Glacial erratic boulders of Island County, Washington facts for kids

Locations of giant rocks left by glaciers in Island County.

Giant rocks, called glacial erratics, found in Island County are special reminders of the Ice Age. This was a time when huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, covered much of the Earth. These glaciers helped create the Puget Sound area and shaped the land of Whidbey Island and Camano Island. South of Deception Pass, the ground and beaches of these islands are made of material left behind by these glaciers. Many large erratic boulders can be seen on the islands, their beaches, and even under the water close to shore.

What are Glacial Erratics?

Glacial erratics are rocks that have been moved by glaciers from their original location. Imagine a giant conveyor belt made of ice! As glaciers slowly moved, they picked up rocks of all sizes. When the ice melted, these rocks were left behind, sometimes hundreds of miles from where they started. These rocks are often different from the bedrock (the natural rock layer) of the area where they are found. This is how we know they were carried there by glaciers.

Giant Rocks of Island County

Island County is home to many impressive glacial erratics. Each one tells a story about the powerful glaciers that once covered this region. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

Big Rock (Coupeville)

This huge rock, sometimes called the Rock of Ages, is about 30 feet tall. That's like a three-story building! It's made of a type of rock called greenstone and is a famous landmark right on Main Street in Coupeville.

Camano Island State Park Erratic

You can find this erratic on the south cliff trail in Camano Island State Park. It sits high up, looking out over the beautiful Saratoga Passage.

Chuckanut Erratic

The Chuckanut erratic is a 10-foot-tall boulder made of sandstone. It rests on the beach below a place called Double Bluff.

Clinton Erratic

This greenstone boulder is in the town of Clinton, near the ferry terminal. It has special marks on it, called glacial striations, which are like scratches left by the glacier as it dragged the rock along. Scientists have studied this rock to learn more about when the glaciers melted.

Footprint Rock

Footprint Rock is a boulder located near Smugglers Cove on the west side of Whidbey Island. It gets its name because it has an impression that looks like a giant footprint!

Holmes Harbor Erratic

This erratic is found on the eastern shore of Holmes Harbor. It's taller than a person, making it quite noticeable.

Klootchman Rock

Klootchman Rock is a very tall rock, about 35 feet high, with white lines running through it. It has grass growing on top and sits at the bottom of Blowers Bluff, between Penn Cove and Oak Harbor.

Scatchet Head Erratics

These erratics are a group of rocks found on the beach below the tall cliffs at the southwest tip of Whidbey Island.

Waterman Rock

Waterman Rock is an enormous rock that's about the size of a house! It measures around 155 feet around and is between 38 and 40 feet tall. It's located in the Saratoga Woods Preserve near Langley. Some people think it might be the second-largest glacial erratic in all of Washington State! The land around this giant rock was bought to protect it so everyone can enjoy seeing it.

Images for kids

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  Waterman Rock, a house-sized erratic, in Saratoga Woods Preserve.