Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Orcas Island (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Mount Constitution, Moran State Park, and Obstruction Pass State Park. Also, be sure to include Rosario Estate in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Orcas Island (Washington).
Table of Contents
Mount Constitution
Mountain in Washington State. Mount Constitution is a mountain on Orcas Island, the highest point in the San Juan Islands and the second highest mountain on an ocean island in the contiguous 48 states. Only Devils Peak in the Channel Islands of California is higher.
A stone observation tower patterned after a medieval watch tower stands at the summit. It was designed by architect Ellsworth Storey and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains, and many Canadian and American cities. On a clear day, the view encompasses locations as diverse as Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Saturna Island, and the cities of Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia. Mount Constitution lies within the 5,000-acre (20.2 km2) Moran State Park.
The prominence was named by Charles Wilkes during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842 for the USS Constitution.[1]
Address: 4960 Mount Constitution Rd., 98280 Orcas
Moran State Park
State park in Olga, Washington. Moran State Park is a public recreation area on Orcas Island in Puget Sound's San Juan Islands in the state of Washington, United States. The state park encompasses over 5,000 acres of various terrain including forests, wetlands, bogs, hills, and lakes. It is the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands and the fourth largest state park in the state. A park focal point is the observation tower atop Mount Constitution, the highest point in San Juan County at 2,407 feet.[2]
Obstruction Pass State Park
County park in Olga, Washington. Obstruction Pass State Park is a public recreation area occupying 76 acres one mile southeast of Olga at the southern end of Orcas Island in San Juan County, Washington. Park activities include picnicking, fishing, crabbing, beachcombing, bird watching, and hiking on a zero-point-six-mile trail. The campground has nine tent spaces, one of which is reserved for kayakers on the Cascadia Marine Trail.[3]
Rosario Estate
Building. Rosario is the former estate of Seattle mayor and shipbuilder Robert Moran. Due to poor health, Moran moved to Orcas Island and between 1906 and 1909 built his estate. Wood and stone material found on the island were used to construct the estate's houses and buildings. In 1921, Moran gave a large portion of his property to the state of Washington for the creation of Moran State Park. The mansion and its grounds remain in private hands, operated as Rosario Resort and Spa. The Rosario mansion features a museum honoring Robert Moran, complete with original furnishings. The mansion's music room is home to a 1913 34-rank Aeolian pipe organ and 1900 Steinway grand piano, both of which are played for visitors. Rosario was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[4]