Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Park overview:

Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline, and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on three lakes. Rugged cliffs drop to meet the turbulent waters of Deception Pass. The park is outstanding for breath-taking views, old-growth forests and abundant wildlife.

Please note: U.S. Navy jets from nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island may fly over the campground at any time for several hours. Navy personnel conduct training missions which are not announced ahead of time. Depending on the direction of the wind, their flight pattern may put them above the park, creating noisy conditions for campers. State Parks cannot be responsible for this significant intrusion into your camping experience.

Bowman Bay restroom closed: Due to sewer problems, the restroom at the Bowman Bay campground is closed until further notice. Portable toilets are available. Because of this closure, reservations are not currently being accepted, and a primitive camping fee of $14 is charged at Bowman Bay campsites. Staff is working to find a solution as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience. Reservations and a restroom are still available at the Cranberry Lake Campground. Please check this Web site for updates.

Planning project at Deception Pass State Park

Campsite Information:

The park has 167 tent sites, 143 utility spaces, five hiker/biker sites, two dump stations, 20 restrooms (four ADA) and ten showers (four ADA).

Camping is at three locations in the park; 18 tent sites and two utility sites are at Bowman Bay, two tent sites and 58 utility sites at Sunrise Resort and 147 tent sites and 83 utility sites are at Cranberry Lake. Maximum site length is 60 feet (may have limited availability).

Year-round reservations are available, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Group Accommodations:

There are three group camps, all primitive in nature.

Group camp 1 accommodates up to 50 people. It has fire circle, picnic shelter, vault toilet and five tent pads. It provides two adirondack (three-sided) sleeping shelters that combined sleep 16 people.

Group camp 2 accommodates 25 people. It has fire circle, picnic shelter, five picnic tables, and vault toilet. It provides one adirondack shelter that sleeps eight.

Group camp 3 has the same facilities and capacities as group camp 2 with the exception of the picnic shelter.

Fees vary with size of the group. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Camping Fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

2010 Fees
An additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12

An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Park Winter Schedule

Campground Closes		Campground Reopens		Day-Use Closes		Day-Use Reopens		Watercraft Launch Closes		Watercraft Launch Reopens
Partial		Partial		Partial		Partial		Open		Open

Schedule Note:
Reservations accepted year round.

North Beach and Rosario day-use area closed October through March.

Forest Loop and Cranberry Campground open year round.

Lower Loop closed Oct., reopens March 1.

Bowman Bay closed for the winter.

Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks

Driving Directions

Located nine miles north of Oak Harbor, Wash. and nine miles south of Anacortes, on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound in Island County.

Park address:
41020 State Route 20
Oak Harbor, WA 98277

From Seattle:
Drive north on I-5 to exit 230, then travel 18 miles west on SR 20 toward Oak Harbor. Park entrance is on right, one mile south of Deception Pass Bridge.

From the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry:
Drive north on Hwy. 525, which changes to Hwy. 20. Drive 50 miles to park entrance on left.

Park Maps

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.

Thumbnail map of Deception Pass State Park

Deception Pass downloadable pdf map #1

Deception Pass downloadable pdf map #2

List of all downloadable Washington State Park maps.

Park Features

Old-growth forests, sand dunes, 174 varieties of bird and spectacular views of shoreline, mountains, islands and sunsets mark this park a favorite for visitors to the Northwest.

History

The human history of the park dates back thousands of years, when the first people settled in the areas now known as Cornet Bay, Bowman Bay and Rosario. Eventually, the land was settled by the Samish and the Swinomish. They lived on the land until the early 1900s.

During his Northwest coastal explorations, Captain George Vancouver became the first European to identify the area near Whidbey Island as a passage, which he named "Deception Pass." A 1925 act of Congress designated the property for public recreation purposes. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built roads, trails, buildings and bridges to develop the park.

The name "Deception Pass" derived from Captain Vancouver's realization that what he had mistaken for a peninsula was actually an island. He named that island "Whidbey" in honor of his assistant, Joseph Whidbey, who was at his side when Vancouver realized the mistake. The captain named the inlet at which he was anchored "Deception Pass" to commemorate the error.

Interpretive opportunities

A historical interpretive center is located in the park at Bowman Bay. The interpretive center building was originally constructed as a bathhouse, and was renovated by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) alumni volunteers in 1987 to commemorate the legacy of the CCC in Washington State Parks. It's open year-round for group tours (by appointment only) and to individuals from mid-May through Labor Day. Contact the park at (360) 675-2417 for the center's hours.

An observation deck overlooks the Cranberry Lake wetlands on the west-beach sand-dunes interpretive trail. Signage explains local vegetation and ecosystems.

The Maiden of Deception Pass story pole is located on Rosario Beach in the north section of the park. It depicts a story of the Samish Indian Nation.

The park contains one monument, located at the south bridge parking lot. It describes the discovery and naming of Deception Pass and Whidbey Island.

Lectures and slide shows occur frequently on weekend evenings in the park's outdoor amphitheater. A schedule of planned events is posted at the ranger contact station.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Boat rentals • Camping • Commissary • Park store • Pay phone • Fire wood	• Auto repair • Airport • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • White gas • Wood • Swimming

There is also a laundromat nearby, one block outside the main entrance. Firewood is by purchase only.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 1.2 mi. ADA Hiking Trails • 38 mi. Hiking Trails • 3 mi. Bike Trails • 6 mi. Horse Trails	• Boating (freshwater) • 3 boat ramps (freshwater) • 450 feet of dock (freshwater) • Fishing (freshwater) • Swimming (freshwater) • White-water Kayaking • Boating (saltwater) • 5 boat ramps (saltwater) • 710 feet of dock (saltwater) • 1980 feet of moorage (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Clamming • Crabbing	• 2 Amphitheaters • Beachcombing • Bird Watching • 6 Fire Circles • 1 Horseshoe pit • Interpretive Activities • Mountain Biking • Museum • Sailboarding • Wildlife Viewing
A playground is available in the park. To prevent serious accidents, hikers are encouraged to stay on main trails and avoid straying to the sides. Mountain biking is prohibited except in marked areas. Fires and swimming are permitted in designated areas only.

Boating Features

The Cornet Bay launch is open in winter.

The park provides five saltwater and three freshwater boat ramps, plus 710 feet of saltwater dock and 450 feet of freshwater dock. All motors are prohibited on Pass Lake, and only electric motors are allowed on Cranberry Lake.

A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 may be purchased at the park.

Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices,online, and at parks when staff is available.

The park also offers 1,980 feet of saltwater moorage. A boat pumpout facility is located at Cornet Bay.

Moorage fees are charged year round for mooring at docks, floats and buoys from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. Daily and annual permits are available. For more information, call (360) 902-8844.

Events

Full list of events at Washington State Parks

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park provides four kitchen shelters with electricity and six without, all of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Fifty sheltered and 261 unsheltered picnic tables are also provided. Picnic tables are first-come, first-served, but kitchen shelters are reservable by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Muskrats • Otters • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Owls • Pheasants • Quail • Turkeys • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Clams • Crabs • Oysters • Scallops • Sea Birds • Sea Cucumbers • Seals • Shellfish • Shrimp • Squid • Starfish • Whales • Bass • Bluegill • Bullhead • Catfish • Cod • Crappie • Perch • Red Snapper • Salmon • Shark • Steelhead • Trout

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
		• Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Spruce • Yew • Alder • Apple • Cherry • Maple • Daisy • Lupines • Paintbrush • Rhododendron • Rose • Berries • Eel Grass • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Seaweed • Thistle