Welcome to Decatur Northwest
247 Days of Sunshine
Decatur Northwest (DNW) is a unique, private residential community on the northwestern tip of Decatur Island in Washington's San Juan Islands. Established in 1983, it is designed with a deep emphasis on conservation, shared stewardship, and a "low-impact" lifestyle.
Here is a guide to understanding the community, its amenities, and its famous residents (the sheep).
95 Miles from Seattle
A world away from your
high-pressure life
The Vision & Landscape
Decatur Northwest spans approximately 625 acres, but the community is designed so that the vast majority of that land remains untouched common property to be enjoyed by the residents.
Conservation First: There are only about 90 building sites. The remaining acreage—including two miles of shoreline, forests, and meadows—is owned in common by all members.
Architecture: The community enforces strict design guidelines to ensure homes are "unpretentious" and "modest," often using natural materials that blend into the wooded landscape.
Off-the-Grid Feel: While the community has underground power, water, and fiber optic internet, there is no car ferry service, which keeps the atmosphere exceptionally quiet and private. Most people get around using quiet electric golf carts.
Amenities and Activities
Life in DNW is centered around the outdoors and community interaction:
Sylvan Cove & South Beach: Two private beaches for beachcombing, crabbing, and kayaking. The community provides rowboats for members to drop crab pots.
The Lake: A two-acre freshwater lake used for swimming (with a floating platform) and catch-and-release trout fishing.
Community Gardens: Two large gardens where residents can have their own plots or pick flowers and vegetables from shared areas.
Tennis & Pickleball: Three championship-sized courts, with a heavy emphasis on community tournaments and "Saturday Soirees" during the summer.
DNW Tennis Camp
There is always a place
to store your kayak
4th of July fireworks display from neighboring Lopez Island
Everyone loves to stop at SnowGoose Produce on the way to Anacortes for some Lopez Island Creamery treats.
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Level up your game with three weeks of tennis pro training each summer at the Decatur NW tennis courts. Great for adults or kids of all ages. Three courts to choose from.
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Reserve your spot on the community's foot ferry for a trip to neighboring Lopez Island to take in a front-row seat for the fireworks display.
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Did you know that sheep are not only adorable, but also act as a natural fire control squad? Decatur NW has its own flock and the sheep shearing event in May is always a big event in the community.
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DNW has its own 2-acre lake with beach, dock and swim platform. Perfect for picnicking in the spring and fall, trout fishing, swimming and rowing.
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Enjoy miles of hiking trails in the 600 acre DNW community. Every trek is a new opportunity to appreciate the serenity of nature and the diversity of wildlife on the island.
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May through September is peak whale sighting season. Keep an eye out for orcas, humpbacks, and minke whales.
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Away from the city lights, discover nature's alternative to TikTok. Seek out Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Orion; or devise your own constellations and write your own myths starring your friends and family.
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With two beaches to choose from and 2 miles of waterfront, DNW offers up beachcombing, crabbing, kayaking, paddleboarding and polar plunging opportunities.
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Boat storage available for residents. Simply let the Island Caretakers know when you will be arriving, and your boat will be at the dock that day for you to use while you are on the Island. While you are off-Island your boat will out of the saltwater in dry-dock.
Experience the very best of Decatur Northwest
One of the most charming aspects of the community is its resident flock of
Scottish Blackface sheep.
The History: Descended from sheep left by 19th-century homesteaders, the flock was "wild" until the community began managing them in the 1980s for their health and the island's ecology.
The Famous Sheep
of Decatur Northwest
The Shearing Festival
Every year on the first Saturday in May, the community gathers for the "Sheep Shearing." It’s the biggest social event of the year, where residents help corral the sheep for their annual haircuts.
Land Management: The sheep serve as "natural lawnmowers," keeping the highland meadows clear and reducing fire risk.
Important Considerations
If you are visiting or looking into the community, it is more accessible than you imagine:
No Commercialism: There are no stores or cafes within Decatur Northwest. However, grocery and Coscto delivery is available through InstaCart and Island Express. Mail (including Amazon delivery) is picked up from the Decatur Airstrip and dropped off Decatur Northwest for easy pickup.
Private Property: The community is strictly private. Access to the trails, docks, and amenities is reserved for owners and their invited guests.
Convenience is Here: Life at Decatur Northwest is easier than you think! Caretakers on the Island provide trash service, grocery and Amazon deliveries are available, propane delivery is through Inter-Island Propane, water service is included in your homeowner’s dues and a private ferry makes travel quick and convenient.
Access & Transportation
Since there is no Washington State Ferry service to Decatur Island, DNW operates its own private infrastructure:
The Sylvan Spirit: A private passenger ferry that runs on a set schedule (by reservation) between Anacortes (Skyline Marina) and the community’s dock at Sylvan Cove.
On-Island Travel: Within the community, most residents use electric golf carts or bicycles. Walking is the primary way to get around the miles of interior trails.
Private Dock: Sylvan Cove features a protected deep-water dock, dry-land storage, and mooring buoys for residents’ private boats.
Float planes can be chartered from South Lake Union to Sylvan Cove for exceptionally fast travel.
Sylvan Spirit Ferry Schedule (Spring 2026)
The private community boat, the Sylvan Spirit, operates out of Skyline Marina in Anacortes (Slip #43).
Important Note: Today marks the first day of the Spring/Evening schedule extension. From now through September 21, an additional late-night Friday boat is added to the rotation.
Reservations: Must be made online by 6:00 pm the day before travel.
Fares: Approximately $29 for adult homeowners and $37 for guests (one-way).
Arrival: You should be at the dock at least 15 minutes prior to departure.