Hi All,

I plan on camping at the Deception Pass State Park this summer for a weekend.
Never camp there before.
Wondering if you guys recommend this state park for camping trip?

I went up there last August and had a great time.

Get a spot in the Lower loop so the walk to the beaches isnt too far. I think it is a good campground for a couple days, not for 4-7 day trips.

What Sky Guy said...

It's one of the best state park locations we have. There's a lake that should be stocked with trout by now and lots of places to go and see.

It can get crowded sometimes, but you'll like it

Thanks for quick response! Sky-Guy.
Yeah, I was looking at the lower loop on-line.
It looks like the area I want to reserve.
I fished the north beach last august for Humpies and seemed like a real good place to camp and fish!

I'd make my reservation as soon as possible Summer-run, Deception Pass is the busiest of all the State parks.

Thanks for your input! GgF

4Salt,
You ain't kidding.
Many top sites are booked already. I'm on it now to grab spot.
I'm gonna target Cohos on the north beach!

Summer might be a tad early for silvers, except small residents, I don't know if the "Sound of Freedom" will be doing manuevers, but at 1AM, a jet fighter coming in to Oak Harbor for landing can ruin a night's sleep. The park itself is lovely. An alternative is Washington Park at Anacortes or South Whidbey S.P. near Bush Point.

I live not far from the park. There is a small lake (electric motor only) there that has planter bow's in it but the fish to catch is the huge browns that are in the lake....I would take a ultra-lite and toss a rapala every night just at dusk. accross highway 20 is cornnet bay boat ramp and its just a short (but sometimes windy/rough) trip accross to james island/thatcher pass which has some good king fishing starting about the 15th of july. Washington park (mentioned above) is a shorter safer run to the island's. There is also great lingcod (may/june) fishing during the slack tides right in the pass its self.....speaking of the pass its not a great place for small boats I do fish it in a 14 foot lund but a lund is pretty seaworthy, and even though I have been there so often I still treat it with respect. I once seen a log about 14 feet lond that must have been sucked down by the current then released launch its self about 8 to 10 feet into the air point first I still shudder when I think about what would have happened if I was 20 more feet to the right on my path through the pass. it also has some great crabbing....silvers well hang on the beach and the eddy on the outgoing tide also at the eddy Called "the hole" right under the bridge its self mooching seems to work the best but not sure if its because the fish want it or its easier to wrangle thru all the other boats. you can hit that same spot from shore with buzzbombs...Pass lake is about 2 miles from the camp sites and has some good trout. but is fly rod, barbless flys only.....no motors at all. there also is a swiming beach for the kids in the lake and some huge bass in the lake too. the jets do fly at different times and do take some getting used too. the P3s and helos tend to be much more quiet and stay further from the park....DJ

Amazing! There is so much to do at this park.
Thanks for detail info, Gents.
Looking forward to this trip!

I've camped there for the trout opener and went to Heart Lake. Gonna go east of the mountains this year. Nice park. Deception Pass is a beatiful place....

camped there last labor day and had a great time. got my sister into some humpers so she injoyed it. the camp ground is pretty nice. there is a little lake with a swimming area and if you get the loop next to the water you can see the sun set. and there is also a decent swimming beach just watch out for the currents.

Glad to hear you all enjoyed your camping vacations at the Deception Pass!!
I reserved a large standard site in Lower Loop (146-225).
Plan on pitching at least two tents there. Are there plenty of room to pitch two 4 men tents in one site?
Also, Can you launch a drift boat at the Cranberry lake inside the park?

Deception Pass is a great place. Cranberry Lake, the one by the campground, has rainbows and some big browns. A small boat is best as I have never caught anything from shore. If you fly fish and know what your doing then hit Pass Lake acrossed the bridge. Big rainbows and browns in the CnR FF only lake. Around Memorial Day weekend is when the silvers start to show up and they can be targeted on North Beach as well as West Beach depending on the tides. On odd year the pinks will start to show up mid August and are very strong my Memorial Day.

FJ, do you mean Labor day weekend??
Memorial day is in May.... isnt it?