Stroll across rolling emerald fields, climb coastal bluffs towering above crashing surf, and wander along a driftwood-strewn beach, gazing across busy coastal waters to a backdrop of snowcapped Olympic Mountains. And there's more! Prairie flowers, bald eagles, shorebirds, and historic relics. One of the finest coastal hikes in the Northwest, Ebey's Landing is one of Washington's most naturally diverse as well as historically significant places.

Rife with history as well as natural beauty, Ebey's Landing was named for Colonel Isaac Neff Ebey, who in the 1850s became one of the first non-Native settlers on Whidbey Island. The blockhouse he erected to defend his land claim from Native attacks still stands, looking above prairies that have been in continual agricultural use for over 150 years. Prominent in territorial affairs, Ebey was slain in 1857 by a band of Haidas seeking revenge for the killing of one of their own chieftains by settlers. The blockhouse, prairies, and much of the surrounding lands are now protected within a special unit of the National Park Service.

Starting from the Prairie Overlook, head west on a combination of trail and gravel road. At 0.5 mile pass a restored 1850s homestead that is slated to become a visitor center in the summer of 2009. Continue toward the sea across emerald lawns reminiscent of Ireland. At 1 mile reach a junction (elev. 150 ft). This is a lollipop loop. You'll be returning left. Head right climbing golden coastal bluffs lined with contorted firs and speckled with blossoms in the spring. Reaching heights of 270 feet, these are among the highest coastal bluffs in Washington.

Gaze out to the snowcapped Olympics, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and the San Juan Islands. Watch ferries and ocean vessels ply busy Admiralty Inlet. Look for majestic bald eagles perched in ghostly snags and notice the prickly-pear cactus growing on the sun-kissed slopes. Stare straight down at Peregos Lake, a lagoon bursting with shorebirds and formed by a narrow spit littered with giant drift logs.

Walk along the bluff crest for a good mile, coming to a junction with a short spur trail heading to an excellent viewpoint. Back on the main trail, steeply descend, coming to the trail's end at a wide beach of hard-packed sand and polished stones. Turn left and walk south along the beach, rounding the spit and reaching the Ebey's Landing Wayside at 4.25 miles.

Pick up the trail once again, climbing stairs back up the coastal bluff and reaching a familiar junction at 4.6 miles. Your vehicle can be retrieved one mile to the east. Head back or linger longer.