Roche Harbor

Roche Harbor is located on the northwest side of the San Juan Island. It is surrounded by three islands- the San Juan Island to its east, Pearl Island to its north, and the Brown Island to its west. A significant part of the harbor is about 35 to 45 feet (11 to 14 meters) deep. This U.S. sheltered harbor is included under San Juan County, Washington. It was named after Richard Roche, who served Captain Henry Kellett in 1846 and Captain J.C. Prevost in 1857-60.

Roche Harbor has a lot of exciting things to offer to everyone throughout the year, especially during the summer season. The favorite activities of people who come to visit the harbor include browsing the artist booths during summer, taking a stroll in the magnificent Victorian gardens, whale watching, dining in the stylish restaurants, and sea kayaking with the San Juan Safaris. If you are a live-theatre buff, the best place to visit here is the outdoor theatre located behind the lime quarry. Many actors from Island Stage Left give great performances in this theatre during summer evenings.

Yet another major attraction is the Westcott Bay Reserve Sculpture Park. It is situated a short distance from the main village. This spectacular park is spread over 19 acres (0.076 km2) and has as many as 100 unique sculptures - made by the local Northwest artists - displayed elegantly along the trails. If you are a serious hiker, hiking through the limekiln quarries can be great fun. For higher elevations, you can choose the Great Views over the Canadian Gulf Islands. You can also enjoy several miles of beautiful trails from Roche Harbor to the Mitchell Hill area situated to the east of English Camp. 

You can also pick up the famous Westcott Bay oysters from the oyster farm, situated a 1-2 miles from the arches. Many oysters can be picked up from the beach during low tide in summer. If you wish to watch the whales and scoot your way down to the Lime Kiln State park, you can rent a Susie’s Moped available at the entrance. This service is charged on an hourly basis. At sunset, you can enjoy the Colors Ceremony. Every night during the summer season, the flags of Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. are lowered followed by national anthems, Taps, and a canon salute.

• Mailing Address: PO Box 4001, Roche Harbor, WA 98250
• Telephone: (800) 451-8910
• Website: www.rocheharbor.com