Photography at Deception Pass State Park
Your Guide to Photos at Deception Pass, Rosario Beach & the Surrounding Trails
Below is everything you need to know to plan an engagement photo session within the boundaries of Deception Pass State Park of Washington state. As a state park, there are some unique rules that are different from other forms of public land, and it’s important to always respect the laws and protect the natural environment. Learn about the park, the trails, the beaches, and what you should know before you go; plus
Why You Should Visit Deception Pass
Best Places for Photos at Deception Pass
Steps to Planning a Deception Pass Photo Session
How to Get to Deception Pass
Discover Pass
Best Time of Year to Visit Deception Pass
ADA Accessible Areas in Deception Pass State Park
Bringing Your Dog to Deception Pass
Deception Pass Photography Package
Why You Should Visit Deception Pass
Deception Pass is an incredibly iconic part of the Pacific Northwest shoreline. It has everything you need to picture PNW vibes—rocky beaches, scraggly trees, drives through thick forest, endless trails for hiking, and an often moody weather pattern that is ideal for dramatic photos.
Best Places for Photos at Deception Pass
Lighthouse Point Trail
Lighthouse Point is, ironically, lacking a lighthouse. However, the point itself offers a stunning view of the Deception Pass Bridge, and the hike takes you through beautiful forest, rocky beaches, and one of the
Goose Rock Trail
This is probably my favorite sunrise hike in Deception Pass State Park. It climbs up above the bay with an east-facing view, which means the North Cascades create a stunning backdrop as the peaks are backlit on a clear day. You can turn the loop into an out-and-back to stay along the water, but I recommend completing the loop if you want to see it all during your photo session.
Rosario Beach
This is a drive-up accessible location, with the option to continue on and hike a short loop with views of the shoreline from above. I recommend this location at sunset, because it is west-facing, and encourage visitors to consider the off-season months of November-April because it gets quite busy in the summer.
Lottie Point Trail
This could easily be an add-on to a Lighthouse Point hike, or you could come out specifically for this view of the Deception Pass Bridge.
North Beach
The North Beach is drive-up accessible, or you can hike the span of the beach from east to west in an effort to see it all. This is my favorite spot for photos with Deception Pass Bridge in the background without hiking up to one of the higher viewpoints.
Sand Dune Interpretive Trail
ADA-Friendly
This is the most accessible spot in Deception Pass State Park. This ADA-friendly trail offers views of the bay, a trail right along the beach, and connections to other trails and areas of the park if you want and are able to hike. This trail is specifically lined with dune grasses and other plant life that create a different look from the other more rocky and tree-covered areas. It’s the most “beachy” of the areas in my opinion, and it’s beautiful!
Steps to Planning a Deception Pass Photo Session
1) Create a list of your priorities
The first thing you need to do is set your list of priorities. What is most important to you? Is it the date, the view, privacy, or getting the perfect image? Once you’ve booked me as your photographer, I’m happy to help create a plan that gets you everything you need! Let me know your top priority, and we’ll work around that. Example: if you want a very specific view for the backdrop of your photos, I can suggest the exact time of day and date that is most likely to provide those specific conditions.
2) Choose a date
If you know you want a specific date for your photos, then this might have been your first step. Most couples reach out to me with a date range in mind (example: sometime in the spring) and I then suggest a date that is most likely to align with their preferences. If you want privacy in a state park, I recommend going in the off-season (October-April) and avoid holidays. Weekdays are also quieter than weekends, and mornings are less busy than afternoons. The sunset and sunrise times will also affect the way your images feel, so I recommend taking my advice about what time of day is going to look best for photos.
3) Choose a location
Listed above are my favorite destinations for images within Deception Pass State Park. However, choosing one over another is going to be a discussion about how far you want to hike, whether you have a problem with heights (some of these trails go along steep cliffs), and if you have any accessibility requirements. There is one wheelchair-accessible trail in the park, and a few other trails are rated “easy” when some are more difficult. Choosing a more difficult trail doesn’t always get you better views than an easy option, but it does often offer more privacy.
4) Reserve any bookings or reservations
Deception Pass State Park does not require any special permitting to get casual couple’s photos or engagement pictures here. If you’re doing nothing different than another visitor, it’s not much different than hiking with a friend who has a camera. However, if you’re planning to elope or have a ceremony, you do need a special use permit.
If you do plan on using Deception Pass as your wedding or elopement venue, I recommend reaching out to the state park asap to find out if they will require a permit. If you’re eloping just the two of you, you might not require a permit but it’s always nice to offer notice because the more popular it becomes to get married outdoors, the more resources can be dedicated to keeping these spaces clean and beautiful!
Washington State Parks-Northwest Region Office
220 N. Walnut St.
Burlington, WA 98233
(360) 755-9231
Phone lines open: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Where is Deception Pass?
Deception Pass is about an hour and a half north of Seattle, situated on the west shore of Washington state. Looking west, you can see the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. North are the San Juan Islands. It’s accessible by car from the north, but if you’re coming up from the south you’ll need to take a ferry to get to Whidbey Island.
Deception Pass State Park spans two islands—Fidalgo & Whidbey. As the southern tip of Fidalgo Island and the northern tip of Whidbey, Deception Pass connects Anacortes and Oak Harbor. As far as state parks go, it’s a little chaotic to navigate—there’s no centralized parking area from which to hike out in any direction, or one singular viewpoint to come visit. There are almost a dozen parking areas, two lakes, beaches, east and west facing water views, and trails that both loop back around and cross paths. If you want to drive through the park, you can within minutes. If you want to hike the park, you could spend a few long days exploring.
How to Get to Deception Pass
From Anacortes: 20 minutes
There are two ways to get to Deception Pass from Anacortes—the highway, or smaller scenic backroads. Both directions take similar amounts of time and are similar lengths, but Google Maps will prefer the highway. I recommend seeing the views from both directions at least once.
The simplest route: From downtown Anacortes, go south on Commercial Ave. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto WA-20 Spur East. When you reach the roundabout at Sharpe’s Corner, take the first exit onto WA-20 West. You’ll stay on WA-20 West until you reach the park.
From Seattle: 90 minutes
Head north on 1-5 for until you reach Burlington, then take Exit 230 onto WA-20 West. Stay on WA-20 West at the Sharpes Corner roundabout, and again at Howard’s Corner, until you reach the park.
Discover Pass
You do need a Discover Pass to visit the park. You can get one on-site that is $10 to visit for the day (available at any parking lot or trailhead) or you can get an annual pass for $30 that gives you access to all state-run public lands. I always get the annual pass because I visit areas that require it more often than 3x/year.
You can order a Discover Pass online, or pick one up at one of the many stores that carry them (REI sells Discover Pass).
Discover Pass Free Days (updated for 2025)
Washington State Parks and the Washington Departments of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Natural Resources (DNR) offer several "free days" when a Discover Pass is not required to visit these lands.
Jan. 20 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March 9 — Billy Frank Junior's Birthday
March 19 — State Parks’ Birthday
April 22 — Earth Day
June 7 — Free Fishing Weekend
June 8 — Free Fishing Weekend
June 19 — Juneteenth
Aug. 9 — Smokey Bear's Birthday
Sept. 27 — National Public Lands Day
Oct. 10 — World Mental Health Day
Nov. 11 — Veteran's Day
Learn more about the Discover Pass and see what sites it offers access to HERE.
Best Time of Year to Visit Deception Pass
Fall
Fall is by far my favorite time of year to be at Deception Pass. Especially late fall, right before winter sets in, it’s common to get a thick layer of fog in the mornings that creates a really dramatic scene. The fog usually burns off not long after sunrise, so you still get the benefit of a stunning view.
Winter
Winter is the best time to reliably experience privacy at Deception Pass. The trails are quiet, the trailheads have plenty of room o park, and the sunset is so early that the best light for photos is practically mid-afternoon. Winter is reliably wet and rainy, so pack your rain gear and expect moody PNW vibes.
Spring
Spring is my second favorite time of year to visit Deception Pass. March-May is much quieter than summer, and it’s still possible to catch an early season warm day. However, the weather is less reliably nice than the summer, so plan as if it’ll be rainy anyway.
Summer
Summer is certainly the best time to visit if your top priority is reliably good weather. It’s also the time of year when the trails are most busy! I highly recommend summer visitors to Deception Pass plan ahead and consider visiting during the week or even at sunrise. Weekends, especially around summer holidays, are too busy for photos.
ADA-Accessible Areas at Deception Pass
All of the parking areas include accessible restrooms (parking lots, not all roadside trailheads), and there are mixed levels of accessibility throughout the park. Please proceed with caution and know that inclement weather events and seasonal storms can sometimes alter the difficulty of these trails.
Sand Dune Interpretive Trail
This trail includes views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and sand dunes that protect the surrounding area. The far end of the trail goes through a wind-blown forest with lichen-covered trees. In the spring and summer you’ll see a few wildflowers and other plants growing sparsely, as well as wildlife like deer and bald eagles.
Length: 4,225 feet, .8 miles
Surface Type: Paved
Elevation Gain/Loss: Approx. 30 feet
Accessible Parking: Van-accessible parking lot
Bringing Your Dog To Deception Pass
Dogs are allowed everywhere people are at Deception Pass State Park, but must be kept on a leash.
Hiking in Washington it is not uncommon to meet other visitors who have off-leash dogs, especially at the beach where owners think it is best to let them run free. There are no off-leash areas within the boundary of the state park.
Deception Pass Photography Package
I offer all my standard photography packages for the Deception Pass. It’s a beautiful place to take engagement pictures, propose, or even host a two-person elopement or intimate family ceremony. There are plenty of rentals around Oak Harbor and Aanacortes if you’re hoping to home-base here for a multi-day adventure, and of course you can choose one of the park campgrounds for easy-access to the trails.
I’d be happy to walk you through some sample timelines, and show you just what can be accomplished when you choose a Deception Pass as the stunning backdrop for your special photos!
Deception Pass Photographer
Hey, I’m Jenn! When I’m not photographing elopements in epic locations, I’m home in Bellingham with my husband Dillen & our collection of foster-fail rescues, or off on my own adventure taking note of every beautiful spot that would perfect for a future elopement. I’m here to help you through the process of turning your dream into a reality, and I have an abundance of expertise to answer questions, make suggestions, and connect you with vendors/rentals/guides & more!
Click here if you’d like to learn more about my approach to elopements and outdoor weddings. If you’re ready to start planning, please send me a message!
Deception Pass State Park | Engagement photos and couple’s photographer
Follow along on social media to see recent elopements, gather planning tips, and collect inspiration for your own adventure!
