One of these days I should learn how to snowshoe, but for now most of the mountains are closed to me. So a fantastically beautiful day for a trip to the coast!

The 3.5 mile Ebey's Landing loop (turn west on Ebey Rd from Coupeville) on Whidbey Island provides a stunning outing in any weather, with views spanning the Sound through a hundred and eighty degrees. Dramatic stormy seas and skies, a wide expanse of mirror-like blue, it just can't look bad whatever the weather. The day didn't clear up as much as predicted, but the mist gave way to thin, hazy sun and rippling lines of high cloud.

I do the loop climbing up the bluff from the car park, along the top of the cliffs and down beyond Perego's Lagoon to return via the beach. I imagine doing the reverse loop would make a hard climb up to the bluff on slippery sand - that's a steep section of trail.

At this time of year, there are many visiting waterbirds off the beach at Ebey's Landing, mostly various species of ducks and grebes, with a few waders around Perego's Lagoon. Between the wildlife and the huge accumulations of driftwood, there's never a lack of something to grab the eye on the walk back along the beach to the parking area. Loops are always good for increased interest, and this is a quick hike that can be easily fitted in on a short winter day even when you have to take the ferry!

More pictures at http://eelpi.livejournal.com/30103.html#cutid1

What a perfect day! Early low cloud clearing to almost unbroken skies, with bald eagles and northern harriers soaring over the cliffs. A cool breeze off the Sound on the clifftops, but I wasn't going to complain about that.

Spring has very definitely arrived on Whidbey Island. Butterflies, bees, wildflowers and birdsong everywhere, and sadly also some flies starting to congregate in the sun on the sandy trail. I followed the loop trail up the bluff, then inland to Sunnyside Cemetary, before going back to the cliffs over Perego's Lagoon and down to the beach for the trip back to the car park as the tide receded.

This loop has it all - the farmland above the cliffs has all the meadow birds currently competing for fence-posts to sing from, the cliffs have the raptors, and the sea and lagoon have the ducks and waders. The mixture of rich, arable soil and sandy bluffs gives the same contrast of plant life, and the views are outstanding in every direction. The driftwood all along the lagoon and beach provides dramatic features for photos.

On top of all that, the beauty of a loop hike that almost everyone takes in the same direction is that even though there may be a few people around, you rarely meet them. The illusion of isolation on a busy trail. The basic loop is 3.5 miles with a 250 foot climb up the cliffs, but with the side trip to Sunnyside and some general beachy wandering, I made it a 7.2 mile day.

What a great hike to clear one's head. On a clear brisk winter's day from this Whidbey Island standout are unbeatable views across the indigo Sound to the Olympics, and directly below you from the bluff trail is a long finger of log-strewn beach around Perego Lagoon. Nearby pasture land in rich browns and greens. Stunning. A loop hike can be done (better counterclockwise starting up the bluffs and returning via either a path next to the lagoon or out along the beach)in 3.5 miles. An elevation gain & loss of a couple hundred feet. Midweek found just a handful of other people. A great hike any time of the year. The trail was generally dry but in spots a bit slippery, especially the fairly steep portion coming down from the bluff to the beach. There's a restroom and no parking or entrance fees.

Top photo: looking south from atop the bluffs, Cascades far left, Ebey Prairie & farmland, Puget Sound. Bottom photo: looking north from bluffs , Perego Lagoon below.

http://postroad.com/david/ebey103098.html

This is an ideal hike for families with young children. We did it last spring when ours were 3 and 5 and they walked the whole way. In the spring, the bluff has flowers and tons of butterflies. Views of ships. Squirrels dash across the path, and four deer walked right in front of us! The only challenge is that steep scramble: it is REALLY steep. One parent below and one up top, kids on their tushes just may be the best way to go. At the bottom they can get their feet wet (bring aquasocks or sandals, it's rocky) That last mile-and-a-half back is on sand...legs get tired. Plan extra water and snack for the midpoint (m&m motivators)in addition to your lunch. The kids will sleep all the way home...

Needing a break from a couple of months hiking in the desert areas I avoided the messy drive over the mountains and hiked into history. I never have even been out to Whidbey Island before so a day hiking the bluff and beach trails at Ebey Landing was a real joy! The weather was pure sunshine in this rainshadow neck of the woods, but it was so cold I almost thought I needed to skip the hiking and enjoy nature from the car. Sure, it was sunny, but it was 28-32 degrees outside with the north wind blowing across Puget Sound at a 30-40 MPH clip! Here was the initial surge of the promised cold weather for certain. I found it funny that here at sea level I was to hike in the coldest most brutal winter conditions and temperatures that I have had all winter anywhere! After bundling up at the trailhead parking lot I headed up the steps past the outhouse and history interpretive signs to hike the upper bluff trail first. All along the first portion of the lower bluff signs of the spring wake-up of native plants was surrounding me, and to the east the fields of Ebey Prairie were busily being worked. After hiking along the cultivated field for 1/4 mile I made the side-trip up the Ebey Prairie trail, which is well signed. This gives a great eastern view across the vast open prairie land which has been actively cultivated for 120+ years. The sun danced patterns across the fields and snow lined mountains tower in the distance. I enjoyed seeing a small covey of three quail and also spotted a mourning dove along the fence line! This trail ends by the historic Sunnyside Cemetery, which I hiked around through as well. The blockhouse building which was built in 1855 is a real treat to explore, and I've never seen so many headstones marked well over 100 years old. I enjoy stomping around places like this...it is peaceful and the folks residing here don't talk back at me too much. Across from the cemetery is a great overlook over the Ebey Prairie area as well and worth checking out the interpretive signs there. I quickly hiked back the 1/3 mile to the bluff trail and entered what is the lands bought by the Nature Conservancy. The next 1+ mile of trail is fascinating, winding up and down along the top of the bluff, passing grand old weathered trees which take the brunt of all storms, and great views across Admiralty Inlet and down at the lagoon and beach areas below. I really want to return back in the spring to see and photograph the rare golden paintbrush that blooms along here, one of the only places it is known in Washington. By this time I almost wasn't noticing the 40+ mph winds blasting my body, but photography was difficult to say the least since I couldn't stand still and my tripod couldn't either! At the far northern end of the lagoon area a trail heads down to the beach VERY steeply. From here I hiked north along the beach another 1/2 mile before heading back along the beach the 2 miles to the parking area. Massive ancient piles of driftwood line the top of the spit enclosing the lagoon making for fascinating photography. The bluffs above look ancient and very weather-worn. The hike back showed yet more wildlife as buffleheads filled the lagoon, mergansers and goldeneyes dotted the sound, and I finally spotted two seals in the heavy surf, which was hard to see anything out there as the waves were crashing 3-6' high in the intense winds! Occasionally a Navy plane roared over the open waters to the north, and the views toward the Olympics were as good as they get. With binoculars I could even make out the Dungeness Spit lighthouse on this crystal clear day! Slowly I hiked all the way back, the trek feeling 8 miles instead of 2 since I explored so much. This is a perfect corner of the world to visit any time of year, but a winter day of sunshine when the mountains are buried makes this seem even more special. I was surprised that there are no signs at all along SR 20 indicating where to get there, as every state park around is well signed. After leaving I also stopped in at Fort Ebey State Park and hiked around the Gun Battery area and much of the 1 mile trail north of there that eventually leads to the beach areas that are north of those areas hiked by the Ebey Landing lagoons. Great day of beach exploring and it felt amazing that I saw not a single person anywhere all day!