There was a time when this was my favorite camp spot in the San Juan Islands. I led multiple kayak trips that stopped for a night here, and when I had the time to take a personal trip in the San Juans, I always tried to make it back to this place. I had a bottle of wine stashed here (part of a large collection of vino that I had hidden all over the islands), along with a couple gallons of water, since water has always been a difficult commodity to procure in these parts on a hot summer’s day. This view was the reward for the effort of paddling, this opportunity to stay on a tiny island in the middle of dynamic, fast-moving water.

The camp site is closed now, regrettably, a product of budget cuts and sanitation issues. There was never that much room here and I am not the only one that thinks it’s a great place to visit. Overuse and a fragile infrastructure closed Strawberry Island to campers, but thankfully it remains a great rest stop choice, no matter what time of year it is.