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An Easy Escape
by Neil Rabinowitz
Blake Island, Washington is close to everything, but far away from it all
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For Seattle area boaters, the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown shoreline is just five miles away from a wooded island paradise, accessible only by boat.
Blake Island, a roughly triangular-shaped 476-acre outpost in the middle of Puget Sound, has been preserved in its natural state to showcase its intriguing landscape. This tiny jewel provides one of the most pleasant and secluded quick boating getaways in the Northwest.
The conifer-covered island offers majestic bluffs, rolling hills and numerous viewpoints, and is edged by sandy beaches. No more than a mile long -- and with a circumference of about 5 miles -- the island is a playground for native deer, raccoons, fox, eagles and otters.
Part of a Washington state marine park formed in 1974, Blake Island offers a small protected marina for visiting boaters and plenty of sights to see ashore. A 12 mile network of nature trails winds through the entire island, making it an ideal location for camping, picnicking and exploring.
The island is also home to an American Indian lodge, known for traditional salmon bakes, which is accented with colorful totems.
Conveniently Located
Once on Blake Island, one meets boaters from all corners of the region. And there's a good reason for that: The cruise is short from nearly every direction.
Blake Island is only a few hundred yards from Kitsap Peninsula, to the west; and Manchester, where grocery stores and restaurants are available.
To the south is Vashon Island, and to the north is Bainbridge Island -- both less than a mile from Blake Island. West Seattle and Alki Beach are five miles to the east -- along with the fringe of the Seattle shoreline.
At Blake Island, kayakers, canoeists, waterskiers and salmon anglers are always joining the fleet of visiting boaters -- which also includes sailboat racers who pass by and power boat cruisers who enjoy gunkholing along the shores.
One of Puget Sound's finest maintained small harbors is located on Blake Island's east end, attracting boating visitors with a full range of services. Skippers will find 12 clean, sturdy floating docks and room for nearly 40 boats, open year-round. In addition, boaters will find 21 mooring buoys available in the off-season.
While the small harbor lures the greatest number of boaters at Blake Island, the outer reaches of the island hold magic for many visitors, who manage to reach the gentle island shores at all times of year -- in all weather.
A Rich History
Considered to be the birthplace of Chief Sealth, for which Seattle was named, Blake Island was once an ancestral camping ground of the Suquamish tribe.
At the turn of the century, a Seattle lawyer, William Pitt Trimble, bought the entire island, to turn it into a botanical estate. He spent 30 years developing gardens and an elegant residence here, but gave it all up when his wife died.
While the estate and gardens are just a memory today, the island is in many ways still a quiet retreat -- for boaters.
Today, there are three camping areas on the island with more than 50 campsites in all. Those on the western side, where there are a dozen mooring buoys and nearly twice as many shoreside picnicking and camping sites, have water and restrooms.
The southern shore has a few primitive camping sites, more suited to use by paddlers; while the main harbor on the eastern end, by Tillicum Village, has more amenities -- including barbecue pits, playing fields, a pumpout station, showers, restrooms, a restaurant and a sprawling totem-style longhouse/lodge. Here, tour boats bring visitors who don't have their own vessels to buy Indian trinkets and smoke salmon over a fire.
The enclosed boat basin here is safe in most harsh weather and attracts boaters and boat-in campers year-round.
Whether as a simple Puget Sound retreat, an escape for a night on a quiet shoreline, a weekend getaway or a spot to gather with boating buddies, Blake Island is one of the unsung treasures of Washington's Marine State Park system for Northwest boaters.
For more information, contact Blake Island State Park, Box 277, Manchester, WA 98353; (206) 731-0770.
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This article first appeared in the February 1, 1996 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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