Jacques I.
Yelp
This is one of the best state parks in Washington. If you haven't visited, it's a must, for it is the most visited state park for a damn good reason! We decided to road trip to Deception State Park and spent most of the day here. From Bellevue, it's about an 1.5 hour drive up north.
Leave early if you plan to visit! We left Bellevue around 10, and once we arrived to the park, we drove to the main scenic vista where everyone goes when visiting Deception Pass. The parking lot is small for how many people visit this place, so getting here early is highly encouraged. We were lucky to have snagged a spot once we arrived in the early afternoon. Otherwise, we did see cars park along the side of the road leading up to this lot.
But at the scenic vista is where you can hike down to north beach, walk under the iconic Deception Pass Bridge to get to the Goose Rock Trail or even walk along the Deception Pass Bridge. There's also an area for visitor's information where you can inquire about boat tours and such (but it is not the main visitor's center). There are also restrooms here. Because this is a state park, a Discover Pass is required.
The north beach area is an easy hike down and up from when you park in the lot and offers a great view of the Deception Pass Bridge. Most people visit this beach in particular to see the bridge. There's also another parking lot closer to this beach on a lower level.
The Goose Rock Trail is a great, short hike that you can get to from the parking lot. If you like hiking, I recommend doing this one, as it's the highest point in Whidbey Island and the views are worth it once you summit! It's an easy hike, but would recommend shoes with a grip, as parts of it can get muddy, especially from the rainfall.
For other parts where you can drive to in this state park, I recommend going towards west beach, where you'll pass by Cranberry Lake, which is scenic on its own. We saw a lot of people fishing here. At west beach, it's a wonderful area for swimming and sunbathing. The parking lot is huge, so parking was easy. They also had a coffee cart, restrooms and an area where you can rent kayaks. Dogs are allowed here!
There is so much to do at this state park! I would love to go camping here for the weekend, as this state park has many campgrounds throughout the park, with a lot of activities to offer, from hiking to swimming. Yet simply, this park is just beautiful. It's far from the city, so is a nice getaway for wonderful views and outdoor space. Glad to have spent a day here, which is not enough.