Deception Pass is a Fantastic Feature of the Washington Coast

Consider making a trip to Deception Pass if you are looking to spend some time in the Pacific Northwest and want to take in the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful vistas.

Bridge at Deception Pass, Washington State. Reproduced under a Creative Commons license with the kind permission of justcallmepiggy on Flickr

It boasts an impressive 34,000 feet of fresh water shoreline on three lakes. Imposing cliffs, breathtaking views and an abundance of wildlife, the likes of which you are unlikely to find anywhere north of the Amazon, make the Pass a destination for nature lovers of all types.

The Pass is completely surrounded by the Deception Pass State Park, which is the most visited State Park in Washington. More than two million people stream through the park each year with cameras and fishing gear in tow. They hike the trails through the back country, snapping pictures of near-endless forests of fir trees, hoping for a glimpse of the fabled Sasquatch.

About the Park

Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134 acre marine and camping park, with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and even more freshwater shoreline on Whidbey Island.

If you book early in the season, you can stay at the Ben Ure Cabin at on Ben Ure Island near Cornet Bay.

The cabins are quaint and rustic, and only accessible by a beachable human-powered water craft such as a kayak or canoe.

The cabins offer one of the best views of Puget Sound and Mount Baker to be had for visitors, and the quiet and solitude is uncanny.


The State Park has more than 300 camp sites deep in the heart of the wilderness, where only the sounds of the animals and the rustling of the leaves can be heard at night over the crackle of the campfire.

The bridge across Deception Pass is itself a thing of beauty, and fits nicely with the natural wonders that abound.

Among the wildlife to be found on Whidbey Island are bald eagles and assorted waterfowl. Whidbey Island has a more temperate climate than other regions in the state, which attracts a large variety of birds and animals.

Photo opportunity at Deception Pass, Washington State. Reproduced under a Creative Commons license with the kind permission of misssomething on Flickr

For anglers, the local fishing simply cannot be beat. Grab your pole and head down to Cranberry Lake or anywhere around Whidbey Island and you are likely to come back smiling.

Freshwater or saltwater, you can have a go at the fish in either domain.

Or head out for dinner and sightseeing, including a whale watching tour into the nearby bay, where you can see the great mammals up close.

With 30 miles of hiking trails, you can wander in amongst the old growth forests and gaze up at their splendor.

Bring your camera to snap pictures of the beauty that is unrivaled in any but the most isolated regions of the Pacific Northwest.

The views afforded to visitors of Deception Park are truly among some of the best to be had anywhere.

It is no wonder millions of people come every year to see the steel bridge and experience what is considered by many to be the some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the United States.

NOTE: Information correct at time of publication. Always check with your chosen destination before you travel.

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