Vista from bluff above Ebey’s Landing on Whidbey Island

We went camping on Memorial Day and stopped at Ebey’s Landing on the way. I had heard about the unique flowers that could be found on the bluffs and wanted to explore. Ebey’s Landing is a unique micro climate in the center of Whidbey Island. The area is a National Historical Reserve created to preserve the working landscape, historical buildings and natural habitat. I love the windswept prairie that spills onto the rocky beach. We had not explored the bluffs just north which is home to Opuntia fragilis – a prickly pear cactus that is native to the islands of the Puget Sound.

There are two trail heads to the bluff trail. We decided to park at the Prairie Overlook. The first quarter of a mile or so is along a private road next to several houses that overlook the prairie before it turns and runs along the edge of the prairie. I love the spacious vistas and the tall prairie grass. Along with the weathered fences, buildings and fir trees, you almost feel as if you are in Maine. At the bluff, you have a massive vista of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympics and the bluffs north and south. We meandered along checking out the flowers. We kept an eye out for the cactus and found one patch near the trail. The trail runs along the edge of the bluff to the top of Perego’s Lake, a small lagoon along the beach. We found a place to sit and have lunch and mulled whether to go back along the bluff or walk along the rocky beach. We decided to go down and walk along the beach. It would have been a great walk except light rain started up and the wind was blowing it towards us. I was not happy.

You continue along the beach until you come to the parking lot and the second trail head. I convinced G to walk back the last 3/4 mile to the car and come pick me up. Fortunately, neither of us got too wet, mainly just a little damp and we dried off before arriving at our campground.

The next day we went over to Fort Casey to see the Admiralty Lighthouse. The weather was cold windy and drizzly. We took a quick walk around the lighthouse before heading back home.

Ebey’s Landing is a perfect place to explore. It is also a great hike in the winter or early spring. We will definitely return. Next time we want to also camp at Fort Ebey’s State Park.

Reference Links:

• NPS – Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
• Nature Conservancy – The Robert Y. Pratt Preserve
• Hike of the Week – Ebey’s Landing
• Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce

Bluff Trail at Ebey’s Landing

View at start of trail from Prairie Overlook

Heading to the bluff

Rosa Nutkana was in bloom all along the trail

It feels like Maine and the country of Andrew Wyeth

Across the prairie

On to the bluff

She is still a happy camper here. 🙂

Windswept forest along the bluff edge

Perego’s Lake

Beach at Ebey’s Landing

Admiralty Lighthouse

Ebey’s Landing bluffs in the distance