Island County: Nature, Trails and History

When looking for hotels in Island County, it can help to first decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay: coastal scenery and water, trails through wooded areas, or cultural history. The destinations offer different ways to explore these interests. You can shape your stay around the activities you enjoy most.

Coasts, Forests and Water

Deception Pass State Park spans two islands. Its landscape includes rugged sea cliffs and old-growth forests. Boating is possible on both fresh and salt water, and there are five boat ramps. You can also explore the park on foot: its trail network covers almost ten miles, and the summit of Goose Rock offers sweeping views. You can also access the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail in the park.

At Camano Island State Park, wooded trails meet a rocky shoreline. The views stretch across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. Four-mile loop trails wind through the forest and are suitable for hiking or biking. Visitors can also watch orcas, seals, porpoises and gray whales. This brings scenery and the possibility of wildlife viewing together in one place, while Deception Pass State Park also offers boating on two types of water.

Trails for Hiking and Biking

The Kettles Trails extend for more than 30 miles through glacial kettles and nearly 900 acres of densely forested land. Paved trails connect the network to Coupeville and Rhododendron County Park. On Camano Island, Cama Beach Historical State Park offers up to 15 miles of park trails for walking or biking. The two state parks therefore offer different trail lengths and landscapes: forest loops at Camano Island State Park and an extensive trail system at Cama Beach Historical State Park.

Smaller trail networks can also be worth considering when planning. Fort Casey Historical State Park has 1.8 miles of hiking trails; off its coast, diving is possible at Keystone Underwater Dive Park. Fort Ebey State Park includes a historic military fort. Meerkerk Gardens combines 10 acres of display gardens with 43 acres of wooded nature trails. At Price Sculpture Forest, forest trails and natural habitats complement the outdoor art; the site is experienced as an interactive outdoor museum. A free, self-guided tour provides descriptions of the sculptures and videos featuring the sculptors involved.

Historic Places and Exhibits

Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve preserves the historic, agricultural and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples and Euro-American communities. Coupeville is one of Washington's oldest towns and the only town within the reserve. You can stroll along historic Front Street. A remnant of a historic wagon road is also preserved in a ravine, marking the route between the Landing and Ebey's Landing Ferry House. The Ferry House was intended to serve as a tavern and lodging for ferry travelers.

The Island County Historical Museum also focuses on the region's past. The “Native People, Native Places” exhibit highlights three rare dugout canoes, as well as Indigenous baskets, stone and wooden objects, artworks and artifacts from the region. The Dale Conklin Prehistory Exhibit displays remains of a Columbian mammoth and provides information about the last Ice Age. The topics range from cultural traditions to traces of prehistoric landscapes.

Getting Around and Seasonal Activities

Washington State Route 20 from the mainland is one listed route to Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. Island Transit offers free bus service across Whidbey Island, from Clinton to Deception Pass State Park. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current schedule before your trip.

Cama Beach Historical State Park offers weekly park interpretation programs from mid-June through Labor Day; check the dates for the relevant year in advance. The Penn Cove Water Festival brings the historic Coupeville Water Festival back each year. The program includes Indigenous canoe races, entertainment, arts and crafts, and culture. Dates vary from year to year. The Pacific Rim Institute offers a different kind of nature experience: its grounds cover 175 acres and include three ecosystems that can be experienced year-round. Its trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Discover more destinations: Oak Harbor, Langley, Coupeville, Camano Island, Greenbank, Bells Beach, Whatcom, Whitman County.

For the main travel overview: Washington.