Take a break with Mother Nature
Being in nature is the ultimate stress reducer. So write yourself a prescription for Whidbey Island. We have a few places you cannot miss.
Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass State Park is Washington’s most-visited state park for many reasons. Mysterious coves, rugged cliffs, gorgeous sunsets and a stomach-dropping high bridge make this an irresistable destination for locals and far-flung visitors alike. Check out the many trails, including our favorite hike to Goose Rock, the highest elevation on Whidbey Island. (More on Goose Rock below.)
Use the automated pay stations to purchase your one-day pass and boat launch permit.
South Whidbey State Park
This 347-acre day use park is just a 10-minute drive from A Home On The Harbor.
Park features include an old-growth forest (including a 500-year-old cedar tree), lush undergrowth, and tidelands. Admiralty Inlet has 4,500 feet of saltwater shoreline. While beach access is not currently available, you’ll enjoy easy hikes in the woods, bird watching, and great picnic spots.
Use the automated pay stations to purchase your one-day pass, or an annual Discover Pass.
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
This stunning landscape at the gateway to Puget Sound, with its rich farmland and promising seaport, lured the earliest American pioneers north of the Columbia River. Today Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve preserves the historical, agricultural, and cultural traditions of both native and Euro-American—while offering spectacular recreational opportunities.
This location is the best of both worlds: gorgeous working farmland abuts dramatic cliff sides and the stunning views and beaches of Admiralty Inlet waterway. See historical homes and hike the trails for a refreshing and fabulous day in nature.
Bring your sun hat and jacket. You’ll have lots of weather exposure here! Park with your pass in the lower lot, or find a spot in the free upper lot.
Goose Rock
A short, steep hike (.7 miles) from the South Bridge parking lot takes you to the highest point on Whidbey Island. At 484 feet, Goose Rock has unrivaled views of Deception Pass and the surrounding islands. You can even see Victoria, British Columbia on a clear day!
At the top of Goose Rock, hikers are treated to a rare glimpse of a unique ecosystem: rocky balds. Left behind by retreating ice sheets at the end of the last major glaciation, rocky balds are characterized by exposed bedrock (usually granite) with sparse patches of thin soil. Beautiful but delicate wildflowers dot the balds in the spring and summer. The Goose Rock balds are among the most impacted areas in the park. Please stay on the trail so to preserve this unique treasure.
Take your choice of four trails to Goose Rock. The Goose Rock Perimeter Trail runs along the eastern base of the peak and features views of Strawberry Island, Ben Ure Island, and Cornet Bay.
Park at the Deception Pass parking area. Buy your parking pass and one-day park pass on-site.