trees, before you get to see the water. Once you're at the viewpoint, there's a sign at the lookout that explains the different kinds of whales and sea life you might see. I was happy that the trail continued along the water, the scenery was just fantastic. There was even a spot (near the beautiful lighthouse) where you could press a button and hear live noises from what I guess is an underwater microphone- very cool. Luckily we brought snacks and drinks to enjoy at one of the many picnic benches/resting spots. I stared at the water. And I stared HARD. I saw: birds, ducks, piles of rocks to walk on, super clear water with underwater rocks, and driftwood that kept tricking me into thinking I was seeing big creatures. I looked behind me and saw unique trees with peeling red bark, I looked beside me and saw fun mossy patches in shaded areas. Oh! I finally saw a huge California seal up close. It was swimming near the rocks I was standing on. They got long shiny bodies. Awesome. But alas... even with multiple long visits to the park, I still saw NO whales. I know they don't tend to be around this time of year, but I was hoping to at least see some transient ones. Gosh darnit. *Sigh* Despite that, this park was honestly great, and I need to hike more of it if I ever come back to the island.

Beautiful! This is a great place and it is totally possible to see whales from the shore!

I LOVED this park! We went down to the whale viewing area, hiked over the the lighthouse and then onto the lime kiln itself. If you are able to handle the moderate trail, it's really nice to hike over that way, because you can view the lime wash down the side of the cliff before you get the the kiln. Saw some oystercatchers (birds), but no whales on this trip, but I know they swing by here. Inside the lighthouse was some information about the last sighting the day before. Bring a picnic or snacks, a bevy and plan to stay for a while. There are picnic tables and benches throughout, so you can easily enjoy the beautiful view as long as your heart desires. I WILL come back!

We paid $10 for a Discover Pass for the day to park near the lighthouse and whale watch. There's a lot to see and do at this state park. There's a ranger station, Interpretive site and center with park rangers, restrooms and a picnic area. However, we were later told that if we waited all day, we probably wouldn't see any whales. They are no longer on this area.

Beautiful state park with many spots to look out for orcas and whales. There is a photogenic lighthouse with a few picnic tables near the water, the perfect location to look out at the water. I highly encourage visiting the folks inside the lighthouse to learn more about the different animals that travel through the area and their recent trends. The lighthouse tracks this daily while they are open. You can also stamp your national park passport here!

Been here every single trip to the island and it never gets old. This time once again no orca or whale sightings on our visit. But we got to visit with the family and enjoy time at the park. It was loud with little kids. Best place to be on the island. Never gets old.

Lime Kiln is a gorgeous state park in San Juan. It's part of the Discovery Pass system (i.e. either you buy a year pass or $10/day). It's not a huge park, but the highlight is the location on the coast where you can sometimes spot orcas. We didn't see any during our time there, although they were reportedly seen the day before we were there. The views of the coast, the water, the Olympic Mountains, and across to Canada were beautiful!

This place is located at the Western terminus of West Side Road. Discovery Pass is required for parking and the park is a short walk from the parking lot. There is a light house situated at the top of a small cliff, but it is currently closed due to the COVID pandemic. There are also a few trails and overlooks at this park. Sadly, while we were there, we did not see any seals nor orcas.

ADA bathrooms and trails to the water viewing area. Great to see that one of the top whale watching sites is accessible. Nice little gift store with t-shirts designed and printed locally and a food vendor was open when we were there if you are looking for great hotdogs or a snack. We went twice- once in late afternoon and once first thing in the morning when a couple of foxes were passing through. Didn't see whales but it's a beautiful park with lots of wildlife, a well kept lighthouse and interesting historic site

Lime Kiln Point State Park is one of those places you go and say to yourself "Wow, I can't believe I live here!" It is seriously that beautiful, and that special. Set on a point looking across to the Olympic Mountains on one side and Victoria, BC on the other this hidden gem is worth the trip to the "quieter" side of San Juan Island. There are some nice trails, historical signage, and plenty of picnic tables. And of course, there's a beautiful historic lighthouse too! Just remember to bring your Discover Pass, as this park is subject to a $10 visitors fee otherwise.

A great small park where you can take a short stroll or just enjoy a picnic. Highly recommend having cash on hand so you can pay your fee at parking. We weren't able to visit inside the light house since it was closed by the time we arrived, but we spotted dolphins while sitting and relaxing under the warm sun late afternoon.

Stop #7 - A Perfect Summer Day on San Juan Island This is a well maintained lighthouse in a beautiful setting. If you live in Washington and travel regularly an annual Discovery Pass for $30 will save you money. Otherwise you pay $10 to park. The lighthouse is one of the places you can view orcas from shore with 3-4 PM being the most common viewing time. The woman who works in the lighthouse is somewhat of an orca expert. Hang out and talk to her for awhile. Very informative and entertaining. Around the lighthouse are Madrone trees which have the beautiful peeling orange bark. They are native to the NW but hard to find except for the islands.

Such a beautiful place! We visited in early June 2018. This park is located on the west side of the island, and is approximately a 20 minute drive from the Friday Harbor city center. As many of the reviewers mentioned, they do require a Discover Pass. You can see the lighthouse just a short walk from the parking lot, or can continue on a different trail (fairly short) to see more of the beach/cliffs. We heard that it's a great spot for watching the sunset but unfortunately, we were there in the morning so didn't get to experience that. We also didn't spot any whales but still had a great time and enjoyed the expansive views. There weren't many people here at all so it was peaceful and a great way to start out our morning. Definitely worth checking out when you're visiting the island!

A stunning park on a sunny day. I enjoyed watching the wildlife and the ships go by, the channel was a busy one when I visited on the 26th of July 2019 two times. My mom, my dad, and I found different things to explore each time and different wildlife each time. The picnic tables are a nice spot to sit and watch processions of the things around you. The rocks making up the shoreline were neat and fun to inspect. The water was very clear, making it easy to look for little critters along the rocks and in tide pools. The trails provided a nice breadth of scenery and were not too strenuous.

On the west side of the island in Friday Harbor, you can find Lime Kiln Point State Park. Right by the parking lot lies the interpretive center where more information can be found on orcas with interactive displays, exhibits and gift items. A short 300 yard walking path from the parking lot leads to a rocky but safe shoreline where you'll be facing the Haro Strait and Canada's Vancouver Island. Keep on the path to the right for a wee bit more and you'll find the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. If you continue going, you'll reach a set of stairs that leads down to the Lime Kiln Furnace. The company we had wanted to get lunch right away so we didn't venture past the lighthouse*. All in all, if you want a chance to see whales on the island, head here. There is a better chance to see whales the longer you stick around. We arrived at 1:20ish and the sign announced the last sighting was at noon. ______________ *explains the lack of photos for the Lime Kiln Furnace.

Great park to have a picnic (they have a few tables for use - or you can just eat on one of the rocks). The views were great - cool place to whalewatch (we didn't see any but we did enjoy the view of the water, mountains and kayaks that came by. The lighthouse is also there - great for photos

San Juan Island has two lighthouses, the Lime Kiln Lighthouse and the Cattle Point Lighthouse. I love seeking out lighthouses and getting some pictures of them and if available a tour through the building. The Lime Kiln Lighthouse is the most well known on San Juan. It is located in a state park of the same name. The lighthouse is in good shape unlike the Cattle Point one which looks very rundown and you are encouraged to keep a certain distance from it.(No Trespassing). The lighthouse at Lime Kiln is not the only highlight however which makes this state park so great. There is also a gorgeous view of Vancouver Island, other islands in the San Juan section and the gorgeous view of the water. If you are lucky between 3 pm and to 4 pm you can get some sightings of orcas in but that obviously isn't a guarantee that you will see something then. In fact sometimes you can see them earlier than that or perhaps not at all. Such is the unpredictability with animals. Washington has many state parks but some are definitely better than others. From my own experience going to ones along the straits, Puget Sound and along the ocean shore are the more gratifying ones. You need a pass or to pay a fee to come to this park. You can either pay the day long Discovery Pass which is $10.00 or you can get the annual option. In this case however this park seemed so popular that we couldn't even park in their designated parking lot to pay the fee and had to park outside it along the road and then walk in. That got us out of the fee I guess. Anyway the this park is gorgeous and is well worth more than one visit here!

If you're a lover of beaches, lighthouses, history or all of the above, you'll enjoy visiting this park. The lighthouse has people working in it and wasn't open to the public when we were there. The lighthouse is a piece of history and is really cool, to me, the nerd of the beach. Across the water is Vancouver Island. Really beautiful scenery and nature exploring around here. There are some great rocks down below of the lighthouse that we went exploring through. Also some trails. We didn't venture out to the kiln area. We didn't see any whales but the visitor center at the front of the park has information about them and said that they can be seen. Large parking lot and parking's free.

Lovely Quite place to watch the Ocean and some Orcas. Orca Sighting is based on the Tide currents. If Currents are slow you will be seeing lot of Orcas. There is place where you can step down and get your feet wet.

One of two fun state parks on the island. A few hiking trails in the park. The views from the lighthouse are memorable! It's a short scenic drive from Friday Harbor. Great location for Orca watching though there have been fewer whales sightings in August this year. There is a spot for snacks in the park. Discover Park Pass needed for parking.

Absolutely beautiful place to take a walk along the rocky shore, with great views of the sea, mountains, and whales. Try to catch a sunset here if you can. There is also a smaller park a few minutes from here where we saw a large number of bald eagles, and that's worth checking out if you have time. As others have mentioned, the parking lot here is a "Discovery Pass" area, and I think it's worth parking there for reasons that will probably become obvious to you once you arrive. You can purchase a day permit on site (in the park) for $10, so if you want to do it that way, I suggest bringing $10 cash to put into the self-serve box. (As usual, you put the money in the envelope, submit it, and peel off a portion of it to use as a parking pass.) However, know that it costs $30 to purchase an annual Discovery Pass that you can use all year. That's a good idea if you are a Washington state resident or plan to do more traveling here. And if you happen to be in Friday Harbor and are in need of a Discovery Pass, you can purchase it at the marine goods store in town for $35. (I think the extra $5 is their processing fee.)

Father's Day Weekend experience at this park. Really relaxing with nice trails, and a view. Not too much walking either.

Great place to watch the orcas from shore when they're around. Lots of deer, raccoons, and I even saw a couple of foxes and little garden snakes. What a fun place to hike and relax! No drones, no fires, and no camping, but it's a great day use place. Will return

Got really lucky and saw the Jpod (resident orcas). Orcas are not on a set schedule, so it is possible to not see orcas for days. The people in the light house are orca researchers and they are super nice and helpful. They are not lighthouse employees.

Gorgeous views, cute little light house, the possibility of seeing whales... we had lunch at the best table pn the island!

The lighthouse is the main point of this whale watching area. There was a board inside the lighthouse showing the last date and time the resident orca were in the area, which unfortunately was a few weeks ago. There is also a large board outside describing the scientific research conducted from this point. It is a nice area to hike, there are picnic benches to sit on for enjoying the view and plaques with more information about the area. Nice spot!

A little piece of heaven here on earth! What an amazing day for my family and I to experience. Although I've been to Friday Harbor many times over the last 20 years. I've never ventured out here! Boy, was I missing out! I definitely recommend packing a nice picnic lunch for the family and heading down to the whale watching area. Eat lunch and watch wildlife like you've never seen before. We didn't have much expectations of seeing any sealife, but we managed to see a bunch of porpoises. Unfortunately, the killer whales aren't in the area right now because the salmon aren't running there. There was a ranger there giving out lots of information on the wildlife we were seeing, answering questions, just being an awesome person. After that, we ventured to the lighthouse. I really wish I would've gotten the name of the lady working there. She was so great! A human encyclopedia of information. She was excited to be sharing it and very enthusiastic! I really liked her a lot! The paths are wonderfully shaded and we saw some deer (this could be exciting for some, but please don't approach or feed them). If you're looking to take in some of the most beautiful scenery, you will not go wrong with a visit here! It's number one on our list next summer!

Best place to see orcas not to mention all the other wildlife ! The volunteers are knowledgeable and helpful. Don't miss this wonderful magical place

This was a great spot for viewing orcas! We saw at least 10 of them come through over a couple hour period while we were there. During the times when we could not see the orcas, we explored the area's trails and took time to read the many educational signs that are posted. I learned a great deal of useful information about the orcas and other resident marine life. They even have an "Orca Listening Station" where you can hear the sounds under the water and listen for the Orcas communicating. Visiting this park was a great experience.

Best place in the world to see resident orca whales! There are picnic benches and great spots for sitting and waiting for whales, as well as a hydrophone for listening when they are there. Please be advised that it is a small trail down to the lighthouse that is not wheelchair friendly.

What a gem--easily my favorite part of the entirety of San Juan island. There was a local volunteer who was very knowledgable about the whales and we saw SO many of them. One even jumped out of the water fully and back into the sea! It was incredible. If it's a beautiful day and you have a couple hours to take in the beautiful scenery and likely see some whales, it is so worth it.

I visited this park in July of 2014. If you're in Friday Harbor, this is a must see place! This was easily one of my favorite parts of Friday Harbor, and I visited here twice during my vacation. I was also fortunate enough to see whales on both occasions. While they do provide parking, it is also easy to access with the bus system that constantly goes around the island during the summer. Once you arrive, before you get down to shore, they have plenty of picture and learning opportunities at the interpretive center where they house information on orcas with interactive displays, exhibits and gift items. There is a short walk from there to an overlook where you get the first look of the rocky shoreline and kelp forest. When you turn right, you'll find the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. This is where I saw my first orca breach, and had plenty of fun meeting new people and exploring the different environments.

Nice park, 10.00 for parking, short walk to the look out point for orcas... We didn't see anything, came with parents and small children who couldn't walk far and weren't very impressed so we left after 20 minutes without seeing any sort of marine life...

Beautiful. Didn't see any whales, but was so happy to climb on the rocks and take it all in. Be sure to stop.

Beautiful park, easy to walk trails, gorgeous views, cute little interpretive center with nice docents, great whale watching spot.

Was lucky enough on my second trip here to see a pod of orcas. They were surprisingly close and the park has built-in binocular stations to view them.

Lime Kiln is definitely worth the short drive from town! Come here and wander around the park! It was a rainy overcast day when we came here but we were determined to get some hiking in and had bought cheap rain coats just to go for a hike. The official trails are not super long (I think the total distance is roughly 2 miles) but when we reached the top of one trail we were greeted with a sign that said something to the effect of 'official park trail end'. We kept going and that gives the potential for a lot longer hike. It's also worth mentioning that most of the trails are uphill so keep that in mind if you have little ones or people who tire easily. We climbed down to the beach and climbed around on rocks and the hill-face. There's also a lot of old kilns and ruins of buildings from when the limestone was being worked here. The views from the cliffs are rad. They do have public restrooms and a little snack shack set-up. There was plenty of parking available when we arrived but I can see it being hard to find parking during a sunny day during the busy season. I really enjoyed my time at Lime Kiln and would recommend it to anyone spending time on the island. I'm a huge fan!

Really nice park. It has a gorgeous view, too bad it was raining when we went, yeah it's WA. But a great spot to watch marine life.