Mount Grant Preserve

Mount Grant Preserve offers one of the most breathtaking 360-degree views on San Juan Island, with trails and roadways leading through forested slopes, open meadows, and rocky outcrops to a true summit experience. From the ridgeline clearing at 640 feet, visitors can take in sweeping vistas of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, the Olympic Mountains, San Juan Valley, Stuart Island, and even the distant Canadian Gulf Islands.

Located between Mount Dallas and Cady Mountain, the preserve protects 250 acres of diverse habitat, including old-growth Douglas fir, grassy balds, wetlands, and woodlands. It also borders the Town of Friday Harbor’s Trout Lake watershed, the town’s primary freshwater source.

Several trails of varying difficulty wind through the preserve, offering peaceful walks beneath towering trees, past seasonal wildflowers, and along ridgelines where raptors soar overhead. Newt Pond, a hidden gem along the trail, is a quiet spot for wildlife viewing—especially amphibians like rough-skinned newts, and birds such as pileated woodpeckers, bald eagles, and band-tailed pigeons and California quail.

In spring, the hillsides come alive with Henderson’s shooting star, great camas, and fawn lily. By summer, raptors circle the ridge and songbirds fill the forest with their calls. The preserve is also home to many other bird and bat species considered priorities for protection in Washington State.

The existing road to the summit is open to pedestrian and nonmotorized use year-round. On select days, visitors can also drive to the summit:

• April–September: Sundays and Wednesdays, 10 AM–7 PM (weather permitting)

• October–March: Sundays only, 10 AM–4 PM (weather permitting)

Recent research revealed that this ridgeline, once labeled “Mount Grant” on mid-19th century maps—likely named after Ulysses S. Grant—had vanished from official records by the early 20th century. Today, the name is proudly restored to this iconic San Juan Island peak.