The tip of Spencer Spit is a popular walking destination. Most of the boats shown here on the south side of the spit are on state park buoys. Photos by Migael Scherer

Spencer Spit juts from the northeast shore of Lopez Island and is one of the most popular state parks in all the San Juans. The quarter-mile spit encloses a tidal lagoon. Driftwood is piled on the silvery beach grass, and in summer the sandy shoals are warm enough for wading. The wooded uplands of the park, with their trails and campsites, cover more than 120 acres.

At the end of the spit is a tiny cabin, originally built by the park’s namesake, who lived at the base of the spit with his family in the 1880s. The open cabin has been rebuilt to look as it did then, and is used as a picnic shelter. The spit continues beyond, and a walk to its very tip will put you almost within arm’s length of boats parading by.

Moorings and Anchorage
All of the mooring buoys at Spencer Spit are in deep water. There are a dozen in all, seven on the south side of the spit and five on the north side. Water is deepest at the westernmost buoys.

Fees are charged for the park buoys year-round, for any length of stay after 1 p.m. There are two fee boxes on the beach, and another at the park entrance booth up the road.

If you anchor, stay outside of these buoys. The bottom rises gradually from 2 fathoms to less than 1 fathom on the south side of the spit, and more abruptly on the north side.

Pay careful attention to the weather. This anchorage is exposed to the north and south, and though the spit gives protection from waves, it does not protect from wind. If a gale kicks up, the closest protection from a southerly is in Swifts Bay; from a northerly the closest protection is in Brigantine Bay off Decatur Island.

The south anchorage of Spencer Spit. Making forts and sculpture with the driftwood here keeps kids and adults entertained all day.

Getting Ashore
The long beach of Spencer Spit has a sandy bottom that’s easy on skiffs. Frost Island is private. Flower Island is a National Wildlife Refuge, aflutter with noisy, nesting gulls stay at least 200 yards away.

Things to Do
The park has picnic areas, fire pits, restrooms and campsites, but no showers. The campground is closed from October 20 until March 5.

Lopez is a popular cycling island, so if you have the time, take advantage of the bicycle rental at Spencer Spit. It’s a mile from the park entrance to Port Stanley Road, then south a bit to the turnoff for Horse Drawn Farms. Their farm stand has beautiful produce and meat, all locally and organically produced. If you continue on Port Stanley Road to Hummel Lake Road, it’s about 2 miles farther to Lopez Village. The small village has a bakery, bookstore, grocery, coffee shops, and galleries. The Saturday market takes place from late spring through early fall.

Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.

About Migael Scherer

Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.

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