Fort Ebey State Park is a great place for hiking and biking next to rugged island coastline. Originally built as a World War II coastal defense fort, this camping park features 28 miles of trails winding through bluffs and forests. Bring a flashlight for underground battery exploration as you put yourself in the shoes of the soldiers who were stationed here during WWII. Paragliders will often take off from the bluff’s parade lawn, which makes for a beautiful sight as you look out over the water. Surfers also occasionally dot the water as they take advantage of offshore winds. There are miles of shoreline for beachcombing, and if you visit between April 16 and May 15, you can harvest seaweed with a seaweed and shellfish license.
Fort Ebey was established in 1942 as the last Puget Sound coastal defense fort before it was decommissioned in 1947. This park is part of the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, a cooperative partnership which protects historic buildings, farms, and scenery in central Whidbey. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission acquired the several miles of shoreline between Fort Ebey and Fort Casey, now known as Ebey’s Landing State Park Heritage Site, to ensure public beach accessibility.
