This was a trip I sponsored as a trip leader for my club the Peninsula Wilderness Club. This was my very first visit to Ebey's Landing. We had a foggy start to the day but it cleared up nicely by the end of the hike. After Ebey's Landing, we visited Fort Ebey and Fort Casey. I didn't realize until later that Ebey's Landing is also a small part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail that stretches from the Continental Divide all the way to the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Coast. That was a bonus. It turned out to be a beautiful day!
Sometimes, there's just not enough rocks.The beginning of the beach hike at Ebey's Landing.Some of the group at Ebey's LandingMy son Hayden. He found and carried this piece of driftwood on the entire hike.Imagination. With a flat rock for a pick and a piece of seaweed for string, Hayden strummed his improvised beach guitar.RopeJuvenile Bald EaglePerego's Lake separates us from the end of the beach walk and the switchbacks leading up to the bluff for the return.Looking back down the beach and at Perego's Lake.Looking the other direction, NW towards Fort Ebey State Park.Heading up the switchbacks to the top of the bluffs.Fog starting to burn offFog starting to burn off. Perego's Lake and Puget Sound below.It was very surreal as the fog started to lift. We could see ships off in the distance as the sun shone through.We could see ships off in the distance as the sun shone through.We could see ships off in the distance as the sun shone through.We could see ships off in the distance as the sun shone through. Perego's Lake and Puget Sound below.Once the fog started to lift, it burned off rather quickly.Group ShotHayden and myselfHistoric land still cultivated at Ebeys Landing. You can see the parking area in the upper right of the image.Ebey's LandingThe rest of the gang coming down from the bluffs at Ebey's Landing.Hayden posing with the driftwood at Ebey's Landing.A non foggy view of what the start of the Ebey's Landing hike looks like. For being such a socked in and cold morning, the day really turned out quite nice.Group shot from Ebey's Landing.
Our route at Ebeys Landing. About 3.5 miles and 350 feet of elevation gain.
We finished Ebey's Landing early so we headed over to Fort Ebey State Park which was just a short drive away. Fort Ebey is a camping park but was originally built as a coastal defense fort during World War II. You can still visit the gun batteries and bunkers that are scattered throughout the park. We followed a couple trails for a ways but did more meandering than anything. The big group site looked like an excellent place to have a PWC club outing.
Looking out of one of the underground bunkers. Hayden looking in. Olympic mountains in the distance.Graffiti in the bunkerHayden climbing outAn outside view of the bunker. Kids love these places and I admit, even as an adult they are fun to play around and explore.A view to the southeast. You can see Perego's Lake at Ebey's Landing where we hiked earlier.Looking SW at the Olympic Mountains. This is right about where the Straight of Juan de Fuca becomes the Puget Sound, near Admiralty InletWas struck funny by this trail nameTurns out there were lots of trails here, mostly for mountain biking.
We needed to kill even more time before our ferry home so we headed to Fort Casey which is nearby the ferry. I mostly wanted to check out the lighthouse here but the gun batteries here were even more impressive that at Ebey. Like Fort Ebey, Casey was built during WWII for coastal protection. We walked around a bit and took it all in. It was a simply beautiful afternoon
One of the gun batteries at Casey.Unlike most of the remaining WWII gun batteries you can find scattered around the Puget Sound, the ones at Casey still had some of their guns mounted.Lots to exploreBeautiful groundsHaving fun. This is called a disappearing gun.The Admiralty Head LighthouseNot too bad for a day in mid winter. Felt more like late spring.Ebey's landing and vicinity Click image to see a large version
Ebey's Landing is a National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island. Named after Colonel Isaac Ebey, Ebey's Landing is rife with cultural and agricultural history of the first white settlers of the land and the native Americans before them. As interesting as the history of the landing is, I find the story of Ebey himself and how he died even more interesting.
Thanks Steve. Maybe you and Nancy can join us next time. After talking to Cathy P about this, she said the last time she did it, they hiked from the ferry and did the whole trip without driving on the ferry. Certainly looks doable. Looks like 10 or 11 miles RT.
Peder, you probably get around as much as I do. More if you count your international trips. I need to get myself back down to your neck of the woods this season.
Nice pictures – looks like a great hike!
Thanks Steve. Maybe you and Nancy can join us next time. After talking to Cathy P about this, she said the last time she did it, they hiked from the ferry and did the whole trip without driving on the ferry. Certainly looks doable. Looks like 10 or 11 miles RT.
It is a great hike and I enjoyed your pictures. Next time I will go CW for the variation!
Peder, you probably get around as much as I do. More if you count your international trips. I need to get myself back down to your neck of the woods this season.
This is great Jay. Thanks for taking the time to put these up.
Thanks Jake. You know better than I how much work a blog entails. Thanks for reading!
Your adventures are wonderfully inspiring. Thanks for giving me tons of day trip ideas!
Thanks. Glad you’ve found the site useful!