Pacific Northwest - Lopez Island

Mrs. Stringbreaker and I got reservations on Lopez Island for Aug. 10 and 11. Leaving the truck at Anacortes and taking the bikes over. Hope the weather is good then. Has anyone ridden much over there? I've never been and it doesn't appear to be that large. We might take one day and ride on another island. Any suggestions.

It's been a few years, but I've ridden a bunch of Lopez with Scout groups on at least two occasions. It's the flattest of the San Juan Islands, and you're right that it isn't that large. If you're up for a good climb, head over to Orcas and ride to the top of Mt. Constitution. The views from the top are fabulous on a clear day. I rode it once a few years ago on my old 12-speed, with several stops. Orcas is also closer to Lopez than San Juan so less time on the ferry. If you don't like hills then you could probably make a nice lazy couple of days out of a Lopez visit.

If you want to ride all day then you might get bored. I like to do some riding, hang out at Shark Reef with a book and watch the seals play in the channel between Lopez and the little stone reef/island to the west, then ride some more. Repeat. I like that there aren't many cars, but since you will be there on a weekday it might not as big an issue on any island as compared to being there on a weekend.

Enjoy!

My girlfriend's family has a place on Lopez and we go up frequently. I haven't done a ton of riding there but I've found it very bike friendly. I think the ride around the outside of the Island is about 30 miles so you should have plenty of time for sight-seeing. Small rolling 'hills' in farm land and cool forest lanes allow you to keep a decent pace. Bring extra water, there aren't too many areas to pick it up outside of the village.

As for the other islands, Steephill has as little write-up (http://www.steephill.tv/galleries/2005/san-juan-islands/). If you're looking for a climb (And a view) it sounds like Orcas is your best bet. Enjoy the islands!

Stringbreaker,

I live right near the Anacortes ferry dock; been here 5 years, but have trailer boated the San Juans for probably 1,000 days in my life! Had never driven on Lopez (although had driven San Juan Island and Orcas Island many times), but took the car over there about 2 months ago to drive all over it. My son and I will pick up this week two tadpole trikes, and Lopez will be one of our first rides. It is a spectacular island; you will not be disappointed -- very few notable hills on the Island where you'll be riding in general, quite flat overall. Very bike friendly; the car drivers all wave at you! Don't miss the famous Holly B's Bakery in Lopez Village; in fact, don't miss it probably about twice per day! Lopez Bikes & Kayaks shop could probably send you a bike map of the Island (360)468-2847, or you could stop by their store by Fishermen's Bay and pick one up -- I know they have bike maps available somewhere, but I don't have one at the moment.

One can certainly take the ferry over to either San Juan Island or Orcas Island for the day; either one would be very nice. However, NOTE for your whole trip you have to be VERY, VERY careful in reading the ferry schedules and then double checking each other (either on-line at Washington State Ferries, or pick one up at the ferry dock) -- particularly the inter-island routes, since they often don't go through routes to every island, or dock for the night somewhere else, etc. -- on my own car trip I misread it myself, and almost had to stay the night over there. Schedules have all kinds of codes in there for weekends, etc.!

If you need any more info from me, my direct email address is: gryjacobson@yahoo.com Have a great trip!