Jetty Island facts for kids
Jetty Island is a special place in Washington State. It's a man-made island and park, about 30 miles north of Seattle. You can find it in the Puget Sound, right near the city of Everett, Washington.
This island is pretty big, about two miles long and half a mile wide. That's about 1,800 acres! It's a natural spot with no buildings, electricity, or running water. There's just a floating restroom available in the summer. During the warmer months, a small ferry takes people to and from the island. It's a super popular spot for kiteboarding when the weather is nice.
How Jetty Island Was Made
Jetty Island started as a long rock wall called a jetty. This wall was built in the late 1800s. Its main job was to create a safe path for boats and a protected harbor.
The island itself is made from sand and mud. This material came from the Snohomish River. Workers used a process called "dredging" to dig out the riverbed. The dirt they removed was then used to build up the island. The first materials were placed over 100 years ago. More has been added since then.
In 1929, the Port of Everett took ownership of Jetty Island. Later, in 1989, they worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Together, they used more dredged river materials to create a new marsh area on the island.
Getting to Jetty Island by Ferry
During the summer, you can visit Jetty Island by ferry! The Port of Everett works with the City of Everett Parks Department to offer this service. The ferry ride is completely free.
The ferry runs seven days a week. It leaves from the Port of Everett's boat launch. This ferry service started way back in 1985. Today, Argosy Cruises operates the ferry. The ferry service was paused in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amazing Wildlife on Jetty Island
Jetty Island is a fantastic home for many animals. More than 45 different kinds of birds live here! You might see Osprey, various shorebirds, hawks, eagles, cormorants, and ducks.
If you look closely at the water's edge, you might spot seals. They sometimes pop their heads up or even relax on the island's shore. On rare occasions, gray whales can be seen swimming past the island. This usually happens during their spring migration.
