Things to Do
Parks, lakes, golf, paddling, and a quiet pace that turns half-days into full ones.
More to do here than you'd guess.
Anderson Island isn't a resort. There are no big attractions, no organized tours, no crowds. What's here is real - a working island community with about 500 acres of public parks, three lakes, miles of saltwater shoreline, and (yes) a 9-hole golf course.
The cards below cover what's open to the public. The Riviera Community Club has more amenities, but most of them are for members and their guests.
Six ways to spend a day.
Andy's Marine Park
The marquee public park. A forested trail leads down to a saltwater beach at Carlson Cove, with Mt Rainier visible across the Sound on clear days. Picnic tables, fire rings, and a Cascadia Marine Trail campsite on the spit.
Parks & Trails →
Bike the Island
Roughly 7.75 square miles, narrow roads, few cars. Bikes board the ferry at no extra charge - you just pay the walk-on rate. The terrain isn't flat, but the traffic is.
No rental shop on the island - bring your own.
Riviera Golf Course
A 9-hole course tucked into the Riviera community, open to the public. Compact and walkable, with a small pro shop keeping limited hours. The kind of unexpected amenity that makes a small island feel bigger than it is.
More on Golf →
Florence & Josephine
The island's two sizable lakes. Florence Lake is the largest and the only one where gas motors are permitted. Lake Josephine sits inside the Riviera and is members and guests only.
Lakes & Beaches →
Kayaking & Paddling
About 14 miles of saltwater shoreline. Andy's Marine Park is the best public landing, with a Cascadia Marine Trail campsite for paddlers who make the crossing from Steilacoom or Nisqually.
By Boat or Kayak →
Johnson Farm Museum
A preserved early-1900s homestead and public park maintained by the Anderson Island Historical Society, open dawn to dusk. The gift shop is genuinely good - local art and goods, some by islanders - and open weekends, March through December.
Johnson Farm →More at the Riviera.
The Riviera Community Club has more amenities than its restaurant and golf course - tennis and pickleball courts, a marina, lake parks with swimming areas, and a calendar of member events. Most of that is for RCC members and their registered guests. If you're visiting someone who's a member, ask about access.
Fishing, crabbing & shellfish.
The waters around the island are part of Washington's Marine Area 13, and they're a genuine draw - salmon, bottomfish, and the clams and oysters of the South Sound's tidelands. Crabbing has its season too, when it's open.
The catch is that all of it is regulated and the rules change constantly: seasons open and close, crab areas shut for stretches, and shellfish beaches close on short notice for biotoxin ("red tide"). You'll need a Washington shellfish or fishing license, and you'll want to check the current status before you go.
The Anderson Island Assistant app keeps the best running summary we've seen - live fishing and crabbing status for Marine Area 13, red-tide closures, and a map of public clam and oyster beaches, all pulled from WDFW and the Department of Health.
Related pages.
Geography & Wildlife
The lakes, the shoreline, the forest, the deer and the eagles - what the island actually is, ecologically and geographically.
Read MoreBy Boat or Kayak
For paddlers and private boaters: where to put in, where to land, and what to know about the South Sound's tides and currents.
Read MoreFirst-Time Visitor Guide
What to bring, day trip vs. overnight, and the practical realities that catch new visitors off guard.
Read More