Harnden Island
Available discreetly · on application
Editorial profile. This island is not our listing. It is profiled from public record. Figures and status reflect the sources below at time of writing and may have changed. Sources: public listings.
Is Harnden Island for sale, and how much does it cost?
Harnden Island is a 1.9 acres developed private island in San Juan Islands, Washington, USA, United States. It is understood to be available discreetly: Available discreetly · on application. Tenure is freehold. Foreign ownership is permitted subject to local approvals. This is an editorial profile drawn from public record, clearly attributed, not our listing.
Summary
Harnden Island is a compact 1.9-acre freehold island in Washington's San Juans, just off Orcas Island and bordering the Sucia Island Marine State Park at Fossil Bay. It carries a simple A-frame cabin and is pitched for recreational, off-grid use. We flag it as a quiet listing: reported prices have ranged widely and one record shows it sold, so current availability needs confirmation. It nonetheless represents the archetypal small San Juan island retreat in one of the Pacific Northwest's premier cruising grounds.
Land & Waterfront
Though under two acres, the island's position is its strength — perched near the marine state park with views over Fossil Bay to surrounding islands and mountains, in the sheltered, current-rich waters of the San Juans. The nearby Sucia Island Marine State Park guest dock extends the anchorage and boating amenity well beyond the island's own footprint. This is a boater's island, where the value lies in the cruising grounds and outlook rather than developable acreage.
Access & Utilities
Access is by boat, roughly 2.5 miles north of Orcas Island and about 16 miles west of Bellingham. The A-frame cabin is marketed for off-grid use, which implies self-contained power and water, though the specifics — solar, generator, well or cistern — are not confirmed in the listing and should be verified. As a small island in a heavily protected archipelago, San Juan County's strict shoreline and environmental rules bear directly on any change of use.
Ownership & Use
Tenure is freehold with no foreign-ownership restriction. The realistic use is a modest off-grid recreational cabin and boating base rather than an estate, given the small acreage and stringent local permitting. The overriding diligence issue is status: reported asking figures have spanned several hundred thousand dollars and at least one record marks it sold, so confirming whether it is genuinely available, and on what terms, is the essential first step before any deeper review.
Specification
| Status | Quiet |
|---|---|
| Offering | For sale |
| Region | North America · San Juan Islands, Washington, USA |
| Country | United States |
| Size | 1.9 acres · 0.77 ha |
| Tenure | Freehold |
| Development | Developed |
| Holding-cost band | High — estate operations |
| Access | boat |
| Nearest airport | About 2.5 miles north of Orcas Island; 16 miles west of Bellingham |
| Power | off-grid (implied) |
| Water | not specified |
| Communications | mobile |
| Structures | A-frame cabin |
| Foreign ownership | Permitted (see notes) |
Legal & Ownership Notes
United States imposes no foreign-ownership restriction; freehold title with San Juan County shoreline and environmental permitting, which is notably strict in the archipelago.
Zoning: Marketed for recreational and off-grid use
- price and availability conflict across portals — one record shows sold; reverify with the listing agent
- confirm off-grid power and water arrangements
Satellite reference: ESRI World Imagery / Google Earth — Harnden Island, San Juan Islands, Washington.
Imagery shown is representative of the region, not the island itself.
Common questions
How much does Harnden Island cost?
Harnden Island is profiled at: Available discreetly · on application. Figures reflect public record at time of writing and may change; the profile keeps a dated price record.
What tenure does Harnden Island have?
Harnden Island is held on freehold tenure. Always confirm the exact instrument and any remaining term on the title.
Can a foreigner buy Harnden Island?
Foreign buyers may own property here subject to local approvals. United States imposes no foreign-ownership restriction; freehold title with San Juan County shoreline and environmental permitting, which is notably strict in the archipelago.
How do you get to Harnden Island?
Access is by boat. Nearest airport: About 2.5 miles north of Orcas Island; 16 miles west of Bellingham.
How big is Harnden Island?
Harnden Island is approximately 1.9 acres (0.77 hectares).
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