On the east side of the island, the 130-acre Spencer Spit State Park (360/468-2251, www.parks.wa.gov) has a mile-long beach for good year-round clamming, beachcombing, hiking, and picnicking. Also here are seasonal campsites, mooring buoys, and an RV disposal station. A brackish lagoon frequently has ducks and shorebirds, and black-tailed deer are a common sight in the evening.

Additional campsites and a boat launch are available at Odlin County Park (360/468-2496, www.co.san-juan.wa.us/parks) at the north end of the island, just a mile from the ferry landing. A two-mile-long sandy beach and numerous hiking trails add to the allure.

Very few of Lopez’s beaches are open to the public. One exceptional exception is Agate Beach, located on the south end of the island at the end of MacKaye Harbor Road. This little park provides access to a beach filled with colorful wave-rounded stones.

Another fine small park is Shark Reef Recreation Area, located at the south end of Shark Reef Road on the southwest side of the island. An easy half-mile path takes you through one of the few old-growth stands of trees left on Lopez to the rocky coastline. This is a good place to look for harbor seals, sea lions, and bald eagles.