We spent 2 nights at deception pass, and it made for a relaxing way to end the summer with some friends. This is a great place to camp to introduce people to camping, as it can be as intense or luxurious as one wants. I did some trail running around the park, and I just wanted to include a trip report as to the trails.
The goose rock summit trail is in good condition and well-signed. Not a hard hike, but it makes a quick and easy addition to a run, and the views from the top are nice, as they overlook the park and you can see the Olympics on a clear day.
The trails at Rosario Beach/Head are also in good condition, there may be a fallen tree or two, but they are easy to step over. Don't fall off the cliffs though, that would be a real bummer.
The trail to lighthouse point is pretty well-maintained, but this one gave me the most trouble as I was running it. I used the connector trail from Rosario head, which was in good condition and well marked, but the trail out to the Lighthouse point is rather difficult. To get to the actual navigational marker on the farthestmost point one must scramble down then up two class 3 scrambles, although they both have a rope. Probably not for the faint of footwork though, as a slip could have consequences. If you're not feeling the scramble, the trails around the area are well-maintained and signed, although there are lots of social trails, and I got somewhat lost following them, so I would advise staying to the main trails to avoid walking through lots of bushes like I ended up doing on accident.
The West Sand Dunes are a nice interpretive site, and the trails are easy to follow and often paved. There is informational signage to learn about the environment, and the trees look cool.
The North Beach is also a nice place, with views of Deception Pass, Deception Island, the Olympic Mountains, and more. Lots of fighter planes doing flybys so it was rather loud, but otherwise this is a great spot for a stroll on the beach. There are some fun rocks to scramble around too.
Overall this was a lovely trip to the park, and one can start to see why this is one of Washington's most used State Parks. Its got something for everybody, and although you'll deal with plenty of other people, it's really not too bad, just know what you're getting yourself into.
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