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Roche Harbor
—  Unincorporated community  —
Roche Harbor Location within the state of Washington
Coordinates: 48°36′35″N 123°08′56″W / 48.60972°N 123.14889°W / 48.60972; -123.14889Coordinates: 48°36′35″N 123°08′56″W / 48.60972°N 123.14889°W / 48.60972; -123.14889
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	San Juan
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes
FIPS code
GNIS feature ID

Roche Harbor is a sheltered harbor on the northwest side of San Juan Island in San Juan County, Washington, United States, and the site of a resort of the same name. Roche Harbor sits along Haro Strait and Canada – United States border. The harbor itself provides one of the better protected anchorages in the islands. The harbor is surrounded on the east side by San Juan Island, on the north side by Pearl Island, and on the west and south sides by Henry Island. Most of the harbor is 35 to 45 feet (11 to 14 meters) deep. Roche Harbor has a small airport used primarily by local residents.

The Roche Harbor marina is a designated port of entry for pleasure boats. A customs dock occupies a section of the marina, with Customs and Border Protection agents on duty during summer months. When agents are not on duty, arriving boaters must call Customs and Border Protection from the Customs Dock.^[1]

History

Roche Harbor was named in honor of Richard Roche, who served under British Captain Henry Kellett in 1846 and Captain James Charles Prevost in 1857-60.^[2]

The resort was formerly a company town surrounding the Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company, which was incorporated in 1886. Lime production was a major industry and revenue source for a corporation run by John S. McMillin, whose ashes are buried in a large mausoleum nearby. The focal point of the resort is the historic Hotel de Haro.

References

External links

• Roche Harbor history
• Roche Harbor web cam

Municipalities and communities of San Juan County, Washington County seat: Friday Harbor Town Friday Harbor Communities Deer Harbor | Eastsound | Olga | Orcas Village | Roche Harbor | Waldron

The Mosquito Fleet of Puget Sound Sidewheelers Alaskan  • Beaver  • Eliza Anderson  • George E. Starr  • Idaho  • North Pacific  • Olympian  • T.J. Potter  • Wilson G. Hunt  • Yosemite ”They managed to keep their particular sort of jaunty, wind-swept beauty until the end.” – Newell, Gordon R., Ships of the Inland Sea Sternwheelers Bailey Gatzert  • City of Shelton  • Greyhound  • Hassalo (1880)  • Multnomah  • S.G. Simpson  • WT Preston Propellers Athlon  • Clallam  • M/V Coho  • Crystal  • Cy Peck  • Daily  • Daring  • Dart  • Dauntless  • Defiance  • Dix  • Dove  • Fleetwood  • Kingston  • Flyer (1891) • Hattie Hansen  • Island Princess  • Islander (1) • Mary D. Hume  • Mizpah  • Monticello (2) • Rosalie • Tacoma • Virginia V Steamboat lines Black Ball Line • Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. • Oregon Steam Navigation Co. • Puget Sound Navigation Co. • Hunt Bros. • McDowell Transportation Co. Steamboat captains William Ballard • Matthew McDowell Builders and shipyards John J. Holland • Robert Moran • King & Winge Steamboats in other areas of the Pacific Northwest Lake Washington • Columbia River • Oregon Coast • Willamette River • Yaquina Bay and river • Coquille River • Cowlitz River • Grays Harbor • Chehalis River • Hoquiam River • Willapa Bay • Columbia River (Wenatchee Reach) • Lake Crescent • Arrow Lakes • Upper Fraser River • Skeena River • Lake Okanagan • Thompson=Shuswap • Slocan Lake • Kootenay Lake and the lower Kootenai River • Columbia Lake and upper Kootenai River • Peace & Finaly Rivers • Stikine River

From Wikitravel

Roche Harbor is a small town on the northwest coast of San Juan Island, namesake of the picturesque San Juan Islands group. It has a bustling yacht harbor and floatplane service to Seattle. It makes a good base for exploring San Juan Island.

• Kenmore Air, ☎ +1-877-359-5366 (reservations@KenmoreAir.com, fax: +1-425-485-4774), [1]. Float plans make to seven flights from Lake Union in Seattle to Roche Harbor marina and Friday Harbor, and then return. Shuttles can bring you from Seattle-Tacoma airport to Lake Union. A spectular, though not cheap, way to arrive. $75-139.  edit
• Take the ferry or a plane to Friday Harbor, at the other end of the island, and then a 15-minute taxi ride to Roche Harbor.
• San Juan Island Transit, [2]. Bus service between Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, and other island destinations. 20 minutes. Runs up to once every hour during the day at peak season. $5 (adult).  edit
• If you have access to a yacht, come in the marina.
• If you have an airplane, Roche Harbor has a small, private paved airstrip.

Get around

Roche Harbor is small enough that you can walk everywhere. The whole town is oriented around the harbour, and the hotels and docks that surround it.

• Sculpture Garden, opposite the airport. Dozens of sculptures in over 10 acres. $5.  edit
• The marina is the heart of town. It is jammed with a variety of pleasure boats. The ambience is very pleasant, especially when the weather is fine. See the toilet service boat, M.V. Phecal Freak (motto: "we take crap from anyone" — really!)

• Orca Whale Watching from Sea Kayaks Biologist guides lead kayaking tours to the prime orca whale watching waters. Abundant seals, eagles, and other marine wildlife. Tour lengths range from a half-day up to 2, 3 and 5 day camping trips to the smaller islands. 360-378-5767 or 888-589-4253, whales@sea-quest-kayak.com Kayaking with Orca Whales

• Birding and Bird-watching Tours Local bird book author/biologist Mark Lewis guides birding tours throughout the San Juan Islands, home to 300 species of birds. Tour lengths from half-day to full day to multi-days. 360-378-5767 or 888-589-4253, whales@sea-quest-kayak.com Birding Tours on San Juan Island

• Lime Kiln Cafe. A delightful setting at the end of an old wharf. Very pleasant in the summer. $10-15 for lunch and soft drink, including tip and tax.  edit

• Hotel de Haro (Roche Harbor), 248 Reuben Memorial Dr, ☎ +1 360 378-2155, [3]. A historic, 130 year old hotel resort right on the water. $170-220.  edit

Get out

Bicycling is very pleasant on San Juan Island. There are various bike rental options, including one by the airport. (It also rents motor scooters and jeeps.)

One of the beaches on San Juan Island is a great place to watch orcas (whales).