Golden Tree Inn & Hostel

I stayed in the dorms here and couldn’t recommend this place more! Golden Tree truly is a gem and not only the most affordable place to crash in Eastsound, it’s also a short walk from the most breathtaking spot to catch the sun dropping below the horizon, and the whole grounds, from the twinkly lights in the yard to the landscaping to the beautiful artwork, sculptures, murals, and vintage car… it’s truly embodied art. Even the showers in the women’s dorm (which, may I add, have extremely comfy beds) are so awesome with the skylights!
I couldn’t have felt more at home here. The owners have gigantic hearts and the care that they have put into this place is so obvious in every little nook and cranny. And their cat is awesome.
Two fridges equal plentiful storage for cooking family style dinners on the gorgeous 5 burner stainless steel gas stove.
The cedar sauna is perfect for heating up after taking a sparkling midnight phosphorescent dip in the ocean, and the hot tub jets are so soothing on tired feet and shoulders that ache from hiking and paddling. They have an AWESOME game room, completely separate from the dorms for volume control, as well as a beautiful outdoor grill and fireplace setup. The teepees are extraordinary. Ample guitars and a piano (again, volume controlled) make for memorable evenings with new friends.
I made some lifelong friends staying at Golden Tree, and I’d imagine you will too. Come with an open heart and prepare to be amazed by the magic of Orcas Island. Take advantage of all the opportunities Ian generously shares with you as far as places to hike, paddle (do yourself a favor and go paddle with the orcas, really!!) eat, and explore. You will be so glad you came here! I’m already dreaming of returning ;)

This has to be the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed at.
The house itself is gorgeous and full of character with fun, quirky little murals here and there. The grounds are pretty cool; there’s a hot tub and a rec room which other guests were making good use of.
Our room, #1, contained both a queen bed and a bunk bed. The latter was hidden away in a renovated closet and was very snug, with its own window and a little curtain for privacy. My only gripe was with the window shade; it didn’t block the morning sunlight very efficiently.
Everything was clean and well-​maintained. They provide towels, bedding, and cubbies for storing personal food, and there’s a large supply of community dishes available should you wish to cook.
I don’t remember the names of the guys who run it but they seem professional enough (while still maintaining a relaxed vibe).
If I found myself on the island again, I would easily stay at Golden Tree.

This place is pretty rad. Great hosts, good amenities, cool rooms, great company. This is definitely a hostel, so don’t expect them to reserve you cold champagne for your arrival. But a great place to share an experience.

This place is cozy, clean, and welcoming. My three year old daughter loves this place because there are guitars, pool table, fire pit, and other guests she can get to talk to, and a friendly cat. The location is close to Eastsound downtown, where they have many restaurants, café and shops. We stayed in women’s only room, and it was nice and clean. There’re private rooms in the house, and tipis and yurt outside. We’d like to stay in tipis next time!

I love the Golden Tree. The central house is charming and warm, with such attention to detail in its lovely restoration. The ambiance is pleasant, the light is ample, the people have good vibrations. Glimpses of history and artistry abound, on walls and tucked into corners. Found objects are often a source of amusement and wonder. The kitchen is a great gathering space for sharing interesting encounters with travelers, as well as sharing travel tips. The surrounding structures on the property are imbued with rustic beauty. I like strolling around the apple trees and gardens, feeling grateful for all the available amenities. There are opportunities for making music, playing outdoor and indoor games, enjoying communal meals and fires, healing in the sauna and spa. When you visit Orcas, the best place to stay is in Moran State Park. Perhaps the Golden Tree is the next best. The proximity to Eastsound is GREAT, but nicely away from the high-​season bustle. The atmosphere is laid-​back, and if you come with a good attitude, you are sure to make new friends. Also, the Golden Tree is super-​close to the airport, and close to beautiful North Beach views of Mt. Baker and surrounding islands. Walking or biking around Eastsound area is easy. I highly recommend this place and its wonderful staff. If you are a seasoned traveler and hostel-​dweller, you will likely agree with me that Golden Tree is one of the finest.

I think this is the only hostel on the island. I don’t know why the hostel’s site encourages people to not bring a car, but you definitely need a car if you want to explore Orcas Island.
The girls room was nice and clean. The co-​ed room was the opposite. In multiple corners of the co-​ed rooms where big spider webs with 2 – 3 live spiders. The private rooms are nice. The pillow sucks.
The backyard has a hot tub, fireplace and a game room.

Very friendly, professional and accommodating staff.
Facility has a lot of amenities that will appeal to all walks of travelers.
Well suited to the culture of Orcas Island

Love this place! It’s a little piece of paradise. The staff are awesome, very friendly and accommodating. We stayed in one of their tipis, very cool experience and highly recommend.

Beautiful old Victorian house. The staff and guests were friendly and welcoming. Very clean, with a hot tub and sauna! ½ mile easy walk from North Beach, a great place to watch sunsets. Lots of places to relax and hang out on the grounds. Highly recommended!

The Golden Tree Hostel is a wonderful oasis on Orcas Island. It is a comfortable welcoming place. Prices are moderate. Facilities are good. The staff are super welcoming and helpful. And it is setup to encourage meeting and spending quality time with your fellow travelers. So come on in and enjoy.

A great place on an amazing island!
I’ve stayed here twice already and both times, the experience was amazing. The house and property are spacious, there is a barn with a rec room, hot tub, sauna, fire pit, barbecue, bikes for rent and much more!
The staff a super friendly (espeically Drew and Eli!) and are two really guys too! They make a great team at the hostel.
I can’t wait to go back!

Such an absolute gem! We just checked in with our 2 year old daughter into the family room and we really do already feel like family. This spot really embodies everything I love about Orcas Island. The owner, Ian, was friendly and personable as he checked us in and showed us the grounds, we met a couple other people staying here and had some nice chats. Our room is adorable and I love the little nook for our daughter. We are so excited for the hot tub and grilling out in the yard and overall just totally stoked to be here. It’s everything we hoped for.

Such a beautiful and magical place, where friends were made and will never be forgotten. The hostel environment welcomes you with open arms, as if you were visiting old friends or long lost family members.

Ian and his girlfriend Bethany were wonderful hosts. There was a colorful cast of characters staying at their hostel. They are a couple of Burners that have created a great space with hot tub sauna and game room. Great location on the island, just down the road from a whale watching excursion, Outland island expeditions at the smuggler villa. The best part was that it was kid friendly! You can’t beat their prices.

Ian and his team have really put together a welcoming, relaxing and affordable outpost on this island paradise! Highly recommend.
Golden Tree Hostel is located in a beautiful refurbished farmhouse with fully stocked kitchen and BBQ grill (grocery store in walking distance), sauna, outdoor hot tub, game room, tables for outdoor eating, bike rentals, etc.
I was somewhat wary of staying at a hostel, but this place is extremely clean, well-​appointed, and attracts a really interesting, friendly crowd — not your typical young «Euro hostel» scene. I felt very comfortable as a solo traveler, but other guests included a honeymooning couple, family on vacation, etc.
Tips:
1) This is not a luxury resort. Expect to wash your own dishes, rent a towel for $ 2, etc. However it is definitely the most affordable option on the island and has every comfort of home.
2) Hitchhiking is pretty easy on the island if you are traveling without a car; the hostel is located far from the ferry, but locals were generous about offering rides in all directions.
3) Orcas is HILLY! One day of biking was quite enough for me, whew.
4) Get outside and enjoy :)

Amazing location close to town. Beautiful property. Ian was an amazing host with a desire to make sure that all his guests enjoy their time to the fullest. Not only extremely affordable but the people this place draws in are some of the best you will find on the island! Bikes, Boats, onsite garden, hot tub, pool table, shuffle board, fire pit… it really has it all. I will definitely be staying here everytime I go back to Orcas. Can’t recommend this hostel enough.

Ian is the coolest guy, and the Golden Tree is one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed at. I say this after having visited LOADS of hostels in over 20 different countries. The beach is nearby, the bikes are in great condition and can be taken all over the island, and the space itself has been given a lot of love and hard work.
Enjoy the sauna, game room, hot tub, spacious kitchen and breakfast nook. Enjoy Orcas!

Very seldom you will feel at home immediately at any hostel. This place took me to that mental state from the moment I walked in. Ian, Nick and Carter are the friendliest staff I’ve ever encountered. It was a pleasure spending time here. Looking forward to coming back and spend more relaxing time at the island.

So, my friend and I ended up on Orcas Island this past friday and were recommended this quaint hostel on the northern end of Eastsound.
When we pulled up the atmosphere was friendly and warm, and our tour of the property was thorough. Our price each came to $ 42, $ 2 being a towel rental. Fair enough, we weren’t complaining. we were shown to a college dorm-​style room with makeshift bunk beds; about 6 or so in this room… again, that was fine, we were happy to have a warm place. After a short night out at the local tavern for dinner, we end up back at the hostel and make our way to bed, having to get up very early for departure… around 1am rolls by and one of the owners, who lives in the dorm room drives and parks right by the windows blasting music, and leaves it running for a while… who knows why. he then slams open the front door, followed by our dorm door with his friend and silence was lost… they started rummaging for something making all kinds of noise and talking loudly when there were clearly people sleeping, others included apart from us. Once they realized this fact, they almost make a joke of it giggling and saying «I think there are people sleeping shhh» but in a more than obnoxious way. They leave the room and continue making plenty of noise more noise over a duration of time before finding something else to do.
Ok, so the hostel is an excellent place especially for a budgeted traveler, but had I known that $ 80+ wasn’t going to secure a night’s rest, I would have spent more elsewhere. My advice to the hippie owner would be to practice some of that customer service and respect… that is what will bring future business.
I am sorry for the experience that prompted this review, I love this island and intend on returning soon, I hope this ‘hostel’ venture works out for the owners and I hope this complaint reaches them.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s the only place to stay on Orcas Island.
About 10 days ago I googled «places to visit in the NW without a car» and what came up? None other than the majestic San Juan Islands (which I previously thought must be lesser known islands in the Caribbean). 2 days later I was en route via bus, shuttle, and ferry to Orcas.
Walk 10 minutes in one direction and you’re in the village of Eastsound. 10 minutes in the other direction and you’re at the beach. Don’t bother walking anywhere and you’ve got a sauna, hot tub, pool table, fire pit, and bikes (for rent that are $ 15 for the day — $ 20 cheaper than any of the bike rental shops).
The Golden Tree is tricked. out.
The owners are great, seemingly always smiling, and super helpful with recommendations with things to do on the island. In a twist of small world fate, we happen to have a good mutual friend in common in Portland. It made me feel even more at home. Maybe TOO at home. This place is so comfortable.
I’d actually take away half a star because of two minor issues. The guys told me these things are going to be solved this summer and since I’m a «glass half full» kinda gal, I’ll round up to 5 stars anyway. BUT, for accountability reasons I’ll document my 2 requests:
1. Hooks in the dorm rooms and dorm bathrooms. Orcas is a DAMP place and once the hostel gets more crowded, there will be wet towels and rain soaked clothing galore.
2. Individual lights in the dorm rooms. At the moment there’s only one overhead light. I imagine this might create some grumpy co-​habitation situations.
Another reason for that half star roundup: they buy good toilet paper. No ass scratchin’ sand paper for miles around!
Also, the kitchen. is. amazing.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few of the wonderful things I have to say about the Golden Tree, but I think I’ve said enough.