Four Itchy Feet

June 26, 2025. Blaine, Washington. Day 36 of 170

Today, we spent the day at Deception Pass State Park. Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington. It connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A pair of bridges, known collectively as Deception Pass Bridge, cross Deception Pass. The bridges were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

We started our hike from the bridges down to the beach. We had perfect timing, as the tide was out, exposing most of the beach. The tidal flow and whirlpools beneath the twin bridges connecting Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island move quickly; the current reaches speeds of about 8 knots, flowing in opposite directions between ebb and flood. This swift current can lead to standing waves, large whirlpools, and roiling eddies visible from the twin bridges’ pedestrian walkways or from the trail leading below the larger south bridge from the parking lot on the Whidbey Island side.

Once on the beach, we walked south for about a mile on the rocky shore, admiring the water flow and the variety of rocks, kelp, and sea life along the shoreline. We were occasionally treated to an airshow as F-14 fighter jets, departing from nearby Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, zoomed by. This was a great way to spend the afternoon; the trail down to the beach is in good condition. There is ample parking on the south side of the bridge; however, there is a $10 charge for parking. Deception Pass is a great destination for exceptional views, a short hike, and an interesting walk on the beach.