Odlin County Park
Odlin might be the sweetest little park in all the San Juan Islands. It is on Lopez Island and offers a lovely sandy beach, waterfront campsites, docks, a boat launch, a baseball diamond, and extensive trails. No wonder why locals and visitors alike love Odlin County park.
Odlin County Beach
Sandy beach access is pretty rare for San Juan County Parks, so Odlin’s quarter mile of beach access sets it apart in the islands. Islanders from Friday Harbor and Orcas islands will boat to Odlin to sunbathe or splash on its sandy shores. In the summer, only the farmers market draws more Lopez Islanders together. Odlin County Park is also a favorite for visitors, and no Lopez Island vacation is complete without a beach day here. Find out about more beaches to visit on Lopez Island here.
Why Parents Love this Lopez Island Beach
Odlin Park Beach is a parent-friendly paradise! Gentle, shallow waters make it great for little legs to explore safely and low tide reveals fascinating creatures in the pools and sand spits that kids will love. There are never large ocean waves (or sneaker waves) to worry about at Odlin. But kids love when the ferry passes in the distance because its wake creates the cutest mini waves that curl up on Odlin’s shoreline. This excitement lasts only about one minute but will surely have your little ones giggling. Older kiddos love creating dreamy sandcastles or whizzing along its sandy shores on skimboards.
Odlin Beach Picnics
Picnicking at Odlin is a Lopez institution. Islanders celebrate birthdays and anniversaries or just get together and hang out all summer long at the beachfront picnic tables and fire rings that dot Odlin’s shores. Visitors are welcome to use Odlin’s picnic tables and fire rings. Parents appreciate watching their kids splash at the beach while sitting for lunch or standing by the beach fire pits. A baseball diamond is near the picnic area, where older kids and parents often start a pick-up game. The whole scene is classic island Americana!
Odlin Park Camping Opportunities
Odlin County park campgrounds offer waterfront campsites, one of the only San Juan County campground to provide this. Some sites accommodate tents as well as sites for RVs and camper vans. If you are looking for tent camping on the beach, book sites 1-6. These are also perfect group campsites for group camping. The best tent sites at Odlin county g are sites 6, 7, and 9. they offer a more private setting in the forest but are only a few steps from the beach. All the campsites provide a picnic table and fire rings. All Washington State’s beautiful shoreline parks offer popular camping, so you want to reserve your spot in advance. There are a few drive-up sites that you book at the campground directly. Make an Odlin campsite reservation here.
Campground Amenities
Odlin has running potable water but only has vault toilets. There are no showers at Odlin, so if you aren’t into taking a saltwater bath in the chilly waters of Odlin, you can get a hot shower in Lopez Village or Spencer Spit State Park. The Odlin Campground features 31 campsites with ten beach sites and 8 Group camp sites.
Boating at Odlin County Park
Whether you are cruising the San Juan Islands in a sailboat, trailering a fishing boat, or have a kayak strapped to the top of your car, Odlin has all the boating amenities you need. For larger vessels, Odlin Park has several mooring buoys. The Mooring buoys offer liveaboard boat visitors protected waters, and you can beach or dock your dingy easily.
Odlin Boat Launch
If you are trailering your boat, Odlin County Park has both a boat launch and daytime boat trailer parking. The launch is grooved concrete but can be sandy at certain times of the year, and bringing a shovel is a good idea just in case you get stuck. You will also want to launch at a high tide because, at low tide, the end of the concrete boat ramp will be exposed. After you launch your boat, you can nose onto the beach while you park your trailer or motor at the two Odlin docks to tie up so you can go and park your camper.
Launching a Kayak at Odlin County Park
Both the boat launch and the beach make for a good kayak launch. Tidal currents are not very strong in the waters around Odlin Park so you can kayak or sup board during any tide. Don’t have a kayak or don’t want to pay over-height charges to bring your own? Why not rent a kayak?
Odlin Park Hiking Trails
Odlin County Park has some lovely forested hiking trails. These trails are not well marked, so not all visitors can explore them. You can get to the hiking trails from a trailhead across from the ranger’s station or by walking past the campsites road. Odlin’s forested hike will take you past a couple of Lopez Islands’ largest and oldest trees. Part of the trail follows the shoreline on a high bluff that gives scenic views of the water below.
Odlin County Docks
There are two docks at Odlin. One and a floating aluminum dock used by boaters, and another is wooden and a favorite spot for fishermen. It’s a Lopez tradition to jump off the wooden pier on your birthday but be forwarned. The water is unbelievably cold. Fishermen can catch small flat fish, pile perch, and kelp greenling. During the season, you can crab from the dock as well. Cooking your catch on a fire ring in the picnic area is a relaxed island experience. If you want to learn more about how to crab, check out Youtuber Outdoor chef life’s video about Lopez Island. His crab dip recipe on an Odlin fire ring is so good.
Here are a few more things to know about Odlin
Ok, here are just a few last details you should know before heading to Odlin County Park. Odlin is 1.3 miles from the Lopez Island Ferry Landing. Campers often choose to walk for a bicycle this distance. If you prefer to rent bikes, you can do so at the Ferry Landing from Edenwild Island Adventures. Lopez Village is 3 miles from Lopez Village. The picnic areas at Odlin are open to the public, including vault toilets in the restroom.
Covered Pavilions and camp Sites Info
Two covered pavilions, picnic tables, and picnic areas are perfect for celebrating parties. Campers with RVs should know that there are no water hookups, limited potable water, and maximum vehicle size limits at certain campsites. There is a daily fee for mooring buoys. Campsites 1-5 are the best group camp sites. Odlin’s address is 148 Odlin Park Rd. Lopez, WA. 98261
Conclusion
Odlin County park is one of the best county parks in the San Juan Islands. Whether you are coming for the campground or just to hang out at the beach, “Odlin is a peaceful experience on Lopez Island. Odlin is a true gem of the San Juan County parks.
