Simple Tides / Guides / Friday Harbor Tides
Friday Harbor Tide Chart
Friday Harbor — the San Juan Islands’ storybook port — rides an eight-foot mixed semidiurnal tide that sets the orca schedule, the salmon bite, and every inter-island crossing.
Upcoming tides in Friday Harbor
Live NOAA predictions for station 9449880 (Friday Harbor).
| Day | Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading live tide predictions… | |||
Heights in feet above MLLW, station local time. See the full interactive tide map.
The pattern
Two unequal highs and two unequal lows daily with around eight feet of range. The island passes — Haro, Rosario, San Juan Channel — turn that range into several knots of current on the big exchanges; slack water is the traveler’s window.
Orcas and salmon
The Southern Resident orcas hunt these waters, following the salmon the tides concentrate at the points and rips. Anglers work the kelp edges for kings and coho; crabbers and shrimpers soak the bays on the slacks.
Island boating
Time the passes with the current tables — not just the tide table — and mind the ferry lanes. Friday Harbor itself is the islands’ snug hub. For the region, see our Pacific Northwest tide guide.