Turn Island State Park | |
Washington State Park | |
Country | United States |
---|---|
State | Washington |
County | San Juan |
Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
Coordinates | 48°31′57″N 122°58′18″W / 48.53250°N 122.97167°WCoordinates: 48°31′57″N 122°58′18″W / 48.53250°N 122.97167°W |
Area | 35 acres (14 ha) |
Established | Unspecified |
Management | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
Website: Turn Island State Park | |
Turn Island is a small island in the San Juan Islands of northern Puget Sound of the U.S. state of Washington. The entire island is preserved as Turn Island State Park and is located within the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The island has 12 campsites and is only accessible by water.
Charles Wilkes, during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, thought it was part of San Juan Island and named it Point Salisbury after one of his officers. In 1858, the British found that it was an island with dangerous rocks in the channel between it and San Juan Island. The name Turn Island and Turn Rocks were given to mark the proper sailing channel.