Charts 18445, 18448: Colvos Passage, Dockton County Park, East Passage, Lisabuela Park, Maury Island, Olalla, Quartermaster Harbor, Quartermaster Marina, Tahlequah, Tramp Harbor, Wingehaven Park.

Vashon Island & Vashon Center (1): James Vashon, an officer with Peter Puget, was honored by Captain George Vancouver by giving his name to this large island. Steep cliffs and forested hillsides are prominent landmarks. Small coves, offering temporary anchorage, indent the shores. Quartermaster Harbor, a large natural anchorage is located between Vashon and its neighbor, Maury Island. Agriculture, fruit and berry growing, and boat building have been traditional industries. Today, many residents commute to work in Seattle, while an equally large number are retired, having been attracted to the island because of its slow pace and its location only a few miles from a metropolitan city. Several artists reside on the island, many of whom display signs on their homes welcoming visitors to their studios.

Residents and others travelling by land vehicles, arrive by car/passenger ferry. The Washington State Ferry terminal is located at the wharf on the north shore between Dolphin Point and Point Vashon. A passenger-only ferry links downtown Seattle with the island. This ferry, designed for commuters, makes early morning and late afternoon runs on week days and a mid morning and five additional trips on Saturdays. Car/passenger ferries connect with Fauntleroy in West Seattle, and Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. Access to and from Tacoma is found at Tahlequah, on the extreme south end of the island, via a car/passenger ferry that makes regular crossings to, and from, Tacoma’s Point Defiance.

The largest community, Vashon, sometimes called, The Center, is situated along the main, north-south, road near the center of the island. There are restaurants, a bakery, hardware, grocery, and liquor store, as well as specialty and antique shops, a gas station, theater, post office, and the noted Vashon Hardware and Tool Museum. Boaters and other tourists can travel to downtown Vashon by King County Metro bus from moorages at Burton and Dockton County Park. Route #119 makes weekday-only runs to Dockton County Park and Burton, a short walk from Quartermaster Marina. You can flag down the bus, if you see it coming, whether or not there is a bus stop at your present location. Route #118 runs, everyday except Sunday, from the north end ferry terminal to the Tahlequah ferry.

In the days of the Mosquito Fleet, steamers plied the waters of Colvos, East, and Dalco Passages, which fringe the island, making regular stops at such ports of call as Olalla, Cove, and Lisabuela. Later, the Black Ball Line developed the ferry landing at the north end. Today it is state owned.

Colvos Passage: See Table 2 - NOAA Current Differences and Other Constants, reference #1381 on The Narrows, Washington. This mile-wide passage is free of obstructions and extends about 11 miles along the western shore of Vashon Island. The shoreline is indented with curving beaches, such as Fern Cove and Paradise Cove (site of the Campfire’s Camp Sealth), and a few sharper niches such as Cove, and Lisabuela. Overnight anchorage is recommended only in settled weather. Ruins mark the wharf at Cove, where the Virginia V once made scheduled stops, and a scallop fisherman, with a distinctive one lunger boat engine, once sold gunny sacks full of scallops for 75 cents each.

Olalla: This small community is located on the opposite shore of the passage. There is a launch ramp, a picnic area, and waterfront grocery accessible by dinghy.

Lisabuela Park: This Cascadia Marine Trail campsite is located on the west side of the island, 4.5 miles north of the south end of the island. There are three campsites and a launching ramp for hand carried craft. No open fires are permitted. Be aware of fast currents near shore. 1-800-233-0321.

East Passage: [18474] See Table 2 - NOAA Current Differences and Other Constants, reference #1385 on The Narrows, Washington. If currents are a consideration, most boaters heading south will go down East Passage and return north by Colvos Passage. This is because the current in Colvos nearly always flows north. Actually, currents in either passage are not strong. East Passage is a main shipping channel, with Vessel Traffic Separation lanes. Tugs and freighters are common sights.

Wingehaven Park: This Cascadia Marine Trail site is in the first bay south of Dolphin Point. It has three campsites. No open fires permitted. The beach can be easily identified by the massive, sculptured bulkhead. It is accessible by beachable boat. Temporary anchorage is possible, with some protection from westerly winds. However, wakes from passing ships may be a nuisance. This park,once a large estate, was named for the previous owners of the property. 1-800-233-0321

Tramp Harbor: Formed by the easternmost part of Vashon Island and the north end of Maury Island this curving beach has shoals along much of its length, extending about 0.2 mile from shore. Point Heyer is a sandspit, to the north. Temporary anchorage is possible, but is open to north winds and wakes of passing ships. There is no moorage float. On shore, there is a fishing pier, with a picnic area at the head of it, and a good beach for beachcombing. Off shore, buoys mark the boundaries of an artificial reef that is popular with Scuba divers.

Maury Island: [18474] This "island" is actually a five-mile long peninsula of Vashon Island, connected by a highway at a narrow neck of land. This is the site of the small community of Portage.

Point Robinson County Park: Beachable boats can land here without difficulty. The park is located on the hillside. Picnicking, beachcombing, fishing, and Scuba diving are possible activities at this location. By advance arrangement, the Point Robinson Lighthouse, circa 1887, opens for public tours.

Maury Island Marine Park: This new park designation, located south of the lighthouse, is awaiting development.

Quartermaster Harbor: Vashon and Maury Islands come together to form this five-mile long harbor. When entering between Neill Point and Piner Point, be aware of a two fathom shoal off Neill Point, and a buoy-marked shoal off Manzanita, on Maury Island. Quartermaster Harbor is favored for its variety of anchoring sites and park lands. North and south winds can enter, however, in any given wind, one can usually select a site that is protected from that wind. Anchorage is on a mud bottom in depths of 20-50 feet. The harbor shallows in the bay north of Burton Peninsula. Private homes, many with mooring buoys, a marina, and the nearby small community of Burton, with its store and restaurant, are located in this area. Weekday bus service connects Burton with Dockton County Park and other sites on Vashon Island.

Several parks have waterfront access. A public tidelands beach, north of Neill Point and accessible only by small boat, has clams and geoducks. There is an undeveloped park at Lone Lake, north of the this beach. Day use only, Burton Acre Park is on Burton Peninsula. There are restrooms, a swimming beach, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a launching ramp. Anchor some distance off shore to avoid shallow water at low tide. This is a popular site for dinghies, canoes, and inflatable craft. The largest park in the vicinity is Maury Island’s Dockton County Park.

Quartermaster Marina: Guest moorage, 20 ampere power, water, repairs, haul-out, provisions. Pump-out, dump. 206-463-3624.

Dockton County Park: This park, located on the east shore of the harbor, is protected from all but strong north winds. There are 58 moorage slips. Anchorage is also possible in 18-30 feet of water, on a mud bottom. Amenities include a paved launch ramp, parking, cooking shelters, playground equipment, restrooms, showers, and a swimming beach. Because of this park’s popularity, and its distance from the commercial center of Vashon, it is a scheduled stop for weekday bus service on the island. In the l890’s schooners, and later steamboats, were constructed at a large shipyard in the area.

Tahlequah: This small community is the terminus of the ferry to Point Defiance. No marine facilities.

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