Deception Pass State Park - Whidbey Island bus adventure

Today, we will visit Deception Pass State Park, while taking an excellent bus tour of Whidbey Island in the process.

We will begin our day by riding Sound Transit #511 to Ash Way P&R, where we will take Community Transit bus #113 to Mukilteo. Following this, we will a WSDOT ferry to Clinton, where we will take Island Transit bus #1 across Whidbey Island to Oak Harbor. In Oak Harbor, we will take a 30 minute lunch break at a city park next to the water, then board Island Transit bus #411W to Deception Pass. We will hike around Deception Pass for about 2 hours before boarding another #411W bus to Mt. Vernon, where we will ride an Amtrak bus back to Seattle.

The hike around Deception Pass will be leisurely, with minimal elevation gain (around 500 feet). There will lots of viewpoints to take pictures, both on and getting to the trail, so cameras are highly recommended. This is an excellent trip for novice hikers or people who are new to the Seattle area.

Here is the itinerary we will follow.

8:15 - Depart Seattle (ST 511) ()
8:47 - Arrive Ash Way P&R
8:50 - Depart Ash Way P&R (Yellow Cab Everett) ()
9:10 - Arrive Mukilteo Ferry Dock (Yellow Cab Everett)
9:30 - depart Mukilteo (WSDOT ferry)
10:00 - depart Clinton (Island Transit bus #1)
11:35 - arrive Oak Harbor - eat lunch
12:10 - depart Oak Harbor (Island transit bus #411W)
12:25 - arrive Deception Pass
2:24 - depart Deception Pass (Island Transit 411W)
3:05 - Arrive Mt. Vernon (Island Transit 411W) ()
4:05 - Depart Mt. Vernon (Amtrak bus) (****)
4:50 - Arrive Everett (Amtrak bus)
5:40 - Arrive Seattle (Amtrak bus)

(*) While this bus originates in downtown Seattle, I will be getting on the bus at the I-5/45th St. freeway station, as it goes by my neighborhood. Feel free to board the bus at whichever stop suits you best. Full schedule details are available here: http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/ST-Express-Bus/511?tab=Saturday

(**) Depending on the number of people that show up, I expect this trip to cost around $5 per person. I will arrange vans with the cab company in advance in order to consolidate us into fewer vehicles and reduce cost. In order to make sure we are covered, please bring $10 cash with you, preferably with some $1's.

Even though a bus from Ash Way P&R to the Mukilteo Ferry is available (CT 113), we will not be using it because it cuts the schedule too close (on both ends) and does not allow sufficient time for a large group to buy ferry tickets before the boat leaves for Whidbey.

Driving directly to Mukilteo is NOT recommened, as returning to Mukilteo to pick up your car at the end of the hike will require either multiple bus transfers with long waits or a $20 taxi ride. If you are not taking the 511 and want to good place to leave your car, Ash Way P&R is your best bet.

(***) If you are looking for a snack, the Food Skagit Velley Food Co-Op is right next to the station and has a great deli available. Otherwise, we will likely do a short walk around town while we wait for the bus.

(****) Please buy your bus ticket in advance for this trip at http://www.amtrak.com. Look for a one-way ticket from Mt. Vernon (MVW) to Seattle (SEA) on bus 5609, departing Mt. Vernon at 4:05 PM. Depending on where you are going, you may choose to get off this bus in Everett and transfer to another bus. If you have a car parked at Ash Way, you will need to get off the Amtrak bus in Everett and transfer to Community Transit route 201 or 202, which will take you back to your car. Service runs every 30 minutes.