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Fort Ebey State Park
Planning a multi-day camping stay? You won't run out of things to do at Fort Ebey State Park!
Set on the western side of Whidbey Island, Fort Ebey was constructed as a coastal defense fort during the Second World War. Its battery was dug into a high bluff and is great fun for kids, adult kids and World War II aficionados. Don't forget your headlamp or flashlight. The park's concrete gun emplacements and underground rooms are great for exploration.
Emerging from the battery, you'll find 25 miles of mixed-use walking and bike trails. The bluff trail overlooks Admiralty Inlet and offers peek-a-boo views of Point Wilson Lighthouse across the bay. Douglas-fir and hemlock provide shade along forested trails sprinkled with pink big-leaf rhododendrons in season. One more thing: Fort Ebey sunsets are unbeatable on a clear evening.
Seaweed harvesting is allowed on the beach between April 16 and May 15; be sure to get a seaweed and shellfish license.
Into active outdoor play? Surfing is a popular beach activity, and paragliding is allowed. Paragliders like to take off from the former parade lawn on the bluff. For observers, it's a stunning visual to behold.
Park features
Fort Ebey State Park is a 651-acre camping park on Whidbey Island.
Please note: U.S. Navy jets from nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island periodically fly over the campground while engaged in local training. Depending on the direction of the wind, their flight pattern may put them above the park, creating noisy conditions for campers. At various times during the day and night, the aviators may engage in Field Carrier Landing Practice for imminent operations aboard aircraft carriers. The park and naval station have been neighbors since 1942, and park staff stays in regular contact with officials at NAS Whidbey Island. We will do our best to notify campers of anticipated Field Carrier Landing Practice periods. Although State Parks cannot be responsible for the jet noise, we do share visitor concerns with representatives of Naval Air Station Whidbey.
ADA amenities/facilities
- Campground
- Restroom
- Hiking trail
Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities.
Picnic & day-use facilities
The park has 25 unsheltered picnic tables. Picnic sites are located at the Gun Battery, the beach area, and the Point Partridge area. All unsheltered picnic tables are first come, first served. There are two reservable log picnic shelters. The shelter areas have two covered picnic tables, two uncovered picnic tables, and two large BBQ grills. One shelter is located near the beach area and has a medium size grass area. The second shelter is located at the Gun Battery picnic area and has a grass area. The Beach picnic shelter will accommodate up to 50 people. The Gun Battery picnic shelter will accommodate up to 150 people.
An additional Special Activity Permit is required for group activities and events such as wedding ceremonies, races, other sports events etc. For additional information and a permit contact the park at (360) 678-4636.
Activities
Trails
- 25 miles of biking and hiking trails
Water activities & features
- Fishing (freshwater)
Other activities & features
- Amphitheater
- Beach exploration
- Bird watching
- Mountain biking
- Paragliding
- Park store
Interpretive opportunities
Visitors may explore concrete bunkers built for the original military fort in 1942.
Additional information
- There are two large fields that will accommodate sports activities, but there are no nets or field-markings.
- There is a popular surfing area on the park's saltwater shoreline.
- Seaweed harvesting is allowed at this park from April 16 - May 15 with a seaweed and shellfish license.
- Lake Pondilla has limited fishing for smallmouth bass. The short walk to the lake is not vehicle accessible.
- A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- Printable park brochure (PDF).
Campsite information
The park has 39 standard campsites, 11 partial-hookup sites with electricity and water hook-ups, one water trail campsite available only to campers who arrive at the park in human-powered watercraft, one restroom (ADA), and two showers (one ADA). Maximum site length will accommodate most extra-large RVs (limited availability). There is no trailer dump station available at this park. The reservation season runs March 1 through Oct. 15.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.
Group accommodations
The park provides a group camp that accommodates up to 60 people. The camp is located on a bluff down the Point Partridge Road. A vault toilet and running water are at the site. Flush toilets and showers are a five-minute walk down an easy trail. Minimum number of people is 20 with a maximum of 60. Maximum number of cars is 30. The group camp is open April 1 through Oct. 31.
Reservations & fees
Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.
Services & Supplies
Firewood, ice, water, and t-shirts are available for sale at the park office.
Historical information
Established in 1942, Fort Ebey was one of the last forts built in the Puget Sound harbor defense system. Its single fortification, Battery 248, was designed with the newest technology available, including radar to help aim the guns and camouflage to hide the battery from aerial view. Two 6-inch shielded guns were mounted at Fort Ebey in 1943.
Though the fort was manned until 1948, it was declared surplus in 1947. The system of coastal fortifications to defense U.S. harbors became obsolete after World War II.
Fort Ebey sits on the traditional territory of the Lower Skagit tribe, a southern Coast Salish-speaking people who hunted large mammals and harvested Camas bulbs, roots, nuts and berries on the land, and used the waters for fishing and shellfish harvesting. The area was homesteaded in the 1850s.
The fort was acquired by Washington State Parks in 1968 and opened to the public in 1981.