A Private Tour of Lime Kiln State Park and Lighthouse (#021)

A Private Tour of Lime Kiln State Park and Lighthouse on San Juan Island - for up to 6 people.

https://www.lighthousefriends.com

Lime Kiln Point State Park encompasses 41-acres along the western side of the island, where the terrain is made up of rocky cliffs, wooded trails in the shade of windblown trees, and grassy outlooks with picnic benches. According to the Washington State Parks Department, this location is considered “one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land-based facility.”

Here are the top five things to do at Lime Kiln Point State Park:

• Tour the Lime Kiln Lighthouse: The 1919 Lime Kiln Lighthouse is open for tours during the summer months. It’s a great spot to get that bird’s eye view of the Salish Sea, and the vista reaches across the Haro Strait into the Cordova Bay of Canada.
• Whale Watching: As one of the best places for whale-watching in the world, the ideal timeframe to see these majestic sea mammals is from May through September. The species you might have the pleasure of seeing are the transient orcas and porpoises and a variety of whales, including grey, humpback, and minke. Learn more about the resident and transient whale pods at the Lime Kiln Interpretive Center.
• Hike the Trail: The Upland Trail begins at the north end of the main parking lot. This 1.6-mile trail leads you to the historic Lime Kiln, and here you can learn more about the lime quarry operations of the area. You’ll then follow the path to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse and continue towards the rocky shoreline.
• Beach Exploration: The rocky cliffs lead visitors to a diverse landscape of sea life in tide pools and along the shoreline. You’ll most likely see kayakers paddling, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pods in migration.

History. The Lime Kiln Light was established in 1914 when acetylene lights were placed on Lime Kiln Point, a name derived from the lime kilns built there in the 1860s. It was the last major lighthouse established in Washington.