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Standing on the Deception Pass Bridge is one of those moments where you realize photos just can't capture how incredible a place really is. The bridge connects Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island inside Deception Pass State Park, and the views are honestly breathtaking in every direction. The water below is this deep turquoise color, and when the tide is moving you can see the currents swirling through the pass. It's a little surreal looking down from the bridge -- you're about 180 feet above the water, and the cliffs, forest, and islands around you make it feel like something out of a movie. One thing I didn't realize until visiting is that it's actually two bridges, with a small island in between called Pass Island. You can walk across both bridges, and there are sidewalks on each side so you can stop and take in the views. It's definitely worth slowing down and just enjoying the moment. If you want to walk the bridge, most people park either at the small lot on the Whidbey Island side right before the bridge, or at pullouts and parking areas on the Fidalgo Island side. There are also bigger parking areas inside the park like Bowman Bay or West Beach if you want to explore trails or viewpoints nearby. Driving across the bridge itself is free, but if you park in the state park lots you'll need a Washington Discover Pass (about $10 for the day). If you can, try to go earlier in the morning or near sunset. The light hitting the water and cliffs makes the whole place feel even more magical. This is one of those places in Washington that really sticks with you. Whether you're walking the bridge, stopping for photos, or just watching the water rush through the pass below, it's absolutely worth the visit.
We passed by here a few weeks ago and stopped to take a walk across the bridge and down to the water. It's a beautiful view and the bridge is impressive. The traffic is a little close to you as you cross on the bridge so that can be a little nerve-wracking. People that are fearful of heights may want to enjoy views of the bridge from some of the trails. We enjoyed walking across both sides of the bridge and watching a seal play in the water below. We took one trail down to a beach and enjoyed the easy walk on the well maintained trail. Lots of picturesque spots for snapping photos. Parking was a bit of a circus. There are a few different parking lots on both sides of the bridge as well as lower ones near the beaches. They require display of the Discover Pass. Deception Pass Bridge is really beautiful and I'm surprised it's taken me this long to visit. Definitely worth a drive if you live in the area.
Driving up to Deception Pass is breath taking. The road seems to narrow as the forest surrounds you to the bridge. The area opens up and the view is amazing as you look down over the sides. We drive past the bridge and down the road a little more to turn around to go into the parking area for the trials. Parking for the day is $10 or you can get a yearly pass for $30. You can walk across the bridge and see the sea leopards down below. Go under the bridge and there's a gorgeous trail to hike up the summit or down to the beach area. Parking can get crowded so try to get there early to avoid the crowds. The hike up Goose Rock Summit trial is well traveled and easier if you stay to the right first then work your way around. Be careful as we've seen coyote at the summit. Garter snakes on the path as well as some blacktail deer. Good 2 hour adventure if you go both directions and take it all in!
The views near and on the bridge are spectacular. It's a narrow bridge and you also can walk across it. The hiking around here is awesome too with views of the ocean spotted with islands. It's a trek from home but totally worth it. The colors of the water are mesmerizing.
I don't go to Whidbey Island often but when I do it's almost always on the Deception Pass Bridge at one point. At first I didn't catch that there were stairs that went under the bridge on both sides but did I think eventually on my second or third trip here. I did notice there was parking but didn't really explore it, also on both sides of the bridge. Well, our latest trip to the island which has been a few years in-between the last we finally stopped at the bridge and explored all around it. The bridge is part of a state park so it's a double bonus if you have a state park pass for the year. We explored underneath the bridge on both sides, went across it and took the pictures that we longed to do the very first time went over the bridge. The views here absolutely gorgeous! So very beautiful and so very grateful that we finally made it here to admire the bridge and stopped the car to explore it more thoroughly.
Noble Pass Built in 1935, this National Historic Landmark 1,437' bridge connects Whidbey Island (home of the nuclear wessels) to Fidalgo Island over what might possibly be one of the most gorgeous views I've ever witnessed. We knew that we were going to cross the bridge but really hadn't planned to stop--until we saw the view! Fortunately, they have pull-offs on either end of the bridge, so we were able to stop and enjoy the beauty of the bridge architecture and take in those spectacular views for just a few minutes, as we had an arbitrary schedule to maintain. There's even a similarly named park nearby that allows visitors to check out more of the scenery--which we did not partake. #NextTimeGadget Tldr: Don't be dumb like us and plan to spend at least 2-4 hours reconnoitering this spot out. ^__^ (ovO) {| |} ---"--"---
The entry point to Deception Pass State Park from the north is this bridge that provides great views of the water. There are many pull outs along the way for you to park and take in the views. If you want, you can also walk on the narrow walkway on the bridge. It can be a bit scary since it's very narrow and there are tons of cars driving right by you. Once you pass the bridge you'll get to the state park where some parking lots will require a Discover Pass for you to park as they have some amenities like restrooms. When we went it was very windy and I didn't take want to take any pictures with the small chance I could drop it (my hands were very cold too). The bridge and the views are beautiful though and there are some short pathways under the bridge where you can get a view from below and also get closer to the water and the strong currents. It's a very nice view and a good place to stop by if you have the opportunity.
A beautiful bridge in this state park. There are a few hiking trails around the area which I enjoyed, but were quite muddy. Make sure to bring appropriate shoes and gear. There are several different views you can get of the bridge, which is always greatly appreciated. We viewed it from above, below and right up close. It's truly breathtaking and such a fun time to take in all the angles.
Beautiful bridge in Deception Pass State Park and parking next to the bridge was actually easy to find on a sunny summer day. The views while walking on the bridge are breathtaking!
One of my favorite places to go to if it not crowded the weather is perfect when it's hot in the city not to fare to drive so everyone goes definitely worth a trip
Deception Pass Bridge is currently undergoing road construction improvements during my brief photo-op stop on a windy Sunday afternoon on 3/7/21. Park in the designated parking area or pull over off to the side of the road (no parking on the bridge, of course!). Be mindful of traffic on this busy highway route also! Absolutely beautiful view. Last time I saw this was as a teenager on the bridge and as a 20-something during a stormy detour on the Victoria Clipper. This visit was extremely windy so I kept to the end and chose not to traverse the entire length. It was hard enough taking the few photos and not lose my phone! Again, beautiful view if you have the opportunity to detour.
Who can resist not stopping to take in such a BEAUTIFUL view?!? Im so grateful I have the privilege to live and work less than an hour from Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, San Juan, and Anacortes; VIEWS for days!!! If you're planning a visit be mindful that there is currently construction on the bridge which occupies a lot of the parking and there could be a lot of traffic depending on the time of day. Regardless of when you go wear comfortable clothes, and shoes to explore nature while taking in the natural views; you won't regret it!!
A grand entrance into Whidbey Island (or onto Fidalgo Island). The views from here are truly unique. It's narrow, but well protected from oncoming car traffic. There are walkways under the bridge too, but because my family and I were in a time crunch, we didn't have time to explore it. A must-visit when in the island county!
7 years ago
6 years ago
Wonderfully located. Close to the city city with so many things to see. Like fort Casey, horseback riding, etc, but still has the woodsy feel. Easy 1/2 mile hike to the ocean. Beautifully maintained campsites. Bathrooms super clean. Showers, Garbage, water, electric, paved main pathway. Full of campers, but many decently quite and private spots. Our campsite was a little on the small side and my daughter didn't necessarily love the sound of the jets. But overall loved it and we'd come back! read more
Water flows incredibly fast here, green hues of wildly varying shades mixing with the blue tidal flow from the sea daub an ever-changing palette of creation's greatest artist. This is a must-stop view for those with time to smell the roses. Steep cliffs fall breathtakingly close to certain doom on a misstep from any of the numerous hiking trails snaking around this gorge. It's cold here in December and you can bet the water is icy cold. My lover tells me some people SUP (Stand Up Paddle) this place but I wouldn't hazard this experience seeing how fast the tidal flow runs through this pass. I would not want to get caught alone out there. Don't be deceived (read the plaque from my photo) into thinking this area isn't worth a photograph. It is. Just be careful. read more
Every time we do a day trip to Canada we always make sure to take the Anacortes exit and go west off of the I-5 freeway going south. Make sure to follow the signs that direct you towards state route 20 Deception Pass/Mukilteo Clinton Ferry. Since you will be going south after going about 6 miles west coming from the I-5 freeway, you are better off making your way back towards Seattle on the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry. You will be backtracking if you decide to go back towards the I-5 freeway. As you go make your way south towards the bridge, you will have several options of pulling over and parking to the side of several cutouts. You can walk on to the bridge from there. You also have the option of driving across the bridge and taking the first turnoff on the right just after the bridge ends where there is a decent sized parking lot. We usually park in that lot because there are bathrooms there and not only can you access the bridge, but there is a stairway that leads down to the beach below. The views from the bridge are spectacular. Just be careful if you have kids with you for the bypassing traffic can get pretty close to you especially when big vehicles go by. Also, make sure you are dressed accordingly for the seasons in this area can get pretty extreme like chilly, cold bluster winds in the winter. There are 2 negatives I would like to point out just so you are prepared. The first one is minor, There is very little to no signal reception on the bridge or on the beach below. I was able to check in off of one bar after about 30 tries. My carrier is AT&T. Not sure about other carriers. The second negative and its a major one is that you have to pay 10 bucks to park in the parking lot now! I talked to some people that were just leaving and they said the 10 dollar thing just started last year. I call BS on this because im trying to figure out where the money is going. Definitely not the bathrooms because they all literally smell like urine and feces. You'll be lucky if the paper towels and hand soap are stocked. It seemed like every time we went which was every couple years or so that it never seemed to have those things. So instead of the as good as gets 5 star rating this place deserves (even with the super stanky and unstocked bathrooms), the 10 dollar thing is even worse! You gotta pay just to admire nature's beauty? Who is the greedy bastard that came up with this? You guys just gave me one more reason not to come here any more. Recreation fee my a$$. Yelp 2015 Review #49 "It used to be a deception until you had to pay 10 bucks" 549 overall read more
12 years ago
It's quite the vista point, whether it's to watch the sunset, look at that glacier to the east, watch bald eagles glide over the whirlpools below, or walk back and forth on it and take a hike in the woods. We parked on the Pass Island side, since it was free (the Whidbey Island side requires a $10 day pass) and walked across the bridge. In order to cross you need to walk down the steps on other side and walk under the bridge. DON'T be that lazy, inconsiderate, and frankly QUITE stupid guy running across and then trying to scramble other the barrier to get to the other sidewalk. Even if there aren't cars at that moment an 18-wheeler could easily come seemingly from nowhere and take you out. We saw a few people nearly become roadkill. If you're a fan of the license plate game, you're in luck. We saw cars from Maine, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, New York, Florida, and Nevada while we were there. And Pass Island has a small lot at that. The bridge and its views just seem to attract everyone. read more
7 years ago
Really pretty views nice hiking. Ocean access from multiple points on the trail. The bridge is gorgeous and you get quintessential pnw views. Met some locals and they were insanely friendly. read more
If you have extra time while visiting Seattle I recommend taking a day trip by car or car/ferry ride to Whidbey Island to see Deception Pass bridge. We took the ferry there which was something different. If I remember correctly, we waited to board the boat longer than the actual ferry ride, which took maybe 15 minutes. once in route you can leave your car for a few photos and to enjoy the great view the boat ride offers. Once on Whidbey, prepare to be underwhelmed. Not much to see or do but drive to the other end of the island where Deception Pass State Park is located. Honestly, it was low speed limits and boredom for about 45 minutes. Right before you get to the bridge you will hit a major town if you need food or gas. I'd suggest stopping my Jersey Mike's to pick up a sub so you can have a picnic on the beach once you arrive. Once inside the park a few trails will take you to different points of interest which seemed recreational based with the water and all. We headed right for the path that led to the base of bridge for some great views. After a picnic and photos we headed up the main trail to cross the bridge back and forth before taking a few more hiking trails to burn off those killer subs! Overall the views were awesome near and on the bridge and certainly a worthwhile visit in in the area. Don't get too excited by the name "deception" no crazy stories here folks! A group of sailors gave it the name "Deception" because it had misled them into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula...however I did hear of some pirates gold just South of here in Astoria, Oregon. I give this bridge 8 "Goonies never say die!" out of 10. read more
11 years ago
Lovely drive with even lovelier views. If you ever need to take a breather and contemplate on how big this world is and how little you are in comparison, it's worth the visit. We explored under and across the bridge. Met a handful of people exploring with their kids and dogs. Fun little day activity. Just sit there and watch the boats race each other. A bit of fresh air is good for the soul. read more
7 years ago
Breathtaking! This is one of the most beautiful views on earth. Do not miss it! Thank you God for making such beauty! read more
5 years ago
We crossed the bridge, actually 2 bridges, going to Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island and again on our return 2 days later to Fidalgo Island. There is parking on each side of the bridge and a walkway across them. I was fortunate on our return to find space on Pass Island where you can take a set of stairs down to an excellent viewing point. The overall setting is magnificent, a highly recommended stop on your journey to or from Whidbey Island. read more
6 years ago
5 years ago
This might look like it's just a bridge, but it's so much more than that! Be sure to park your car and explore (with a discover pass, or you can buy a day pass). Walk across the bridge for a beautiful view of the water and eye-catching pictures. Below on both sides is lots of exciting things to explore and find, including a beach to relax and have a picnic! Definitely recommend putting this place on your "to visit" list! read more
8 years ago
This place is far more beautiful in person. If you visit Washington state, this is a must-see destination. It's a perfect place for a hike with family and friends. The perfect date with a partner and a great conversation starter. It seems that the locals were completely used to this view but I don't see how one could ever be used to this. I will be here again. read more
9 years ago
If you are in North Washington, this is a great stop. spectacular views, hiking and under bridge paths. If you are afraid of heights, views are still awesome from the side of bridges. read more
8 years ago
Before google map tells you that you are on the bridge, pull into the parking spot right before and start walking toward the bridge. The view is really nice on a sunny day, there's even sea lion swimming underneath the bridge!! Stay on the same side of the bridge and only cross it using the stairs!! Love this view! read more
The view from this bridge is breathtaking! I wanted to follow this one path all the way down to the water. But I knew if I did I'd regret it coming back up because it is a very steep hill side. We came here in the morning around 10am. Not very busy and plenty of free parking on the bridge. However, later in the day when we crossed the bridge to return home, there was traffic, no where to park and lots of people walking around. My advice is to come here as early as you can to avoid the crowd and enjoy the scenery in peace. read more
I've always kind of been in awe of this structure mainly because of the scale and length of it. So while visiting Ft Casey, I decided to just keep driving up Whidbey to Deception Pass. As you approach the bridge, it's rather daunting as it's very narrow and you have to take your time as there are cars coming in the opposite direction, pedestrians all over the place, and cars backing out of the parking spots near the exit points of the bridge. There is little margin for error. The bridge is wonderfully crafted and has several trails underneath to get multiple view points of the water. I remember going under the bridge previously while on a whale watching tour and we found a pod of orca slowly hopping over the fast moving water. They stayed and allowed us onlookers to watch this uncharacteristic event for almost an hour and then left. It was rather nice as it took us almost 4 hours to find the whales. There's no guarentee you'll see any sort of whales in the waters under the bridge but you're almost guarenteed to see several types of boats, kayakers, and other watercraft whizzing through the water. I think you can see some of the Canadian islands way off in the distance if you look North. I've never scene a bridge similar to this ever and it was even more awe-inspiring as I stood below it with my mouth dropped open at how big it is. Anyway, enjoy the scenery, the trails, and the views from the bridge as well. I suggest you watch your kids around the upper part of the bridge though as it's a long way down if someone were to fall and as mentioned the road over the bridge is highly traveled and you don't want your kids running out into the street. Otherwise, it's great for pictures and a neat place to chill. There isn't a lot of parking though. read more
8 years ago
My son suggested that it was a great place to see and boy was he right. It is absolutely gorgeous and the colors were beautiful. While walking across the bridge from the paid parking area we saw so many things to take pictures of it made it hard to decide. There are actually 2 bridges to cross and at the end of the second bridge is where we saw sealions playing. It was so neat and I really enjoyed seeing them. Some of the drawbacks that I saw was that the bridge walkways are somewhat narrow, it made crossing with a wheelchair and a stroller a little difficult. We managed, but it was a difficulty. Also the stairs do not have any type of handicapped accessibility. My husband wanted to at least go under the bridges and take some pictures, but because of no ramp access he couldn't do it. I don't know if that is something that could be done, but it could be something to be looked into and possibly planned. I know that wheelchairs can't and shouldn't be able to go everywhere in the woods, but they should be able to go from one side of the bridge to the other. read more
5 years ago
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9 years ago
One of thee most spectacular views on the planet! BREATHTAKING! And the cars driving by so closely make it even more exciting! Worth the hassle of parking and walking. read more
15 years ago
8 years ago
11 years ago
Fun to look over this bridge because the views are amazing. Sometimes the parking can be tough but it is worth the stop. read more
8 years ago
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