Yellow Island

There are many special places to stop in the San Juan Islands that are outside the ferry route and accessible only be private boat, kayak or dinghy. Yellow Island, part of the Wasp Island Group, is one of those special islands, which was purchased by the Nature Conservancy to preserve the diversity of native plants, flowers, and grass lands. A variety of bird species frequent the island.

The Conservancy carries out ecological research year-round on the Island and visitors are asked to stay on the designated trail. Access is by small craft, such as dinghies and kayaks. Visitors can come ashore at the southeast side of the Island, on the beach below the wooden Dodd cabin. Anchor the mother ship on the northeast side of Yellow Island, or stay at nearby Deer Harbor Marina for easy dinghy access in settled weather. Visiting hours at Yellow Island are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; there’s no overnighting or picnicking due to the sensitive area and wildlife.

Lew and Elizabeth Dodd lived on Orcas Island in the 1930's, where they raised their two girls. Then around 1945, they moved to start a homestead on Yellow Island and built a cabin between 1945-1947 with $200 worth of nails, windows from their previous chicken coop, and a few logs which they floated over from their property on Orcas. Other building materials consisted of salvaged driftwood, stones, and materials from decommissioned boats. Today, the cabin remains basically unaltered and is now the full-time residence of the Island's caretaker. The cabin on the west side of the island on Breezy Point was built later as guest accommodations for their daughters and growing number of grandchildren. The extended Dodd family sold Yellow Island in 1979 to The Nature Conservancy to preserve this special 11-acre island, which their parents so dearly loved.