| Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline, and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on four lakes. Rugged cliffs drop to meet the turbulent waters of Deception Pass. The park is outstanding for breath-taking views, old-growth forests and abundant wildlife. To prevent serious accidents, hikers are encouraged to stay on main trails and avoid straying to the sides. Mountain biking is prohibited except in marked areas. Fires and swimming are permitted in designated areas only. The Cornet Bay launch is open in winter. The park provides five saltwater and three freshwater boat ramps, plus 710 feet of saltwater dock and 450 feet of freshwater dock. All motors are prohibited on Pass Lake and electric motors are prohibited on Cranberry Lake. Electric and combustion motors are both allowed on Heart Lake. The park also offers 1,980 feet of saltwater moorage. A boat pumpout facility is located at Cornet Bay. The human history of the park dates back over 6,000 years, when the first people settled the area now known as Cornet Bay. Eventually, the land was settled by the Samish, a Coast Salish tribe renowned for their great artistic accomplishments and their spirtual strength. They lived on the land until the early 1900s. During his Northwest coastal explorations, Captain George Vancouver became the first European to identify the area near Whidbey Island as a passage, which he named "Deception Pass." A 1925 act of Congress designated the property for public recreation purposes. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built roads, trails, buildings and bridges to develop the park. The name "Deception Pass" derived from Captain Vancouver's realization that what he had mistaken for a peninsula was actually an island. He named that island "Whidbey" in honor of his assistant, Joseph Whidbey, who was at his side when Vancouver realized the mistake. The captain named the inlet at which he was anchored "Deception Pass" to commemorate the error. |
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