Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island is one of Washington’s finest state parks. Our recent camping trip reminded me of what a treasure this 651-acre park is with its historical value, camping, and hiking/biking trails. The fort was acquired by Washington State Parks in 1968 and opened to the public in 1981.

Located on the western side of Whidbey Island, Fort Ebey originally was constructed as a coastal defense fort during the Second World War. The fort’s gun battery and underground rooms were built into a hillside and are great fun to explore. From there visitors can walk along the high bluff with magnificent views of Puget Sound’s Admiralty Inlet and Point Wilson Lighthouse across the bay. If you’re in luck, you might catch someone paragliding off the high bluff.

Fort Ebey offers 38 standard and 11 partial hook-up campsites, plus a group camp that accommodates up to 60 people. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at campsites with restrooms close by.

Day-use facilities at the fort offer two reservable log picnic shelters that will accommodate large groups. Several unsheltered picnic tables and BBQ grills are also available in the day-use area on a first-come, first-served basis.

One of the draws of Fort Ebey is its access to Kettles Trails for hiking and biking. Some of the trails are wide and flat, others winding and steep. The area, named for the depressions formed by melting blocks of ice that broke free from an ancient glacier, offers 25 miles of pristine forested trails sprinkled with pink big-leaf rhododendrons in season. Beach walking and surfing are also popular activities at the park.

We love Fort Ebey and over the years have camped there many times. We highly recommend this park for camping, picnicking and as a place to view an historical World War II defense fort.