Vendovi Island Preserve (Open as of May 8)

This 217-acre island gem is small enough to explore in a day, but large enough to find a sense of solitude. Just under two miles of well-marked, interconnecting trails stitch together Vendovi’s tapestry of forests, meadows, and beaches. While you admire the sweeping vistas, take time to slow down and enjoy the close-up beauty, too.

Douglas-fir and maple forest cloaks most of Vendovi’s uplands. You may notice that the understory of this forest is particularly rich, with tall salal, Oregon boxwood, sword fern, and salmonberry. This is, in large part, because deer are rare visitors to Vendovi Island.

On the island’s south-facing slopes, the forest is interspersed with rocky prairies. In spring, these sunny openings sparkle with the colors of thousands of native wildflowers, including camas, paintbrush, and fawn lily.

Vendovi’s beaches—including aptly-named Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach—offer endless scenic views and fascinating intertidal life. These beaches are important resting areas for harbor seals; many give birth to their pups on the island. Please watch for seals when you visit a beach, and give them plenty of space.

Access: For the 2020 season, Vendovi Island Preserve is opening to the public on May 8, subject to the conditions and restrictions listed at right. These conditions are subject to change at any time, depending on Washington State and CDC guidelines.

Open hours: 10am–6pm, Thursday through Monday (CLOSED on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

When open to the public, access to the island is via the North Cove only. A 70-foot dock just inside the breakwater is available for side-tie moorage on a first-come, first-served basis (please observe a time limit of three hours). Kayaks and other small watercraft may land on the beach inside this protected cove.

We are working to manage a delicate balance between protecting the ecological integrity of the island and human enjoyment of this property.

Learn about the history of this preserve