Basics
- Length:
- 48 miles (77 km)
- Time:
- Allow 1 hour and 15 minutes, plus a 20 minute ferry ride.
Description
Take a ferry ride over to the tiny town of Clinton, where the Whidbey Island Scenic Isle Way begins. You'll embark on a tour of beach towns, ocean scenery, and fascinating nature.
Offering a selection of shops for both residents and travelers alike, Clinton is the perfect place to gather supplies for the road. Spend a few hours to enjoy fishing at Deer Lake or Possession Point County Park and stretch your legs after the ferry ride to the island.
Situated on a short bluff is the town of Langley, overlooking the waters of Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains. Art galleries and antique shops await your exploration along the streets of this tiny artist village. Unwind at the end of a day among historic buildings and miniature parks in a boutique hotel. Dig for clams along the shores of Freeland Park and watch the boaters and wind surfers. Take a short trip to the Admiralty Inlet to visit the Admiralty Lighthouse. Double Bluff Beach is dotted with pieces of driftwood and offers spectacular views of Seattle and Mt. Rainier. The nearby Keller Timber Track is a great place for springtime berry picking.
As you continue north along Whidbey's western shoreline, stop by the South Whidbey State Park. Walk on the meandering trails that take you through old growth Douglas-fir and bigleaf maple trees, then travel along rugged beaches to spot gray whales surfacing in the water. The town of Greenbank is only a short drive away and is home to the Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens and the Historic Greenbank Farm. In the early spring, the Rhododendron Gardens provide trails that wind through drifts of tulips and daffodils. In the summer, sample a loganberry pie or shop around the farmer's market at the Greenbank Farm.
Underground bunkers await exploration at Fort Casey State Park, which once guarded Puget Sound from invasion by sea. Sweeping views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are available from the high bluffs. Nearby is the town of Coupeville with its charming antique stores and nearby attractions such as Fort Ebey State Park and Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve. Walk among the concrete platforms that mark gun locations at Fort Ebey, which once defended the coast during World War II.
Finish your trip in a saltwater canyon at the end of the island at Deception Pass State Park, one of Washington's most popular state parks. As you hike through the park, take a look at ocean waterfalls that move through the canyon at tide changes. An impressive suspension bridge stretches over a fjord and connects Whidbey Island to the mainland of Washington.
Whidbey Island is easy to get to, but you may find it difficult to leave. Some of the prettiest seaside towns lie cradled among sandy beaches and stunning landscapes of forests and saltwater waterfalls. Whether you are picking berries or exploring the remains of a World War II fort, there is always something to discover at Whidbey Island.
