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Anderson Island

Discover Puget Sound's secret island

A stretch of beach at Andy’s Marine Park on Anderson Island. Photo credit: Kristi Berry

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Anderson Island's unspoiled beauty is just a 20-minute ferry ride away. As Puget Sound's southernmost island, Anderson Island is refreshingly undeveloped. There are no crowds, no traffic -- not even a stoplight. What you will find are pristine beaches, natural lakes and beautiful parks. It's a great place to hike, swim, fish and kayak.

The only way to get to this secluded island is by private boat or ferry. Take the Pierce County ferry from Steilacoom. Plan to get to the dock at least 30 minutes early to buy tickets and get in line. For departure times and fares, check the Pierce County website at co.pierce.wa.us/2200/ferry-schedule.

The journey there is half the fun. As you leave Steilacoom behind, you'll see the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the north and Mount Rainier behind you. Stand on the deck to take in the views and look for harbor porpoises.

The island is home to two marine parks with beach access. Once the Jacobs family homestead, Jacobs Point Park is now a public park with 82 acres of forest, wetlands and beach. Its 2.5-mile round-trip trail is a moderate hike that leads to the shore of the Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve. On the way, you can read about the Jacobs family history and see a chimney left over from the original farmhouse. A 100-foot walkway takes you over the wetlands before heading down stairs to the beach. Look for a sea cave near the bottom of the stairs. Keep going another quarter mile to an overlook with views of Puget Sound and, on a clear day, Mt. Rainier.

To explore Andy's Marine Park, pick up the trailhead from the gravel parking lot on Clausen Road. The 1.2-mile partial-loop trail winds through an old-growth forest before bringing you to a tidal inlet. The trail can be muddy in parts and there is a short, steep section at the end. A wooden bridge takes you over the inlet to a rocky beach. The three-quarter mile stretch of public shoreline is strewn with driftwood and flanked by a tree-lined bluff. In winter months, you may have this beach all to yourself.

Both parks are nature areas, so dogs are not allowed, nor is the "removal of treasures from the beach." Feel free to pick blackberries, though, and do take out anything you bring in. Both parks have a strict pack-it-in, pack-it-out policy. Warning: poison oak and stinging nettle may be growing near the paths, so it's best to stay on the trails.

In summer months, visitors flock to the "Ol' Swimming Hole" at Lowell Johnson Park. Located on Florence Lake, this old-fashioned swim spot has a small beach and two swimming areas. In the "big kid" area, advanced swimmers paddle out to a wood float and jump off a two-story platform. Little ones have their own area with a floating dock and small slide. Lifeguards are not on duty. The park also has a grass area, sand volleyball court, picnic tables and restrooms.

Locals love their tranquil island home and are proud of its pioneer past. Visit the Historical Society's Johnson Farm to tour 15 historical farm buildings and a new archival building. The museum is open weekends after April 7.  

Historical Society member Ed Stephenson describes Anderson Island as "a small, quiet residential community with essential services, little traffic, and plenty of physical recreation and community opportunities."

After being weekenders for many years, Stephenson and his wife moved to the island full time in 2002. Of island life, he said, "It takes a little different personality to live on a small island, and many people find they're not suited for it. But those who are just love it."

For more info, visit andersonisland.org.

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