Recreation 

San Juan Islands National Monument RMP 

The San Juan Islands are a local, regional, and international recreation destination. Within and near the San 

Recreation and the Planning Process 

Juan Islands National Monument lands, recreational activities such as photography, hiking, wildlife and 

wildflower viewing, maritime history, sea kayaking, and boating are popular for families, youth, and adults. 

Through the planning process, the BLM will determine how best to manage recreation over the next 15 to 20 

years. This will include exploring different management approaches that could respond to the types of planning 

issues described below. We want your help in expanding and/or refining these issues. (More information on 

reverse side.) 

 Preliminary Planning Issues 

•	How will the BLM manage recreation and visitor services while protecting the objects

and values identified in the proclamation? 

•	Where will the BLM prioritize recreation and visitor services while still protecting the

objects and values identified in the proclamation?

•	How will theBLM address conflicts between recreational interests and activities while

protecting the objects and values identified in the proclamation?

San Juan Islands National Monument 

BLM, Lopez Island Office

P.O. Box 3

Lopez, WA 98261

mdechade@blm.gov 

Contact us 

What is THE San Juan Islands National Monument RMP? 

The Bureau of Land Management is developing a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 

for the San Juan Islands National Monument which will guide the management of these 

spectacular lands in a manner that ensures the protection of their remarkable cultural, 

historic, and ecological values for the benefit of generations of Americans to come.

news & updates 

Scan our QR Code or visit us at: 

www.blm.gov/SanJuanIslandsNM/RMP 

Or send us an email to:

blm_or_sanjuanislandsnm@blm.gov 
Recreation and the San Juan Islands National Monument 

Nearly 80,000 visitor days are logged each year at the San Juan Islands National Monument. Visitors 

are attracted by the outstanding wildlife watching opportunities, as well as the chance to visit historic 

light stations. The BLM maintains six miles of hiking trails in the monument. Kayaking, hiking, 

and camping are also popular, though these latter two activities are somewhat limited due to the 

relatively small size of the parcels composing the monument. The monument is also used by outdoor 

and environmental education programs designed to help young people gain first-hand experience in 

a marine environment. The BLM currently provides minimal visitor information and facilities on its 

land. 

How Does the Proclamation Address this Resource or Use? 

The proclamation does not directly address recreation as an object or value. However, within the 

proclamation it does specifically mention communities and human use of this landscape for thousands 

of years. The BLM will explore the compatibility of various levels of recreation emphasis with the 

protection of the objects and values described in the proclamation. 

How Does this Resource or Use Fit Into the Planning Process? 

Through the planning effort, the BLM will determine how recreation and visitors services will be 

managed for the next 15 to 20 years. Specifically, the BLM will explore different approaches to 

creating recreation management areas, or areas where it would specifically manage for recreation. 

Recreation could take place outside of recreation management areas, to the extent that it would 

not conflict with the management objectives and direction of such areas, but the BLM would not 

specifically manage for recreation outside of recreation management areas. Within recreation 

management areas, the BLM would establish recreation and visitor services objectives, identify 

recreation activities that were allowed or not allowed, and establish where and for what types of 

activities permits would be required. The BLM identifies two types of recreation management areas: 

•	Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMA): The BLM creates SRMAs where it recognizes 

unique and distinctive recreation values and where it decides, through the planning process, to 

manage an area with the primary focus of protecting or enhancing a targeted set of activities and 

experiences. 

•	Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMA): The BLM creates ERMAs where it 

recognizes an existing use or demand and decides, through the planning process, to manage 

an area to sustain a set of activities and experiences while also focusing on other management 

objectives.