Editing Deception Pass (section)

==State park==
[[Image:Deception Pass 1.jpg|thumb|Tourist sign at Deception Pass State Park]]
Deception Pass is surrounded by {{convert|3,854 |acre|adj=on}} '''Deception Pass State Park''', one of the most visited Washington state parks with over two million annual visitors.<ref name=wasp/> 

===History===
The park was established in 1923, when the original {{convert|1600|acre}} of a military reserve was transferred to Washington State Parks. The park's facilities were improved in the 1930s by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC), which built roads, trails, and buildings.<ref name=wasp/> The road to West Beach was created in 1950, opening the beach to vehicles. The former fish hatchery at [[Bowman Bay (Washington)|Bowman Bay]] became a part of the park in the early 1970s. The old entrance to the park was closed in 1997 when a new entrance was created at the intersection of Highway 20 and Cornet Bay road, improving access into and out of the park.
[[File:Ancient Douglas fir tree at Deception pass state park.jpg|thumb|Douglas fir tree estimated to be 850 years old at Deception Pass State Park]]

===Activities and amenities===
The park's recreational facilities include campgrounds, hiking trails, beaches, and tidepools. Several miles of the [[Pacific Northwest Trail]] are within the park, including the section that crosses Deception Pass on the Highway 20 bridge. The Cornet Bay Retreat Center provides cabins and dining and recreation facilities. Cornet Bay offers boat launches and fishing, while Bowman Bay has an interpretive center that explains the story of the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] throughout Washington state. Near the center is a CCC honor statue, which can be found in 30 U.S. states. Fishing is popular in Pass Lake, on the north side of the bridge.  Boat rentals and guided tours of the park are also offered.

===Islands===
The park includes land on ten islands: Northwest Island, Deception Island, Pass Island, Strawberry, Ben Ure, [[Kiket Island|Kiket]], Skagit, Hope, and Big and Little Deadman Islands. Ben Ure Island is partially privately owned.  The island is not open to the public except for a small rentable cabin available via the state park, which is only accessible by rowboat.
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{{wide image|Deception Pass pano 03.jpg|1200px|Looking roughly west from near the south span of the Deception Pass Bridge. Whidbey Island at left, Fidalgo Island at right, with the small Deception Island visible at center.}}