Yeah for cancelled events! A surprise day off allowed us to sneak away and completely disconnect. We took advantage, and drove up toward our next event in Burlington, WA. From there, it was an easy decision to head directly out to Deception Pass. Its dramatic vistas, quiet beaches and deep green forests kept us enthralled til dark!
Deception Pass Bridge
We crossed the Deception Pass Bridge spanning Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands to take a walk on West Beach, on the Whidbey side. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized for its architecture and engineering in harmony with its surroundings. The original idea of the bridge is said to have come from a New England sea captain who settled in the area in the 1880s. The bridge was opened officially in 1935.
Hiking in Deception Pass State Park
Of the 35 miles of hiking trails available in the park, we chose a several-mile hike around Goose Rock, and then up to the summit. The views were gorgeous! The San Juan Islands were in plain view, and we’re pretty sure we caught a glimpse of Mt. Rainier as well. We also got a great view of the Deception Pass Bridge from below from North Beach. There’s a campground at Cranberry Lake that looked like a great spot for a longer visit.
After the walk, we head back over to the Fidalgo Island side, and visited Rosario Head and the Urchin Rocks Natural Preserve. The tide was somewhere in between in and out, and the tidepools were teeming with life. Also nearby was the Maiden of Deception Pass, a Samish story pole. The carving was surrounded by interpretative panels relating an ancient tale of a young maiden and a handsome god of the sea type. The Samish tribe’s history seems fascinating and I’d love to learn more. One of the biggest highlights of the day happened in this area as well: while we were joking around about scanning the waters for orcas (which are seen in this area at times) we spotted a bald eagle perched high in a tree. He seemed like he might be on the lookout for dinner, and we did spot a snake with a nice chunk taken out of him later on down on the beach. Sitting in the grass watching the eagle, a shadow passed overhead: another bald eagle soared by and landed in a tree a couple hundred feet away. Amazingly beautiful!
For more information on visiting the park, the Deception Pass State Park website is a good resource. The Deception Pass Park Foundation, a not-for-profit, has excellent information as well, including some great programs and projects, all in support of education and resource protection at Deception Pass.
Why the name deception? Love the Eagle!
Capt. George Vancouver originally thought the island was a peninsula. He was “deceived” by its form, thus the name.