Sportsman’s Lake Preserve
San Juan Island
Year protected: 1984
Land protected: 2.5 acres
Sportsman’s Lake is a 66.4-acre lake that is skirted by Roche Harbor Road about 3.5 miles northwest of Friday Harbor. The preserve consists of a narrow, 770-foot-long strip of land just north of the lake’s public fishing ramp. There’s no trail, but the preserve protects a portion of the lake’s natural freshwater shoreline and offers pedestrians a vantage point for viewing many species of waterfowl (including wintering Trumpeter swans) that use this area for foraging and roosting.
Access: Pedestrian access into property is allowed, although there are no maintained trails, amenities, or parking. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains an access ramp, directly south of this property, for launching small watercraft. Fishing is allowed year-round with the proper permits.
Learn about the history of this preserve
