Kellys Point Guemes Island

Kelly's Point on Guemes Island is a peaceful location for hiking and enjoying the island's natural beauty. The beach invites you to stroll along the shore while immersing yourself in the beauty of diverse wildlife.

The area has over three thousand feet of shoreline on the southwest side of Guemes Island. You can observe the San Juan ferry arriving and departing from the Anacortes ferry terminal. Experience the stunning sunset from the shoreline or upper bench at the beach entrance.

You can watch some fantastic sunsets over the San Juan Islands.

Land Protected: 27 acres 

Shoreline: 2,100 feet 

Hiking Trails: None 

Elevation Gain: 10 feet 

Difficulty: Easy

Geology

Kelly’s Point Conservation Area is a beloved outdoor classroom for studying geology. At Kelly’s Point, Yellow Bluff exposes a remarkable sequence of sediments that span 70,000 years of Earth’s history from before the last ice age, to about 13,000 years ago.

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Environment 

Kelly’s Point is a rich and diverse environment, featuring forests, wetlands, and a stunning beach. To protect wildlife, access to the upper forested area is restricted. The beach offers plenty to explore, and early morning visitors might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a North American River Otter near the shore. Planning your visit carefully around the tides is crucial—during high tide, much of the northern section of the beach becomes inaccessible, and getting stranded could be a real risk.

Guemes Island offers exceptional birdwatching opportunities, with the beach being a prime spot to observe a diverse array of wildlife. Along the shoreline, you might encounter species such as Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Hairy Woodpecker, Hummingbirds, Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Black Oystercatcher, Pigeon Guillemot, Cedar Waxwing, and various Gulls. The forested area is equally vibrant, hosting eagles, falcons, owls, flickers, and pileated woodpeckers. Pack a lunch, grab your binoculars or camera, and immerse yourself in a day filled with the sights and sounds of nature

Access

To get to Kelly’s Point once you have crossed over to Guemes via the Guemes Island Ferry, you can easily walk the road or you can drive

The Guemes Island ferry landing to Kelly’s Point is about a mile. When you exit the Ferry, take a left and head west on South Shore Rd. South Shore Rd will turn into Tidewater Rd. At the stop sign, make a left on South Shore Dr. Follow South Shore Dr until you see the Kelly’s Point sign. The parking area is at the corner of South Shore Dr and West Shore Dr. 

It's best to walk or bike onto the ferry to reach Kelly's Point, as the parking area is very limited—only about six cars max.

Skagit Land Trust

VISITOR GUIDELINES

Please keep in mind the following when visiting Kelly’s Point:

• Access to the beach is down a steep bluff using a pre-existing steep ramp. Use with caution and at your own risk! The access point may not be appropriate at this time for people with physical disabilities or for very young children.

• Similar to other natural areas, please keep your pet on a leash.

• Please do not build fires.

• UAVs or drones are prohibited.

• Please note that during high tide, the beach may become inaccessible in some areas, making a return trip difficult and hazardous.

• The boundaries of Skagit Land Trust’s conservation area are marked. The beach and uplands beyond these points are private. Please respect our neighbors’ private property.

Hiding of Guemes Island Painted Rocks

Skagit Land Trust

After much discussion, the committee determined that leaving painted rocks at any Trust property is inconsistent with our visitor code of conduct (which includes following leave no trace principles on Trust properties)

Regina Wandler
Stewardship Manager, Skagit Land Trust 

8/22/2018