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With sweeping woods and green forests, colors from wildflowers such as purple, blue and magenta will keep your eyes busy. Along the way you may even catch a glimpse of some local fauna that makes Whidbey Island WA an unforgettable experience for hikers who are looking to be taken away by nature.
The best hikes on Whidbey Island, WA are:
- Ebey’s Landing Loop in Fort Ebey State Park, Coupeville
- The Lighthouse Point on Deception Pass State Park
- The Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail
- Kettle Trail System on Central Whidbey Island
If you’re looking for a great hiking experience and you have a little extra money in your budget, why not check out these great trails? And if you’re looking for a place to stay, check our vacation rental guide for Whidbey Island. Keep reading to discover more!
Table of Contents
1. Ebey’s Landing Loop in Fort Ebey State Park, Coupeville
Along the coastal bluff at Fort Ebey State Park is the breathtaking acreage of Ebey’s Landing, which offers sweeping views of the Strait de Juan de Fuca, Olympic Peninsula, and Mt. Rainier.
There are 554 acres (2,241,958.45 sqm) of reserve land, lush with beautiful wetlands, prairies, and coastal bluffs just waiting to be discovered by you.
If you’re looking for a short, lazy stroll along the beach instead of a more intense hike, then head over to Ebey Landing Road. If, however, you’re looking for a brisk and bracing hike, you’ll want to start with the trailhead at Prairie Overlook.
What To Look For at Fort Ebey Trails
The Prairie Ridge Trail veers off to the west and takes you to the historical house of the eponymous Colonel Isaac Neff ‘Jacob’ Ebey and his wife, Sarah Ebey. So if you want a touch of history in your hike, don’t forget to check out their homestead.
Speaking of history, did you know that Fort Ebey was used as a coastal defense structure to defend the West Coast during the Second World War?
Ebey’s Landing: Distance
A round trip of Ebey’s Landing and its trails takes you through 5.6 miles (9 km) of pure, unfettered views and sloping hillocks of wildflowers. The Bluff Overlook Trail is just under a mile at 0.8 (1.29 km), and you’ll find that the hike to Ebey House will only take you 0.3 miles (0.48 km) to get there.
Getting to Ebey’s Landing
To get to the trailhead at Prairie Overlook, you can:
- Drive down from Oak Harbor city on the island.
- Drive down from Everett and take the ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island.
From Clinton, it’s only a short half-hour drive to Fort Ebey State Park and the Landing.
2. The Lighthouse Point on Deception Pass State Park
The Lighthouse Point at Rosario Beach is just the penultimate stop to look forward to on the winding trails of Deception Pass. It will be your last stop in the Loop before you hike your way back to the trailhead.
The climb up the rocky cliffs where the quaint old Lighthouse sits is not for a beginner hiker, but the sandy shores are a great place to hike with family, children, and friends.
It’s the hike up to the Point that you’ll enjoy.
You’ll be able to hike through the cool, shady forests of fir, hemlock, and Pacific Madrone. You can also hike along the shores of Bowman Bay, where you’ll have a sparkling view of the shoreline.
Finally, you can cross over to the marshlands and rocky cliffs that will lead you to the Lighthouse.
What To Look for on the Deception Pass Trails
As told by Charlie Edwards to Martin Sampson, The Maiden of Deception Pass Legend draws tourists in just as much as the vistas and views do. You’ll find a tribute to the Samish woman from the legend, Ko-Kwahl-alwoot, passed down through generations of tribal history at Rosario Beach.
The tribute is actually a story pole, carved back in 1983 by Tracy Powell, still stands.
Trail Length at Deception Pass-Lighthouse Point Loop
A round trip at Deception Pass State Park will include a hike up the cliffs and along the shores of Bowman Bay. If you start from the pier and meet the trail at Lighthouse Point, the entire loop will cover just over a 5 mile (8 km) radius. The actual Lighthouse loop, however, is only 2.4 miles (3.8 km).
3. The Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail
One of the most popular trails to hike in Whidbey Island doesn’t really start on Whidbey Island but happens to be the most scenic and versatile hike to take. Have you heard of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT)?
What To Look For in the Whidbey Island Leg of the PNT
This relatively short leg of the trail is a mix of road, trails, and shore. If you are a thru-hiker, stop a while and take in the sights. There are several camping grounds to pitch your tent, the largest being the campsite at Cranberry Lake.
The trail passes through Oak Harbour and Coupeville, both of these being quaint little towns along these trails. In terms of fauna and flora, keep an eye out for shorebirds, as there have even been the odd sighting or two of orcas in Puget Sound.
The Pacific Northwest Trail Route
The PNT is essentially the trail that runs about 1,200 miles (1,931 km) from the Continental Divide in Montana to the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Coast. It runs through the Rocky Mountains, Okanogan Highlands, North Cascades, Puget Sound—where Whidbey Island is—and finally to the Olympic Peninsula.
Here’s a detailed map of The Pacific Northern Scenic Trails.
Pacific Northwest Trail in Whidbey Island
The leg of the PNT runs into Whidbey Island from Anacortes through Deception Pass.
The stretch of trail that runs into Whidbey Island from Puget Sound cuts through Joseph Whidbey State Park’s at the northern end of the Puget Sound. It also runs adjacent to Fort Ebey State Park.
Considering that only part of the trail runs through Whidbey Island, you’ve got 33.6 miles (54 km) of hike-able land. This is one of the most accessible parts of the Pacific Northwest Trail.
The area’s coastal climate draws in hikers, cyclists, and wildlife fanatics throughout the year, so expect moderate to high traffic and footfall.
4. Kettle Trail System on Central Whidbey Island
The Kettle Trail System on Whidbey Island gives you all you could want from a hike: a spectacular view of the bluff along the shoreline and a hike into lush, green, and cool forests.
Make that best of three worlds because it’s also open to bicyclists and riders of the equestrian variety. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room to share in the sprawling miles of mossy-covered woods.
What To Look for on the Kettle Trails
Whidbey Island, and the Kettle Trails in particular, boast a slew of flora and fauna. The forest trails are surrounded by:
- Red Twig Dogwood
- Serviceberries and Snowberries
- River Birch
- Ginkgos
There are also a copious amount of wildflowers, camas, calla lilies, and Siberian Irises among the Ostrich Fern.
Don’t forget to check out the breathtaking views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains from when you hike the bluffs.
An Interesting Fact About the Kettle Trails
What is particularly interesting about these trails are the quirky and oddly whimsical names that they have been christened with: Whippersnapper, Escape, Confusion, Windsucker Hill, and Humpty Dump, as well as names that are a nod to the local flora like Alder Grove, Madrona Hill, and Cedar Hollow.
Time and Distance To Hike the Kettle Trails
While a stretch of these trails runs into the Pacific Northern Trails, you can just as easily make it a day-hike if you stick to routes that run down the south of Fort Ebey, like Confusion Trails and Madrona Hill Trails.
The Kettle Trail System covers 35 miles (56.3 km), with the highest point being 200 ft (61 m).
Depending on the trails or loops you decide to hike, the Kettle trails can keep you occupied for as little as an hour or even the better part of the day if you decide to delve deeper into the woods.
Check out this map of Kettle Trails to help you.
