Deception Pass

The Deception Pass area is steep, rugged and dramatic. The land north and south of the high bridge that spans the pass—a total of more than 2,000 acres and 14 miles of shoreline—is a state park, the most heavily used in Puget Sound.

Visitors are attracted to the area’s camping and picnic areas, extensive trail system and lakes and beaches. You can fish in saltwater or cast your line into freshwater lakes, explore rocky tidepools or grassy sand dunes, or gaze across the vastness of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Marine facilities on both sides of the pass make most of these activities accessible to boaters.

Currents in Deception Pass exceed 8 knots at times, and in a westerly with a heavy swell off the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this pass is treacherous for any boat. But boaters heading to and from the San Juan Islands prefer it to the “outside” route across the strait or the longer route through Swinomish Channel. A major reason is that the waters of Deception Pass are predictable. Determining slack water is easy; a current table is published specifically for this area and no calculation is required. The biggest challenge navigating Deception Pass is to pay attention to the channel, resisting the temptation to gape, open-mouthed, at the canyon-like beauty above and around you.

Deception Pass includes numerous good anchorages and places for boaters to visit, including Sharpe Cove, Bowman Bay and Cornet Bay.

Cornet Bay

So close to the rush of current and traffic in Deception Pass, Cornet Bay can feel like a refuge of quiet water, despite the summer crowds. The navigable portion is deceptively small—almost a third of the bay dries at low tide—but the state park facilities make creative use of the deep water and there is room for anchoring.

The state park float and detached float in Cornet Bay

Moorings and Anchorage
Moorage is available at state park floats for a fee. Cornet Bay Marina and the county float west of it do not offer overnight moorage. The anchoring basin is northeast of the state park floats; westerlies funnel from the strait over Whidbey Island and the currents can be strong.

Getting Ashore
The best shore access is at the marina or the state park float. The west end of Cornet Bay dries at low tide and is not recommended. Ben Ure Island tidelands are private.

For the Boat and Crew
The fuel dock is west of the state floats, beyond the boathouses at Cornet Bay Marina. The marina store has groceries, ice and some marine supplies. A nearby shop does small repairs. Restrooms with showers are at the head of the state park float.

Bowman Bay

Bowman Bay faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the northwest side of Deception Pass. For offshore cruisers the bay will seem comfortable enough, but it may be too exposed for boaters who prefer calmer waters.

This exposure is part of what makes Bowman Bay so beautiful. The beach is a crescent of sand, the headlands wind-torn, rocky and steep. The view west toward the strait is a limitless horizon. Sunsets can be spectacular.

Deception Pass State Park is more accessible from here than from Cornet Bay.

Moorings and Anchorage
Five mooring buoys are set across the bay; mooring at the fishing pier is prohibited. A 100-foot detached float is set inside the curl of Reservation Head, with a pay station on the float. Anchoring is good in mud bottom. Almost any weather turns in from the west here, so be prepared for a night of rocking.

Getting Ashore
All shoreline is public.

For the Crew
There are restrooms with showers north of the fishing pier. Onshore are picnic tables, shelters and a fishing pier. An interpretive center is open during summer.

The trails from Bowman Bay are among the most popular in the park. Hike south to climb Reservation Head, north to Pass Lake or West to Rosario Head. At Rosario Head stands the Maiden of Deception Pass, a wooden story pole commemorating the Samish princess who saved the land and her people by marrying the prince of the sea. North of Rosario Head is a beach much favored by scuba divers. The trail to Pass Lake begins north of the campground.

Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.