Turtleback Mountain Preserve
Photo Credit: Kevin Sink
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank owns and manages the preserve, while the Preservation Trust holds a conservation easement that ensures the “gold standard” of protection, now and for future generations.
About the Preserve
One of the San Juans’ Most Beloved Landscapes
Rising dramatically from the west side of Orcas Island and visible throughout the archipelago and beyond, Turtleback Mountain offers visitors some of the most spectacular natural landscapes and scenic vistas in the San Juan Islands. An 8-mile trail network spans the turtle’s “back,” connecting the preserve’s north and south trailheads. This network also connects with an additional 1-mile trail that leads to jaw-dropping views from atop the turtle’s “head.”
Turtleback’s trails range from broad, gently sloping logging roads (now abandoned) to narrow paths that meander, sometimes steeply, through mixed forest and open meadows. Whether you’re up for a short dash to the North Valley Overlook — a 15-minute, moderately steep stroll from the north trailhead — a 3-mile round-trip climb to Ship Peak from the south trailhead, or an all-day exploration of the mountain’s many loops, ridges, and overlooks, Turtleback Mountain offers something to suit nearly all adventure-seekers, including kids
“Turtleback Mountain Preserve is one of the largest conservation success stories in the San Juans.”
— Craig Romano, author of Day Hiking The San Juans and Gulf Islands
Planning Your Visit
Getting to Turtleback Mountain Preserve
Photo Credit: Kevin Sink
Visitor Guidelines
North Trailhead — from the Orcas ferry landing
Take Orcas Road 3.4 miles to the intersection with Nordstrom Lane. Turn left and travel west to the intersection with Crow Valley Road at 4.0 miles. Turn right and travel north. At 5.7 miles from start, a sign directs to a gravel drive and parking on the left.
South Trailhead — from the Orcas ferry landing
Take Orcas Road for 2.4 miles. Turn left on Deer Harbor Road. Pass through West Sound and continue to Wild Rose Lane at 4.8 miles from start. Turn right and follow Wild Rose Lane to the parking area on the right.
Groups larger than 15 are asked to contact the Land Bank in advance at 360-378-4402 to ensure a quality experience for all visitors.
- Dawn to dusk hours only. See trail map and preserve signage for additional restrictions.
- Dogs on leash & all waste packed out
- Day use only; no overnight camping or fires
- Pack in and pack out all litter
- No hunting or collecting except by special permission (where suitable)
- Stay on designated trails
- Respect adjoining private property and do not trespass
- No motorized vehicles
Photo Credit: Kevin Sink
Wildlife & Ecology
What you’ll find on the mountain
Turtleback has long been considered one of the most ecologically significant properties in the San Juan Islands, with native grasslands, Garry oak savanna habitat, an unusually large mixed-species forest including old growth, and an expansive undeveloped ridgeline visible from throughout the islands. The mountain’s pocket wetlands and seasonal drainages connect the landscape all the way to the fertile wetlands of Crow Valley and the marine habitats of West Sound below.
20 Years of Turtleback
A Mountain Saved by a Community
Turtleback Mountain Preserve exists today thanks to an extraordinary community effort. In 2006, a six-month, $18.5 million fundraising campaign — the largest ever undertaken in San Juan County — brought together the San Juan Preservation Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, and more than 2,000 donors from throughout the Puget Sound region to permanently protect the mountain from development. Twenty years later, it remains one of the most intact and beloved landscapes in the islands.
Watch the story of Turtleback’s conservation with former Executive Director Tim Seifert ↓
Help Us Protect More of the San Juan Islands.
The San Juan Preservation Trust is working across the archipelago to safeguard the natural places you love. As a local nonprofit and Washington state’s longest running conservation land trust, we directly own and care for dozens of nature preserves and hold permanent protections on over 300 properties. Your support ensures the San Juan Islands remain healthy, beautiful, and accessible for generations to come.
