This post first appeared in the web site in 2011. Parking and launching fees at Cornet Bay have since gone up a little.
Camping, traveling, vacation rentals, condo's and resorts on a budget,
is it even possible?
Yes it is. Inexpensive (cheap) vacations are possible if you, "go by boat" or yacht as some say. The trick is to already own the yacht and then camp on it at all the great places. Think of it like going to RV parks only without the garish over the top land schooners parked in the best spots.
Okay, no more promos for boat camping. Assuming you are a newbie to the San Juan Island boating group, you may be wanting to know why you should start at Deception Pass State Park if you are headed for the islands.
The Simple answer is, the park has the best all weather, all tide launching ramp and long term parking lot. Plus, Deception Pass is one of the places to see that you should not miss, and the Cornet Bay dock is a wonderful place to hangout overnight, or for a few days or longer.
The Google photos above with labels will help you to orient yourself. Because slow boats must time their passage through the pass you may find yourself spending the night at the dock. I always plan to spend the first night at the dock because after driving six hours, rigging and launching my sailboat, it's late and I'm tired. My crew can fish, hike and race around in the dinghy while I take a break. The next day I'm ready to go, and cast off at slack tide which may be at noon or 9am. The time doesn't matter, I'm on vacation time now.
The launch fee is around $6, parking is $10/day and staying at the dock is 50 cents a foot. The ramp has three or four lanes with floats. Trailer parking is abundant and long-term. You can anchor out for free, anytime, anywhere. There is a fist of quarters shower that short times you in the bathroom. Lots of locals and campers come down to fish off the floats, but boats tying up have priority. Try explaining that to a fisherman.
It is a very short run out the pass, under the bridge and into the Strait of Juan De Fuca, where high seas or fog may cause you to change your plans, if so, just head the other way to Swinomish Channel. If you have never cruised the channel before, do it for sure, it only adds about 15 miles to your trip and is well worthwhile. Or when you come back a week or so later, use the channel, but try to work it into your plans. FYI, your boat will need to make 10 mph or better to overcome the worst of pass current, otherwise you will have to time it like the rest of us. Of course with a favorable current you can rush on through, but the standing waves can be pretty big at times and an open bow boat will seem like a poor choice. The pass is narrowest directly under the bridge, so you will have a fast current for only a very short distance.
Dock and ramp at Deception Pass State Park (Cornet Bay)
You should run through Deception Pass for the beauty of it.
Next door is Canoe Pass,
and while navigable, should only be used at slack water, is very narrow and sight distance restricted right under the bridge, it is a little creepy when the whirlpools turn on and begin spinning you towards the rock cliff face. Sometimes we take our 9' dinghy with its 7.5 hp motor around Pass Island and wave to the gawkers on the bridge, but when the flood or ebb starts cascading, a tiny little dinghy has no business in either pass.
When you come back a week or so later and are ready to head home you can wait for slack water outside the pass at the dock in Sharpe Cove or Bowman Bay.
I always spend my last night at the dock, and get a good rest for the long drive home.
Here's a link to the marine parks locating map marine parks maps etc. click here
Here's a link to the marine parks locating map marine parks maps etc. click here
Tall ship ghosting through the pass at high slack water (photo taken from the bridge)
In 60 minutes standing waves 3-6 feet tall may form and the current will be 5-8 mph
I would be remiss to not point out that most boats can transit the pass a good deal before or after slack water, slack water is simply zero current like in the picture. Also, don't forget Swinomish Channel is just around the corner and avoids the pass altogether.
Click below for a satellite view of Deception Pass
It has been a long time since I wrote this post. Now in 2022 I am following my advice. We are putting in at the Cornet Bay ramp around 1pm and going straight to Jones Island where we will establish a home base at the campground. Day #2, go to Stuart and hike to lighthouse, next visit Roche Harbor and English Camp. Day #3, Go to Sucia and Matia, hike to China Caves and kayak Echo Bay. Day #4, Run to Lopez Village for farmers market, swing into Friday Harbor for dinner. Day #5, break camp on Jones, run to Cypress, hike Eagle bluff, visit Vendovi and Saddle Bag, take Swinomish Channel back to Deception Pass, spend night at dock. Day #6, load up and head for home.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited about this familiar old itinerary. We will visit old haunts and enjoy every minute.
We are back on dry land, it has been a hectic week considering vacations are supposed to be relaxing. We pretty much followed my trip plan outlined above but skipped some stops due to my over zealous planning.
DeleteCornet bay has a new dock and ramp floats, parking is $10/day. The dock is .70/foot. We got going after 4pm, Deception Pass had a 6 mph current against us but once into Rosario Strait we got a modest boost all the way to Jones Island arriving at 7pm. Jones was really full of kayakers but we found a campsite up on the hill and I anchored in my usual spot. Day #2, upped anchor just before noon and went to Stuart to hike out to the lighthouse, Boundary Pass Traders are still selling T-shirts and free water. The volunteers gave a tour. We skipped the planned Roche visit and went back to Jones. Day #3, upped anchor mid morning and bucked the current to Echo bay where we hiked to China Caves. Sadly we skipped Matia and got back to Jones for a stir fry over the campfire. Day 4, left for Friday Harbor and luckily snagged a spot on the breakwater on the inside. Got back to Jones to find that a raccoon had made off with a dry bag with a telephone and passport. Luckily found it in the bushes, whew! Day 5, broke camp and headed for Pelican Beach on Cypress, Topped off fuel and bought ice cream at Blakely's. Two of the five buoys were taken and all the shoreside camps were vacant at Pelican Beach. We hiked to the top of Eagle Bluff and were back in time for a tostada dinner, yum!. Day 6, broke camp, dropped our buoy line and went to Saddlebag for a quick hike. Took Swinomish channel back to Deception pass where we dropped our son and daughter at their car at 2pm. We then slipped through the pass to Sharpe cove where we tide pooled on Rosario Beach. We spent the last peaceful night at the dock in Cornet Bay.
There you have it. The plan and then what really happened. I hope my quick run down helps some newbies get over their first timer fears. I vividly remember how nervous we were in the beginning, not knowing where, what or how to make it all happen. This post is absent details but If you search this site you will find many in depth posts for visiting all the islands and parks in what I call the San Juan area.
Hi. I came across your post as I am planning to do some paddling in an expedition dinghy around Deception Pass around slack tide. I will launch from Cornet Bay and then row out with the end of an ebb tide and then back after the tide shifts. It will the difference between high tide and low tide are expected to be about 1ft and the wind and waves should be calm. Plus we are still enjoying summer-like weather.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and the pictures of the Cornet Bay side of the pass. The perspective helps.
This ouiting sounds like fun, I would bring along a small outboard if possible. Rowing for long against even a small current can be exhausting.
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