Summer Camping Spotlight: Deception Pass

Editor's note: This is the about summer camping. Annie Archer is the local editor of Woodinville Patch.

Patch’s shares all of your camping stories and campground reviews with the community.

Have a favorite campground that you visit every summer? Have a tale about the worst camping experience you ever had? Write a review and send it and a photo of your camping trip to me, Annie Archer, at ann.archer@patch.com. We’ll feature it in the next Happy Camper column.

From Woodinville Patch reader Catherine Wittel:

Deception Pass State Park on the scenic north tip of Whidbey Island is my favorite camping place for kids because it includes all four of the essential elements for non-stop play—rocks, dirt, water, and sticks. Need I say more?

The kids can spend all day building driftwood apartments, playing in the water, creating sand structures with elaborate water canals and climbing rocks along the shoreline. My grandson and his friends worked on a driftwood apartment building for three days. They couldn't wait to get out every morning and check on it.

I would imagine their brains were busy storing all kinds of information about geometry, architecture and, most importantly, cooperative effort, besides just plain awesome fun. A man-made playground will keep a child occupied for a very short time, but nature's elements will engage them all day long and provides great memories.
 
And Deception Pass is a beautiful place to introduce kids to hiking on the trails—there are lots of kid-friendly trails that are just challenging enough to keep them interested. The most important element is to take your time and let everyone have some fun.

Campfires, beaches, rock climbing and finding awesome creatures in their natural habitat is the best possible summer fun. And I always bring a lawn chair for those long stretches of time on the beach enjoying the beauty of nature and watching the children having fun and learning.
 
Facts on the camping at the park from the State's Web site:

The park has 167 tent sites, 143 utility spaces, five hiker/biker sites, two dump stations, 20 restrooms (four ADA) and 10 showers (four ADA).

Camping is at three locations in the park: 18 tent sites and two utility sites at Bowman Bay, seven tent sites and 54 utility sites at Quarry Pond and 147 tent sites and 83 utility sites at Cranberry Lake. Maximum site length is 60 feet (may have limited availability).

Year-round reservations are available by visiting online or calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

May 15–Sept. 15 (peak season)

• Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
• Standard campsite: $22 nonpremium site, $25 premium site
• Partial-utility campsite*: $29 nonpremium site, $34 premium site
• Full-utility campsite*: $31 nonpremium site, $36 premium site

Note: Camping fees during the 2012 peak season are $27 for partial-utility sites and $28 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Conconully, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1–May 14 and Sept. 16–Dec. 31 (off-peak season)

• Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
• Standard campsite: $21 for nonpremium and premium sites 
• Partial-utility campsite: $27 for nonpremium and premium sites
• Full-utility campsite: $28 for nonpremium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours

Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.

Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Length of stay: You may stay up to 10 consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.