Harnden Island

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 currently offered for sale: US$845,000. 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 freeholdOutright ownership of the land itself, indefinitely — the strongest form of title. 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 anchorageSheltered water where a vessel can safely anchor — an island without one is an island you can't always reach. 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.

Provenance

No named prior owner found in public record. Listed via Realogics Sotheby's International Realty at $777,000 in 2021, later relisted in June 2026 at $845,000 through American Dream R.E. Services with Best Choice Realty (MLS #2521689), where it is openly for sale.

Specification

Status	Available
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)
Publicly marketed	since 2021

Price record

Documented public figures over time — asking prices, reported sales and reductions, each attributed. This record is maintained editorially and may lag the market.

The full traced record — ownership lineage and every dated event back to the earliest public mention — is in The Ledger, for members.

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.

Common questions

How much does Harnden Island cost?

Harnden Island is profiled at: US$845,000. 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).