Washington might be better known for its mountain trails and mossy forests, but the Ebey’s Landing hike on Whidbey Island proves the state’s coastline can hold its own.
The trail runs along a bluff that’s 200 feet high and hugs the shoreline without ever needing to walk in sand. It’s one of the few hikes in Washington where you get forest, sea, and sky in one easy hike. And the trail is even more incredible during sunset, when golden light bounces off the water and hits the cliffs from out across the sea.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before hiking the Ebey’s Landing Trail, including how to get there, what to expect on the trail, and tips from our own experience to help you make the most of your hike along this coastal bluff on Whidbey Island.
Ebey’s Landing: Complete Hiking Guide
Ebey’s Landing is easily the best sunset hike on Whidbey Island, and maybe even the best coastal hike in Washington. The trail traces the edge of a bluff 200 feet above sea level, offering nonstop views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, Port Townsend across the water, and even Mount Rainier on a clear day.
The hike begins at the Ebey’s Landing State Park parking area. Don’t confuse it with nearby Fort Ebey State Park, which is a different spot entirely. Look for signage near the parking area that points to the Bluff Trail.
From the start, the trail immediately ascends the bluff along a short staircase. Right away, you’re rewarded with incredible views. There aren’t many other trails with a more immediate payoff than this one.
As you continue, the trail slowly gains elevation as it hugs the bluff’s edge.
There is always something to look at on this trail.
To your left, the Strait of Juan de Fuca stretches into the horizon, dotted with ships making their way in and out of the Puget Sound. Keep an eye out for bald eagles overhead and seabirds riding the updrafts off the cliffs.
To your right, inland, is a windswept patch of coastal forest, where the trees have grown into interesting shapes in response to years of gusting wind.
Along the trail, keep an eye out for wildflowers in spring and summer, snails clinging to the trail’s edge, and deer grazing in the forest.
Between all the sightseeing, you’ll soon spot Perego’s Lake below you. This saltwater lagoon is separated from the ocean by a natural barrier beach. It’s one of the more unusual landscapes on Whidbey Island.
As you near the far end of the bluff, the trail descends along a few switchbacks that bring you down to the beach. That’s where you need to make a choice: head down and complete the loop by returning along the beach, or turn around and hike back the way you came along the bluff trail.
In my opinion, skip the beach. While the loop route looks tempting on the map, the return along the shoreline has its drawbacks.
First, if the tide comes in, you won’t have much shoreline to walk along.
Also, even though the beach is flat, walking along it can be tiring. The loose, uneven footing wears on your legs way more than the dirt trail along the bluff.
And of course, there’s the classic Washington beach smell of salty seaweed and driftwood.
As Chloe likes to say, “Once you’ve been to one beach in Washington, you’ve been to them all.” I can’t say I disagree.
Ebey’s Landing Hike Details
- Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is about 3.5 miles for the entire loop trail. If you choose to just hike out and back along the bluff like we did, it’s also about 3.5 miles.
- Hike Duration: The hike takes about 2 hours total, including time spent stopping along the bluff to soak in the coastal views.
- Hike Difficulty: The Ebey’s Landing trail difficulty is easy. The trail is in great shape and easy to follow, but it has a tiny bit of incline going up the bluff. Its distance and elevation gain make it even more challenging.
- Hike Incline: The total incline for this hike is about 300 feet, most of which is at the beginning of the hike as it ascends the bluff.
- Dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be on a leash.
- A Washington State Discover Pass is required to park at the trailhead for Ebey’s Landing.
How to get to the Ebey’s Landing trailhead
The trailhead for Ebey’s Landing is located at the end of Ebey’s Landing Road in Whidbey Island, Washington.
The trailhead has a parking area and a toilet, and you need a Washington Discover Pass to park there.
The map location below for the Ebey’s Landing trailhead is accurate and can be used to navigate there.
Ebey’s Land Hike: Our Experience
Once I saw the location of Ebey’s Landing on a map, I knew it would be the perfect sunset hike. And it absolutely was.
We rolled in on a Sunday evening just as the sun was starting to cast long shadows over the coastline.
Our hike started with a quick climb up the bluff along a wooden staircase. I knew that this hike would have scenic ocean views, but I didn’t expect them to appear so quickly.
Within minutes, we were staring out along the bluff, peering over the coastline, watching ships sail through the Puget Sound.
As we continued up the bluff, we met a local man on his way down. He paused, greeted us, and offered to share his knowledge about the landscapes surrounding us. He got super excited that we were eager to hear what he knew, and we were happy to listen.
He pointed out every landmark across the horizon, from the islands across the Sound, to the location of Mount Rainier’s usual spot (though it was hiding in haze that day). He even shared the area’s history, including the brutal fate of Isaac Ebey, the area’s namesake.
As we continued up the bluff, the sunlight turned a warm gold, lighting up the grasslands and casting long glows on the trees inland. I was so glad that we chose to do this hike during sunset.
On one side of us was a sheer drop to the beach, and on the other was a windswept forest. Below us, the salty Perego’s Lake shimmered in the sunlight. It’s a unique landscape when you think about it.
When we got to the far end of the bluff, we found a trail sign pointing down toward the beach route. But the tide was coming in, and we didn’t want to risk getting squeezed out along the coast. Plus, the bluff was so interesting that we had no problem hiking it again. So we turned around to retrace our steps.
By the time we returned to the start of the bluff, blue hour was fully set in, and we were stoked that we got to enjoy an epic sunset on the best hike in Whidbey Island.
Ebey’s Landing Hike Photos
Here are a few more photos from our hike at Ebey’s Landing. If you’re thinking about going, let this be your sign. Especially if you can catch it at sunset.
Are you following our Washington blog series?
We’re based in Seattle and have done tons of things all over Washington. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Our ultimate Seattle guide: 29 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle
- Our Seattle hiking guide: 11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle
- Best things to do in Mount Rainier: 12 Unique Things to Do in Mount Rainier
- Our ultimate Mount Rainier hiking guide: 20 Incredible Hikes in Mount Rainier
- Best day trip from Seattle: 11 Awesome Things to Do on Bainbridge Island
- Best winter weekend trip in Washington: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Leavenworth in Winter
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the Ebey’s Landing Hike on Whidbey Island. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
