Park overview:
Fort Ebey State Park, a 645-acre camping park on Whidbey Island, was originally built as a coastal defense fort in World War II. Concrete platforms mark the gun locations. The park has three miles of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a freshwater lake for fishing, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
Planning project at Fort Ebey State ParkCampsite Information:
The park has 40 standard campsites, ten utility campsites 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 is 100 feet (limited availability). There is no trailer dump station available at this park. To reserve a campsite, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
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 Rd. 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. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Camping Fees:
Please note that the following
general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not
all fees will apply to
all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).
2010 FeesAn additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hoursCheck-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round for camping and day use.
Camping:
Check-in time: 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time: 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Camping note: The primitive hiker/ biker campsites have been moved from the Lake Pondilla Natural Area to a new area near the Gun Battery picnic area. There are four sites available with one central group campfire area. Each site has a tent space and picnic table. Restrooms are approximately 400 feet away at the nearest picnic area. These sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis for nonmotorized hiker/biker arrivals only.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| Partial |
| Partial |
| Open |
| Open |
| None |
| None |
|
Schedule Note:
Campsites 33-50 and group camp close Nov. 1, reopen April 1.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located on Whidbey Island, two miles north of Coupeville, Wash., and eight miles south of Oak Harbor, Wash. in Island County.
Park address:
400 Hill Valley Drive
Coupeville, WA 98239
From Seattle:
Take exit #189 off of I-5, just south of Everett. Follow signs for the Mukilteo/ Clinton ferry. Take the ferry to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Follow Hwy. 525 north, which becomes Hwy. 20. Two miles north of Coupeville, turn left on Libbey Rd. and follow it 1.5 miles to Hill Valley Dr. Turn left and enter park.
From Mount Vernon:
Take Burlington exit #230 and follow signs toward Whidbey Island on Hwy. 20. Once on Whidbey Island, follow Hwy. 20 south, eight miles past Oak Harbor. Turn right on Libbey Rd. and follow it 1.5 miles to Hill Valley Dr. Turn left and enter park.
Port Townsend/Keystone Ferry route alert: This ferry route is currently using a smaller vessel that carries up to 50 cars. Tidal cancellations and sold out sailings can be expected. Reservations are encouraged for trucks and cars with trailers or RV’s weighing 6,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. at least 1 day prior to sailing. To make reservations call (206) 464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977. For updated information, visit the
Washington State Ferries Web site. Park Maps
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Fort Ebey downloadable pdf map #1
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
Panoramic views of the Puget Sound shoreline, the Olympic Mountains and sunsets. The park features para-gliding, surfing and gun batteries to explore. Eagles may be viewed at Lake Pondilla.
History
Fort Ebey, constructed in 1942, was named after the pioneer commander of the 1855 militia stationed on an island in Ebey Slough. The park stands on the site of a World War II gun battery which had two six-inch guns in place during the war. The guns were later removed and scrapped.
Interpretive opportunities
Visitors may explore concrete bunkers built for the original military fort in 1942.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Camping
• Fire wood
| • Auto repair
• Camping
• Diesel
• Fishing/hunting
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Golf
• Groceries
• Hardware
• Hospital
• Marine supplies
• Overnight Accommodations
• Postal service
• Propane
• Recreational equipment
• White gas
• Wood
• Swimming
|
Firewood, ice, water and t-shirts are available for sale at the park office. Most other services are available nearby.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 28 mi. Hiking Trails
• 25 mi. Bike Trails
| • Fishing (freshwater)
| • 1 Amphitheater
• Beachcombing
• Bird Watching
• Interpretive Activities
• Mountain Biking
• Paragliding
|
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.
|
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and 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. For reservations, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Otters
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Owls
• Pheasants
• Quail
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| • Crabs
• Sea Birds
• Seals
• Shellfish
• Whales
• Bass
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
The area around the park is known for its "kettles," large depressions left in the earth by receding glaciers some 15,000 years ago.
| | • Cedar
• Douglas Fir
• Hemlock
• Spruce
• Yew
• Alder
• Birch
• Poplar
• Daisy
• Lupines
• Rhododendron
• Rose
• Berries
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
• Seaweed
|
|
Park photo gallery