We caught the 10:30 ferry from Mukilteo, boarding just a few minutes before it left. It seemed to be mostly full but we still had no trouble just driving up and getting right on. The Mukilteo-Clinton ferry only took 15-20 minutes so we made sure to head to the passenger deck quickly to enjoy the views. Can't complain about a day that includes both a ferry ride and a beautiful hike! After leaving the ferry we drove straight to Coupeville. It rained on us for a few minutes on the drive up but the weather was pleasant the rest of the day. Before we went to the trailhead we walked around Coupeville; it is such a cute town and we definitely needed to get pastries from the bakery before the hike.
Around noon we left Coupeville and drove the short distance to the trailhead. The trail starts next to a cemetery surrounded by farmland that runs right up to the edge of the bluff. It doesn't take long before you reach the Ebey house and blockhouse, two of the interesting historical structures managed by our NPS on this site. The Bluff Trail is now within sight, and to the south there are great views of the farmland and sea. We took a right on the bluff trail to head north and immediately had to stop and take in the views. Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca were calm and peaceful, and a large section of the Olympics were peeking above the clouds. This was the steepest part of the bluff and it was remarkable to see how far above the beach we were. As we meandered northward along the bluff the lagoon eventually appeared below us. Its water was so still it looked like glass, with a very clear reflection of the clouds overhead.
After a couple miles we reached the end of the bluff trail, heading down a couple switchbacks to the beach. There seemed to be a sturdier trail that follows alongside the lagoon, but we preferred to just walk the rest of the way on the beach. It was incredible to view the expansiveness of the bluff from down by the water, plus the sound of the waves was enchanting. We found many beautiful rocks and interesting shells and were always on the lookout for sea life, but didn't have any luck. When we reached the parking lot on the far south end of the beach there were stairs back up to the Bluff Trail. From here we quickly got to the junction with the trail that passed the Ebey houses and headed back to the parking lot.
Ebey's Landing is a wonderful hike that I especially love in the winter. The trail is not that crowded, there are incredible views the entire hike, and I find the sea particularly beautiful during indecisive weather. Add on a ferry ride and making a stop in historic Coupeville and it makes for a great Saturday!
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