Doe Bay Resort & Retreat

I just got back from a four-​day stay at Doe Bay, and had to write this review before getting back into the routine of city life again. I don’t think that I’ve been to many more beautiful or peaceful spots in my life. I stayed in the Yin Yurt up on the hillside and had one of the best vacations that I’ve had in recent years. Here’s a quick summary:
Accomodations: The yurt was clean, the bed was really comfy, the heater worked (sort of, it took a while to get warm inside on a chilly June night), and it was in a very quiet, private spot. My only quibble: there was another yurt literally 10 – 15 feet away with no screening between the two. Perhaps the resort would consider planting a couple of trees between the two so that there was a bit more privacy. Other than that, awesome.
Café: Word the to wise: Unless you’re coming during the high summer season (ie between early July and Labor Day weekend), the café is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and evenings so you’ll need to arrange to bring food or drive into Eastsound for dinner. Having said that, I had dinner there twice and breakfast before leaving on a Friday morning, and it’s outstanding. Plus, even when it’s not open for service, there is self-​serve locally roasted coffee and delicious muffins in the store.
Spa: Free if you are a guest, offers three clothing-​optional tubs, a sauna and two outdoor showers. Very well kept. I brought my bathing suit the first day, but soon enough I got up the nerve to go au natural, because why not? Plus, from a purely practical standpoint, no wet bathing suit to deal with.
Location: Close to Moran and Obstruction Pass state parks, both of which provide a number of hikes. Moran contains a number of lakes, of which Mountain Lake is especially beautiful.
The setting: I sometimes hesitate to use the word «spiritual» but it fits here. Coming down to the water and just looking out over Rosario Strait is something I could do for hours. In the morning, mid-​day, evening — no matter, it’s a place of absolute peace and beauty.
You definitely have to be down with the hippy vibe to stay here (which I am). Rosario Resort this is not, and that is the appeal of it. It’s a rustic retreat. And, unless you are staying right down on the water near the café/​store, expect to do a bit of hill climbing to get around the grounds (which are built on the side of a hill).
Anyway, I want to thank all of the people who manage and maintain this beautiful place. I have had a year in which I have experienced my share of personal loss, and my time here was a salve, a big help to put life in perspective and continue on a path of positivity and healing. I am already looking forward to returning.

My family and I just had a very nice stay of 3 nights, stayed in doe baby, a quaint, comfortable, and clean log sheathed single wide mobile cabin. great view, quiet and peace full. staff was accommodating in every way. I would give it 5 stars if they will un — lock the back gate to the tubs and make the trail and beach clothing optional again, that was annoying. The only annoyance of the stay. I have read many reviews and have many friends who have been here over the past 30 years, this was my first visit. My daughters 12 and 20 and my wife a phillipinna a bit on the conservative side chose to wear their suits but had no issues with every one else. I own and operate a charter boat that caters to a similar clientele and my business has tripled by liberalizing my rules especially involving skinny dipping. I believe Doe bay would benefit from a similar return to its roots. The few noisy textiles wont be as detrimental, as very happy loyal naturists will be beneficial .and i don’t see a problem with the trail and small beach as they are pretty secluded and a good distance from the café. I also suspect the sort of people that the facilities farther down that trail would likely object much. we will be back. and mabey next time the café will be open It was, our last night but we did not get a chance to use it. breakfast friday am would have been nice but we spent our money in east sound on the way to the ferry, would have liked to have supported Doe bay. I think some of the critical reviews are from people expecting a more urban experiance and not used to island culture. I personally came here to get a way from that sort of thing.

We just spent 4 days here, arriving on Tuesday. We had an awesome time, the staff was fantastic! We stayed in Garden Spot, a studio cabin, with 2 beds and 2 futons. No kitchen or running water, but it was close to the community bathroom and showers. The hot tubs were very gorgeous, and the single complaint we had is that people didn’t pay attention to the «family» hours. We just took our girls and came back later with adults only. Café is closed most days in winter but we did have pizza there Thursday night, which was open mic night. Very fun!

A few things…
The property is in a residential area.
The staff does not alert guests if there are concerts happening on site or loud parties during your stay.
The view from my cabin was of a septic system drain field, old cars, and a run down trailer.
It’s just not as picturesque, relaxing, or unique as their website leads one the believe. And because of that, it is very over priced.

The good: very beautiful, and easy cabins. Loved the masseuse. Loved the restaurant. Liked the soaking tubs. The only bad thing– the front desk people. Rude, aloof, and not helpful. Here’s a tip– if getting in early have them radio the maids and see if they can clean your room early. Ask for towels. Confirm where your massage is. Push them. They won’t do anything voluntarily and are completely aloof and on island time.

I was trapped here for 4 days for work and cannot think of a better place to be. This place is awesome and it has a very Northern Exposure vibe to it. The food was incredible and I highly recommend the curry plate with salmon for dinner and the Summer Scramble for breakfast. Incredible views with lot’s of wildlife, orca’s, deer, bald eagles and owls. I highly recommend coming to this place for a great get away from the city.

I give Doe Bay 3.5 stars! I loved the place but it could definitely use a bit of upgrading in some areas.
I took myself on a small mini vacay to Orcas Island last month to escape the horrors of graduate school and it did me some good. This is my second time staying at this resort — last time I was with a friend and she and I camped for her birthday. I arrived and checked in and really dug my little cabin. It was this teeny tiny little space with a bed, bathroom, sink and table. It was spendy; I paid 380 dollars and change for 4 days and 3 nights in the middle of June, but I’d do it again. For some reason I didn’t think I’d have a shower in the bathroom and thought I’d have to use the communal one, but to my surprise there was a shower!
The folks at the place are friendly for the most part. The cabins are on the path of where the workers reside, and they all greet you as they walk to and from their residence. You really feel a sense that for the most part folks are truly happy to be there and love their jobs. I sat in the garden, watched the chickens, used the sauna (I would never touch those hottubs, though — keeping it real. I don’t do public tubs), not even when the place closes down for 1 hour a day for cleaning. The soap they provide in the showers and other places around the resort is some type of liquid lavender. WHO GIVES LAVENDER??? That’s right, NO ONE, which is what was awesome about the place! It’s my favorite scent and that really impressed me!
I brought my own food this time and so I didn’t purchase anything from the store or eat at the café. I ate there on my last trip in but I don’t remember what I thought about it. Overall, I love the place. I sat in front of the water for hours each day. I took my shoes off and walked around on the ground and had the course rocks underneath my feet and it just hurt so good. I went to the beach and sat down. I christened the entire island with my meditations. I really dug it – again.
Now, some areas where Doe Bay could improve:
Housekeeping. When you arrive and stay in a cabin, DB provides you with two brown towels and two washcloths — and that’s it. That they NEVER replenish. Ever. And that just doesn’t make any sense. Sure, if you go out of your way and go to the front desk and ask they’ll hand one to you, but it would seem that housekeeping would swing by every now and again to see if you’ve used up your towels — especially since they have that sauna and you must sit on a towel. And you may use one for something else, IDK, if you use the hottub, perhaps and then pitch it into the ‘used towel’ bin, leaving you without. It would be nice if somebody came and knocked on the door to see if you needed fresh towels each day — especially given the price of the cabin. They also never came to clean the cabin (maybe I’m wrong for expecting hotel service?), but at least they could come to take out your trash and offer fresh towels on a daily.
Next, the plumbing in the bathroom shower in the cabin needs to be tended to. The drain is sloooooow, which is pretty disgusting when you consider that you’re walking around on dirt paths all day and then standing in all of the filth you’ve just washed off of your body for moments until the drain decides it wants to swallow the gunk — that you can visibly see. I’m not sure what the deal was with that — whether it was clogged or if that is just the way things are but it was pretty gross.
The internet didn’t work until I mentioned something. It never reached the cabin and when I went to ask about this at the front desk they told me that — well, it just works better in that area. l can’t complain too much about that, though, because someone must have realized this was not the business because the next day it worked at lightening speed in my cabin.
I also noticed the white authority/​Hispanic– worker dynamic, too — who gives the orders and who is taking them. I’m a critical race social scientist so these types of hierarchies really stand out to me. The POC were in more subordinate positions compared to the white folks — in one particular instance I noticed a young white woman giving orders to an older Hispanic woman and it reminded me of the book «Fresh Fruit Broken Bodies» by Seth Holmes, and how he explains that this is the M.O. in numerous places but that often it goes unnoticed by the general populace who are just in awe at how a place looks without recognizing the racialized dynamics behind it. I noticed it.
Overall, I did enjoy my stay. I think the time I had at the place outweigh the potential shortcomings with towels, internet, but they do need to tend to those things. I already want to go back — I really did not want to leave, and when I do return the next time I’d like to try a yurt and see how it is to stay in one of those.

Loved Doe Bay. This place is just right because it has heart and focuses on the right stuff: tranquility, good food, beautiful location, wildlife and all with 3 clothing optional hot tubs and a spa? Really? It was our honeymoon and we spent it in a yurt on a bluff overlooking the water. I felt at home, like a familiar place and I was home again.

As previous reviews mention, this place had beautiful scenery and a certain peace to it yet super overpriced for being called a resort. We stayed in a yurt and had to share bathrooms for $ 85. Also, they advertise yoga studio but then had no option for classes.

We planned a trip to Doe Bay and before we did, I read the reviews. They made me concerned about the place, so I emailed the resort and to my surprise I got an email right back outlining how the owners had addressed all of the reviewers comments and feedback. I was reassured.
When we got there, our cabin was really immaculate. We were there about a month ago. Clean, neat, and quaint with an amazing view of the bay from the deck. Just to be clear, this is not the Rosario… far from it. it is not a resort and frankly, I am happy about that. If you want a really quiet, romantic, and picturesque place to get away from the busyness of life, come here, no question. The cabins are very nice, if you want to rough it a little, and save money, you can, we didnt want to. The higher priced cabins were perfect, and about the same price as the Rosario, perhaps a little more, but you get a lot more. If you want noisy, people running around, small rooms, etc, go to the Rosario, we’ve been there too
Oh, and the tubs, they were amazing. The view from the tubs are exactly like the photos. We went there in April and when we arrived, no one was in the tub, we were there by ourselves and wow, was it perfect. A zen experience really, laying naked in the sun, with a gorgeous view of the bay, in a hot clean tub. The entire tub area was frankly pristine. I had to laugh, a commenter noted mold on the roof. and honestly, if I hadent read that review, I probably wouldn’t have noticed or even looked or even cared (and I still dont care). That night we came back after dinner at the Rosario and it was, in fact, crowded. Half clothing-​less and half clothed… it was very liberating to relax in a tub with people who could care less we were wearing nothing, and had a nice conversation with a few people in the tun and that was nice. If you want a solo tub experience, go in the day time… but it was kinda nice to hang with people too
I was disappointing that there was no bakery and the dinner was Pizza and Karioke… not my thing. So we went out…
And while you’re here, look up ‘Orcas Island Sailing’, Ben is a terrific guy and you can have an amazing sailing experience 10 mins away from Doe Bay… and is a terrific complement to your stay and Doe Bay (360−310−0100) see separate review.
Pros
— Just beautiful place to relax, the ground were rustic, but clean
— Cabins were clean, neat, and perfectly comfortable, a better room than Rosario
— Tubs were breathtaking, romantic, sensual and relaxing, and, fun & clean
— Dinner, wish I could have commented
— Staff very accommodating and helpful and really concerned about our experience
— Absolutely quiet and serene.
— Cabins had kitchenettes, bring food
Cons
— Bit of a drive from the ferry
— No food, minimal store, a pain for breakfast, dinner was marginal
— Tubs close at 10pm, a little early, especially for people wanting to come after dinner
— There is no where to eat close by, so bring food to make for breakfast.
Great place overall…
Michael

Pros:
— café is delicious
— scenery is fantastic
— soaking tubs are lovely
— environmentally conscious
— hippie dippie paradise
Cons:
— our room was not quite clean everywhere
— closer to camping than a resort experience
— the furniture was over-​worn. Holes in seat cushions, ratty bedspreads, etc.
— SLOW service in the café in the morning.
— they claim to have wifi, but it only works when sitting in the café.
Bottom line: this is not a resort. It is like a fancy KOA. If that is what you want, you will enjoy your visit.

Okay doe bay deserves a revised review after a beloved winter visit. We returned to doe bay for a 3 day weekend in January and had a much better experience. My suggestion is enjoy this place in the winter when it has less visitors that seem to respect the serenity more than the summertime visitors.

Clean yurts/​cabins. the café is awesome. The people that work there are a pleasure to be around. The views are incredible.

I had a fantastic time here.
I came right after their Doe Bay Resort Fest, so it was a bit of a downtime. i was scheduled to stay in the dorms and it turned out I was the only one there and had the entire place to myself. I guess that would happen with middle-​of-​the-​week reservations.
I can’t speak about the private cabins, yurts or domes, but jeez, location, location, location. This resort is perched in it’s own little cove with amazing views of the the Bay and other San Juan Islands. Since it’s also at a remote corner of Orcas Island, you get to drive through Moran State Park and a number of other coves and bays to just get here.
The café was closed while I was here so I unfortunately did not get to taste the yummy treats here but the people were friendly, the facilities were OK, but most of all the views and location are extremely peaceful, quiet and beautiful.
I normally would have no problem giving this place 5 stars but there is some serious cultural misappropriation going on here. This place is often used for yoga retreats and such and many of the names for the various cabins have Hindu connotations. Their soaking pools while very nice, are clothing-​optional and I know some Brahmin Hindus would take extreme offense to having a statue of Lord Ganesha perched up by the soaking baths with completely naked people walking by and ogling each other in front of it. (that’s considered disrespectful in some quarters, you know.)

EDIT: I’m upgrading my review from three to four stars. In spite of the negatives of this place (which I detail below), I’m already wishing I could go back, so I must have liked it more than I thought!
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We stayed in a cabin (Mala) and ate at the restaurant twice.
Restaurant: Very good! We ate dinner and breakfast there. Oysters were delish; salmon was a bit overdone but still yummy; black cod was fantastic. I had a cucumber and Tobasco cocktail that was perfect. Husband had the espresso/​cinnamon ice cream dessert (AMAZING!!), and I had the goat cheese pudding. It was terrible (I ate about two bites and just… couldn’t), and the waitress had no intention of helping solve that problem. «It’s usually a crowd-​pleaser, and the chef said that’s how it’s supposed to taste,» was all I got. So I left with a pretty bad impression of the service – friendly, but not actually helpful. Our total bill was about $ 140 for drinks, oysters, entrees, dessert. Breakfast was good (not great) and a bit steep, but we’d return anyway.
«Resort»: I really want to ‘get it,’ by which I mean understand the cult fascination surrounding this place (especially among my aging hippy friends). But at $ 180/​nt for a cobwebby cabin with a sliver of a view and a bad mattress, I just… don’t. Maybe I’m not cool enough. Our linens were stained. One of the two chairs in the cabin was worn out and useless. The doorknob was broken (we fixed it because we happened to have a screwdriver handy). It WAS quiet and peaceful, especially since there’s no cell signal and no wifi (even though they claim there is)…so that’s a good thing, I guess!
The views around the property truly are special. Really, really special. But next time we visit Orcas, we’ll consider staying elsewhere and paying the daily fee for Doe Bay’s clothing-​optional soaking tubs (it’s like $ 15/​person) and the chance to roam the property, taking in the views without overpaying for worn-​down, unwelcoming accommodations.
TL;DR — Café is expensive but very good; views are absolutely breathtaking; soaking tubs are fun/​relaxing/​fabulous; cabins are old and overpriced.

This is a wonderful place to stay! We were in the cabin closest to the parking lot, and there were some weird quirks… the world’s tiniest bathroom, strange outlets above the bed, and the shape of the place doesn’t make sense (hard to get in and out of the bedroom because of the door next to the bed). When we initially arrived we were a little disappointed about the cabin relative to the price. But all of these concerns fell away when we walked the grounds, checked out the beautiful views, sat in the hot tubs, and ate at the restaurant, which was one of the best I’ve ever experienced in my life. We will definitely be back!

I have yet to stay there, but was just on the phone trying to make a reservation for the busy July 4^th holiday, and Zeek was so friendly, helpful and informative. He never even acted like my annoying questions were annoying.
If this is a little pre-​view of the customer service while staying at the retreat, I have no doubt everything will be 100%

Doe Bay Retreat Center is great. The Hot Tubs are beautiful — right next to a rushing rover. Bring a candle and light it and leave it at the Ganesh Altar!
Open Mic night on Thursday night is fun and filled with community!

Cool hippy vibe in a beautiful surrounding. We stayed in the sweet spot yurt which was exactly that. Sleeping to the sound of lapping water in a comfortable bed, after a long kayak ride, made for a great vacation. I’m pretty sure we will be back.

Doe Bay… just the thought of going there brings my soul back to a place of peace. I hesitate giving them such a public review as I hate to make it more crowded — but that would be selfish. Doe Bay is a treasure and the best location in the San Juans if you are looking for a laid back place to stay. While there are amenities available such as massage, yoga classes and other activities — that is not the draw for me.
What draws me to Doe Bay is the solitude, quiet, calmness of the water and cove, the quaint old cabins, and the bit of hippy-​ness that has been reserved here. For more active people, there are several hikes on Orcas Island that are a short drive away from the resort. You can also bring your kayak and go for a paddle from their boat area.
My best friend and I have been coming to Doe Bay at least once a year, if not more, for about 15 years. Just the thought of knowing that we have a reservation, and that we get to spend several nights there, is enough to make me relax and have something to look forward to from my hustle and bustle of everyday life.
There are clothing optional hot springs hot tubs and a sauna. The facilities have been updated over the years and the tub area is very nice.
The older cabins that have the best view are the cabins that I like to rent. They have character and have decks to go sit out and enjoy your morning cup of coffee and stare at the water.
Doe Bay lets you relax, enjoy the clothing optional hot tubs and sauna, a spectacular view, and the chance to get away from everything. It will forever be my favorite place to go, so many memories and so many opportunities to reset my balance and have some quiet time in the woods by the water. Amazing.
Purrrrrrsssss to Doe Bay, purr, purr, purr…

This is not a five star resort, this is a retreat. Let your hair down, shed your shoes and just let go.
For me, this was perfect place for a relaxing weekend with a dear friend. It is a rustic with hippie overtones. A variety of options from geodesic domes and yurts, to cabins and larger retreat spaces. This was my second visit, and it was a delight to see how the property had improved in the the intervening years. Its clear that the owners love the space, work to improve it but still honor the spirit of the place.
The soaking tubs were clean and well kept, and while there were a number of other people there, they were never overly crowded. We also hung out in the Otters Lounge, enjoying the deck, using the wifi and napping on the couch.
We stayed in the South Couples Hostel room. It was clean and cozy. The only hitch was that they couldn’t find the curtains for the room. When I brought it to their attention they acknowledged it was an issue, but still didn’t fix it for the second night. They comped me a pound of coffee on check out, but It would have been easy for them to toss some sheets over the windows to give us a little privacy.
It’s a little expensive for a regular retreat, but we’ll be back.

Such a beautiful experience! Great music, incredible and kind staff, and what a deal for New Years! They offered 3 nights pay to stay, 2 for free! A hippy wonderland with nudity for those who are comfortable with it (me!!!) Absolutely astounding hikes nearby including Moran state park, Mountain lakes Loop, and Mt. Pickett (who’s views are few unfortunately). Local residents are so kind and hitchhiking around felt safe and easy as I had no car. One of the most peaceful and relaxing hot tubs and sauna I have ever seen. I hope to come back soon!
I absolutely loved Sky view Cabin and taking Kenmore Air was a great alternative to driving that fit into our work schedules. After all, you only get one great trip like this every great once and a while!
To cut food costs, shop at the local store (there is only an expensive little shop at doe bay) or bring your own. Cooking in the guest kitchen is convenient, not busy, and a good way to meet people if you want to.

I will probably vacillate between three and four stars for Doe Bay. For every plus, there is a minus in equal measure.
AMBIANCE
you can’t beat this place for the view.
Vistas and viewpoints galore.
Accommodations are VERY BASIC.
The showers suck. outright. Dull, grimy, paint peeling, cold, no where to put your dry clothes while showering. Communal toilets exceptionally basic. I have stayed at campsites, and youth hostels and the communal services are sub par at best. It is cold here in the evenings so showering is best to do when the earth is warmed up. Otherwise you might want to bring a sleeping bag to the wet areas. Or take your main shower at the hot tub. Also the nicest toilet is there.
The communal kitchen is very tiny. Only enough room for one and a half families to cook and limited seating. You WILL be getting social and friendly out of necessity.
NOTE: Pick a yurt to stay in. Unique experience, and a bit more privacy and view. Be aware that the accommodation is NOT CHEAP for what it is.
YUM FACTOR
There is a café on site that I am sure you will frequent at least once. It is a fairly long drive to the retreat. There is moderate yum. Not overtly so. For the cost of a meal and a little forward planning, I wouldn’t make eating here a habit. Have a glass of wine though, the selection was pretty decent. The Olga café beats the food here hands down.
SERVICE AND FRIENDLINESS
Great.It’s a dressed up youth hostel. Not a five star resort. So those of you who are expecting handmaidens and butlers will be sorely disappointed.
One of the biggest downers is getting your «stuff» to your accommodation if you happen to be on the left side of the entrance. You have to take one of their McGyver like contraptions to cart your stuff approximately one mile into the woods. Having to do so is a royal pain. No two ways about it. Especially when disrespectful guests hide the carts at their own rooms for the entire duration of their stay. Not cool.
Wi-​fi very sketchy wave your device around or walk like you’ve got a divining rod to improve signal.
The general store is well stocked with basics, the cost of which aren’t that outrageous when compared to the local supermarket. Be warned that it closes down at 4 or 5.
VIBE
Very sixties hippie. Earth mothers and pappas of all generations will and do find a home here. Enjoy being naked with strangers? Then don’t forget the clothing optional hot tub. I’m not a prude, but i found the clothing optional area to be a bit too much for me. The hot tub overlooks a part of the bay. But looking up and seeing some dude’s bat swinging first thing before breakfast was a bit much for me. And often people did NOT honor the no nakedness before a certain hour sign. You know FAMILY HOUR?
I had to laugh as I walked down towards the hot tub one afternoon. A little girl was walking with her mother and she stopped me. She had a dead earnest look on her face and said, «I have to warn you, there are naked PEOPLE down there. We had a little conversation about «birthday suits» as I thanked her for volunteering her information.
One cool feature was open mike night. We hung out for awhile and enjoyed the variety of locals showing off their wide range of talents and abilities. One downfall is the party carries on into the night and the farther away you are from the café, the better if you like sleep.
Doe Bay is more retreat than resort. That is where people may be misled. With a little more thought behind the basic conveniences, and a few tips from Martha, I think they could justify the Resort and Retreat component to their name. In the meantime, think camping and communal living, stay two days and enjoy the magnificent view.