Experiencing the Beauty of Deception Pass
by Allyson Meyer • Photos by Dave Meyer
If you listen quietly, you can almost hear the history. It’s whispered softly over the salty ocean breeze. It’s in the creaking of the giant evergreens as they stretch their limbs toward the sun. And it’s fully present along the bluff, as you view the steep cliffs that hug the appropriately named water passage that is Deception Pass. Amidst the hiking trails, rocky beaches, and iconic bridge, Deception Pass State Park is a special place—capable of transporting a visitor back in time while ensuring they’re fully in touch with the present, and in fact, inspired by it.
Dedicated as a Washington State Park in July 1922, the park is located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Indigenous Peoples. This Island County landmark has passed its centennial anniversary and remains a fixture in the region’s identity, hosting remarkable views of the nearby islands and boasting trails and campgrounds that continue to draw people in.
“Around 800,000 cars enter the park every year,” said Deception Pass State Park Area Manager Jason Armstrong. “During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I think we tipped 3.4 million people in one year, but it’s pretty consistent between 3 and 3.2 million people.”