Celtic Safari: Deception Pass State Park

The pier at Bowman Bay

Granted a drizzly day is not is not the normal motivation to leave the motorhome and head out on an adventure but in the Pacific Northwest, rain comes with the greenery. Our destination for today is the north side (Fidalgo Island side) of Deception Pass State Park.

North end of Deception Pass State Park

Our visit started out Bowman Bay. Two years earlier we kayaked around the bay on a sunny day, but we've never been out for a walk.

Looking south toward Deception Pass

Laura on the pier

The green tint to the planks on the pier hinted at the time of the season. Aside from the mist that would occasionally blow through, it was a pretty nice day out.

Looking back at the parking lot and boat ramp

The pier is roughly 150 yards long, so it puts you out over the water for some distance. Out near the end is a ramp to a boat landing dock.

Dale at the west end of the pier

Rosario Head

In the Northwest corner of the bay is the dock at Sharpe Cove. Although walkable from the pier (0.7 miles), we choose to relocate the car to the parking lot at the end of Rosario Beach Road.

Sharpe Cove at Rosario Head

Look back into Bowman Bay across Gull and Coffin Rocks

Laura with "the Maiden of Deception Pass", near Rosario Head

Hiking Rosario Head

Atop Rosario Head looking into Bowman Bay

Looking south to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station

Looking Northwest

During our visit, the was some sought of running/walking event taking place in the park. As you can see in the photo below, the park is a user beware kind of place. It's not an optical illusion, those really are cliffs.

No guardrails

Laura's smile tells the story, we were having a great time

North side of Rosario Head

As we continued to walk clockwise around Rosario Head, we came to Rosario Beach with its tide pools. Laura loves tide pools, so we always have to stop and check them out.