Hiking to Goose Rock at Deception Pass State Park

Looking for more fun things to do at Deception Pass State Park?
Try this short hike to beautiful Rosario Head. If you have more time, the park is also a great place to camp.

CURRENT INFO

Find more information about Goose Rock and Deception Pass State Park on the Washington State Parks website. Trail reviews are available on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) webpage. For a good review of the shorter hike options (plus a map showing additional trails), check out the book Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington by Susan Elderkin.

GOOD TO KNOW

• As part of the Washington State Parks system, a Discover Pass is required to park at Deception Pass State Park. If you don’t have a pass, you can pay the $10 day use fee instead.
• I recommend parking either at the North Beach trailhead or the North and West Beach lot near Cranberry Lake, depending on how far you want to hike. Starting at West Beach instead of the North Beach trailhead adds about one mile of hiking. Parking is also available near the Deception Pass Bridge, but it’s a busy lot that primarily serves those stopping to walk for a quick look at the view from the bridge.
• Restrooms are available at the parking lots.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• Expect crowds on summer weekends, especially on West Beach. Fortunately, North Beach is large, so there is plenty of room for everyone.

One final request before you go: Deception Pass is a special area that gets a lot of use. Please treat it with respect and enjoy your time here responsibly. This includes staying within the defined boundaries at Goose Rock so as not to trample the delicate meadows and unique plants growing on the balds. Balds are bare, rocky areas with their own mini-ecosystems including plants you won’t find elsewhere. Appreciate the beauty they offer, and leave the flora untrammeled and unpicked for all to enjoy.

HIGHLIGHTS

There’s a reason Deception Pass State Park is the most visited Washington State Park. Its astounding beauty, coupled with the fact that it’s easy to reach from the urban areas of Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham, draw people here again and again. Taking the time to hike to Goose Rock give you the chance to escape the biggest crowds, as many people stop just to ooh and aah at the bridge or picnic at the beaches. Soak in the views over Whidbey Island and across the Salish Sea, then head down for some beach relaxation of your own.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

For our kids, the highlight is the beach. North Beach is great for rock hunting, and rock climbing, too. Goose Rock is also pretty cool — like being on top of the world!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is so much to explore at Deception Pass State Park, why not stay awhile? The park offers three wonderful campgrounds. Despite having hundreds of sites, they often book up well in advance, particularly for spring, summer, and early fall weekends. Reserve well ahead of time to secure a spot.

Other short hikes at Deception Pass include Rosario Head and Lighthouse Point, both located near Bowman Bay on Fidalgo Island, just across the bridge from Goose Rock. Cranberry Lake is a great spot for an easy paddle or a summer swim.

What more could an outdoors-loving mom ask for on Mother’s Day than a family hike that everyone could enjoy with gorgeous weather to boot? Maybe a weekend camping trip? In actuality, when I booked our campsite at Deception Pass State Park, I had no idea that I chose Mother’s Day weekend. I guess it was meant to be!

The day was off to a good start when we arrived at the parking lot near Cranberry Lake and West Beach. The huge lot was mostly empty, and we enjoyed the view toward Deception Island from the driftwood-strewn beach. The only thing missing was… our friends! I was sure they arrived before us, but they were nowhere to be seen. I’ll spare you the details, but parking lot confusion led us to park in completely different lots. Fortunately, we managed to make contact despite spotty cell phone service and finally met up on the shores of North Beach. My kids didn’t mind the delay at all, but happily used the time climbing rocks and digging in the sand.

We finished our walk across North Beach together, admiring the turquoise water as the sun broke through the clouds. Even under overcast skies, Deception Pass is breathtaking, but to see it sparkle in the sunshine is a real treat.

Near the east end of the beach, a trail heads up to the North Beach Trailhead parking lot. A restroom makes this a convenient potty stop before the main hike begins. From here, the trail climbs slowly up the side of the rocky headland, offering countless places to stop and gaze out over the pass. A CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)-built stone wall frames the view quite nicely.

After walking underneath Deception Pass Bridge, we continued our hike along the perimeter trail. Almost immediately, we passed another trail branching off to the right that led to Goose Rock. Not long after, a second crossroads appeared, with yet another trail to Goose Rock. The kids were a little concerned when we passed it by, but I assured them our time would come. In the meantime, this was our chance to simply enjoy the hike. The perimeter trail is lovely in and of itself, offering tantalizing glimpses of the water as it skirts Cornet Bay.

Eventually, we came to yet another trial intersection, but this one was unmarked. Would it lead to Goose Rock? It went up, so that seemed likely. We decided to take it.

The trail was beautiful, leading us temporarily out of the forest. Wildflowers appeared, some of them nestled into the bare rock walls of the hillside. Yellow stonecrop was especially tenacious, clinging to any available crevices, its blooms stretching toward the sun.

After initially leading upwards, the trail began to descend. Hmm… perhaps this wasn’t the trail to Goose Rock? Indeed, after a short series of switchbacks, we found ourselves once again joining the perimeter trail. I’m not sure why this alternate route isn’t marked on trail maps. If you reach a crossroads like the one pictured above, know that either trail will take you to the same destination. The upper trail adds a little extra elevation gain and distance to your trip, but not a huge amount.

Back on the perimeter trail, we were happy to soon arrive at the “real” trail leading to the Goose Rock summit. This one is clearly signed. From here, it’s 0.8 miles to the top, thankfully not the 8 miles that made my friend’s son gasp (the dot in front of the 8 needs a fresh daub of paint)! The hiking time is listed as 30 minutes. This may sound daunting, but while there are a few tight corners, for the most part the trail isn’t too steep. We took a standing break midway, and easily reached the first bald within 30 minutes.

Lunch time! The rocks above the trail provided the perfect spot to refuel and take in our surroundings. A few power lines stretch down from Goose Rock at this point, but it’s still a lovely view.

Of course, the real destination, the peak of Goose Rock, lay just ahead. Before the trail began its decent back through the woods, we made a short detour to the top of the rock. From here, views extend south over Whidbey Island, and west across the Salish Sea toward the San Juan Islands. A few other hikers had staked out spots along the edge, but there was plenty of space to enjoy our mini-mountaintop experience.

Overall, I was surprised not to see more hikers on the trail. The parking lots were nearly full when we returned that afternoon, and West Beach was packed, but it seems most visitors came to relax, not hike.

The adults appreciated the view while the kids were most interested in tree climbing. All were surprised and delighted by a swarm of dragonflies as we made our way back to the trail. Dozens of the insects circled overhead at the edge of the meadow. What drew them to this spot? There was no water nearby. Big or small, nature’s wonders never cease!

We continued downward on the main trail, taking the most direct route back to the bridge. By this time, the tide was in, making it impossible to walk the full length of North Beach across the sand. Instead, we took the inland trail that departs from the west end of the North Beach Trailhead parking lot. The kids, eager to get back to the beach, quickly left this trail behind as soon as an opportunity appeared. They were on the sand in no time.

Following the children, my friends and I discovered that the tide hadn’t cut us off from the west end of the beach after all. The rocks jutting into the water along the beach could easily be climbed, something the kids had already discovered. The adults soon followed suit.

We were in the home stretch. West Beach and the parking lot lay just beyond the trees. The kids — no surprise — still had energy, at least enough to play around in the amphitheater by the beach. They didn’t have a lot to say, but their delivery was full of flair!

After the final brief climb to West Beach, we were greeted by a nearly full parking lot and swarms of beach-goers. The kids found a spot to play amongst the driftwood while the adults debated what that object on the horizon was… a submarine? Ship? Or… maybe just an island after all? Back by the cars, we said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways. As far as Mother’s Days go, this one was just about perfect.