Shaw Island - Public Land

Public Land

Shaw is unique among those islands served by the state ferries in having virtually no commercial or tourist-oriented facilities other than one small park, Shaw Island County Park. This park was purchased in the 1970s by Shaw Island residents so that people stranded on the island would have somewhere to go. This was necessary due to visitors illegally camping on private property out of desperation or camping at the ferry landing, which was also frowned upon.

The University of Washington also owns numerous pieces of property across the island, notably the Cedar Rock Reserve on the south side of the island (gate at the end of Hoffman Cove Road). The public is allowed to visit but it is only considered a day-use area. There is a guest book at the gate. The University has a few buildings on the property for residing research students.

Most of the island is privately owned. Because of the low population, the San Juan Island ferries make fewer stops per day at Shaw than at the other islands on the route.

Roads on Shaw are mostly inland and afford little access to, or even views of, the shoreline. There are 11.5 miles (18.5 km) of asphalt seal-coated and 2.37 miles (3.81 km) of gravel public roads on Shaw. The primary roads are three loops in the interior of the island, with branches to the ferry dock, Shaw Island County Park, Neck Point, and Broken Point, plus a few other minor ones. The "figure eight" route is popular with cyclists and only takes about two hours to see everything. Canoe Island is nestled in Indian Cove, and may be mistaken for part of Shaw when viewed from much of Upright Channel and beyond.