Blake Island is one of our favorite day or weekend trips to make on a boat from Seattle. It is a short sail and the small island includes beaches, walking trails, a marina, campgrounds, curious wildlife, and more. Although the island is far from deserted, most of the buildings stand unused and lend a surreal ghost town-like feel to the island today.
History
For many years, Blake Island was used by the Indigenous people for harvesting ling cod, crab and clams. The island was a summer camping ground for the sx̌aq̓tabš, a predecessor band of the Suquamish tribe. According to Suquamish oral tradition and an account by Catherine Maynard, wife of the founder of the city of Seattle David “Doc” Maynard, the island was the birthplace of Chief Seattle. Chief Seattle was a Suquamish and Duwamish leader during the early 1800s for whom the city of Seattle was named. This fact is disputed though. Contemporary Indigenous people are reported as saying that Chief Seattle was born in other places such as the village of his father or the village of his mother.
In 1792, Captain George Vancouver, while exploring the North Pacific coast of North America for the British Government, anchored off of what is today known as Bainbridge Island. While there, a hunting party visited today’s Blake Island.
In 1855, the island was given to the United States by local tribes under duress via the Point Elliot Treaty. Most of the land making up today’s Blake Island Marine State Park was later given to the State of Washington as part of a grant of millions of acres of public domain lands. The intention was for the state to manage the lands as a trust in support of public institutions.
In the early 1900s, Seattle millionaire William Trimble bought the island and brought his family to live there. The Trimbles built a 12-room two-story lodge to serve as their summer home. The family left in 1929 after Mrs. Trimble was tragically killed when the family’s car rolled off a pier into Elliot Bay. It is said that Mr. Trimble never returned to the island and the mansion was abandoned. During the Great Depression the land was sold to cover losses sustained by Mr. Trimble.
In 1949, two teenagers sailed a homemade boat to Blake Island. They lit a fire in one of the fireplaces of the ruined mansion and accidentally set the house ablaze. The teenagers escaped and the foundation of their mansion is still visible on the island.
In the 1960s, William S. Hewitt sought to build and open a restaurant with Blake Island Marine State Park. Hewitt entered an agreement with the state in which Hewitt would build a facility on park lands then lease it for his restaurant, Tillicum Village. The design of the facility included features from many Northwest Coast Indigenous cultures. The longhouse-style main building was designed by non-indigenous UW professor, John Rohrer. Into the 2000s, this building housed a cafe and hosted a Coast Salish Cultural Presentation. However, these offerings disappeared with the ferry route. The buildings remain.
Getting There
Blake Island is one of over 50 marine state parks in Washington and is only accessible by boat.
Currently, there are no ferry services to Blake Island. The only way to get there is via a private boat or a charter. Paddling, via kayak or SUP, is also an option!
From our base slip, we can get to Blake in a little over an hour but we often like to take our time getting there-especially if we can sail. Sailing across the Puget Sound offers a great view of the Seattle skyline to the east and on clear days, the Olympic Mountains to the west. If we are really lucky we see critters on the way. We often see birds, otters, harbor seals, sea lions, salmon, and even orcas.
Staying There
Moorage in the Blake Island marina is first-come, first-served and it fills up fast when the weather is nice! Power is available on the dock for an additional fee. There are mooring buoys around the island as well.
This trip we stayed on a ball on the south side of the island. While usually protected from the weather, this anchorage is open to a ferry route between West Seattle and Vashon. The wake causes quite a bit of roll but it is intermittent. The view and beach access are excellent though.
Campsites are located around the island and can be reserved for tent camping. Unreserved campsites are first-come-first-served. There are bathrooms (both flushing and composting) and shower facilities. However, be prepared to pack out your trash.
What To Do
The island boasts 5 miles of beach for combing and 8 miles of trails for walking. Be sure to bring a picnic and enjoy the various picnic areas with spectacular views of the Seattle skyline, west Seattle, and the Olympic mountains.
The campsites along the beach were crowded with tents but that didn’t stop the curious (and prolific) raccoons from poking around. The island is home to many (MANY) raccoons. They are cute but they are smart. They are known to board boats tied up to the dock. Lock up or prepare to share your snacks!
Wildlife
Aside from the raccoons scampering along the water’s edge, we often see deer on the island. They usually come out at dusk to graze in the large grassy area near the marina but we have also seen them on the beach.
Otters can be seen swimming around the island and playing on the docks. Bald eagles perch on the tops of the tall trees. Oh and in the winter, the Canada geese… so many geese.
Other Fun Things
There is a Free Little Library outside the bathroom where you can trade in your finished books for some new ones. Also be sure to stop at the ranger station to check in, pay for your stay, and purchase some ice cream if it is available!
Recommended Reading and References
- For complete details about the park and available amenities, please visit the Blake Island Marine State Park Official Website.
- Neyman, Russell (January 2009). “The 1948 Blake Island mansion fire is finally solved”. Yukon Harbor Historical Society. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- Blake Island, Wikipedia (visited June 23, 2025), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Island.
- Blake Island Marine State Park History. Washington State Parks. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
Happy sailing!