Christmas Day Hike: Ebey Bluff Loop Trail

I parked at the Prairie Overlook and headed along the Ridge Trail to the Ebey Bluff.

At the bluff, I followed the bluff trail to the west. This is looking back east toward Ft Casey.

Perego's Lake came into view as I continued west along the bluff.

The trail descends to the beach at the west end of the loop. The view is to the east.

This view is west at the base of the trail to the beach.

Looking back to the west as I continued east along the beach part of the trail. Can you spot the switchbacks on the bluff?

Having reached the east end of the loop at Ebey's Landing State Park, I headed back west along the ascending bluff trail.

The complete hike was 5.18 miles. Even on an overcast day when the Olympics, Cascades and Mt. Baker were not visible, it was a refreshing hike.

Mt. Rainier - Ebey Bluff Trail

When the mountain is out, the view of it from the Ebey Bluff Trail is wonderful, as it was this day in June, 2017.

Ebey Prairie

Ebey Prairie on Whidbey Island, the historic Smith farm and the Olympics in June of 2017.

Ebey's Prairie Ridge Trail

One can park near the Coupeville cemetery and take the Ridge Trail to the bluff.

The trail is nearly level and connects with trails into the woods and along the bluff. You'll see historical buildings,

the Olympic Mountains, and ships heading out to the Pacific Ocean. These are photos from last June.

Ebey Prairie Then and Now

The historic Smith Farm on Whidbey Island at the end of February, 2016.

The same farm at the end of May, 2017. 

Another photo from February, 2016 from a little farther away. The historic barn burned down this spring. I am going through my "to work on" file, getting to some photos I have never processed and posted.

Ridge Trail Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

The Ridge Trail is easily accessed from a parking lot at the Prairie Overlook near Coupeville on Whidbey Island.

The relatively flat trail offers stunning views of the prairie, the Olympics, shown here, the Cascades and Mt. Baker, covered in clouds on April 21.

The walk from the parking lot to the trail is about a quarter of a mile, very flat. The entire hike is easy and offers stunning views of mountains, prairie and ocean.

Isaac Ebey House and Blockhouse

Ebey arrived on Whidbey in 1850 and completed the house in 1856. The blockhouse is one of four that remain in the area today. This view of the historical buildings and the Olympics is just a short walk from the Prairie Overlook parking area near the Coupeville cemetery on Whidbey Island.

Ebey's Landing on Whidbey Island

Ebey's Landing is named for an early pioneer and is a wonderful place for day hikes along beach and prairie.

Historic Smith Farm on Central Whidbey

The Olympics provide a background for the historic Smith Farm on Ebey's Prairie, Whidbey Island. The barn, thought to have been built in the 1880s, recently burned to the ground.

Ebey Prairie

The Cascade Mountains and the Ebey Prairie farmland January 23.

Ebey Prairie

This area of Central Whidbey Island is preserved farmland. 

Ebey Prairie Fog

Ebey Blockhouse

The Ebey blockhouse and home on the trail from the Prairie Overlook to the bluff.

Mt. Baker from Ebey's Landing Bluff Trail

Hiking Ebey's Landing

I love to park at the Prairie Overlook near Coupeville and take the trail out to Ebey's Landing. On this trail one sees the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Baker, the Cascade Mountains, and Mt. Rainier.

Olympic Mountains from Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

This photo is from the end of March.

Ebey's Landing

Mt. Baker from the Ebey's Landing trail beginning at the Prairie Overlook, the end of March.

Mt. Baker from Ebey Prairie Overlook

Mt. Baker from the Ebey Prairie Overlook near Coupeville after its first fall snow.

Ebey Reserve and Olympic Mountains

Late summer view of the Olympics from the Ebey Reserve in central Whidbey Island.

Farming on Whidbey Island

I'd never get anything done if I had to work on this farm near Ebey's Landing in the Ebey Historic Reserve. I'd be gawking at the Olympic Mountains all the time. I took this photo about a week ago.