Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is a National Historical Reserve in Washington. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Ebey's Landing
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Ebey's Landing. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Ebey's Landing the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:57 AM | 8:48 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:44 PM | 239° | 8h 47m |
| February | 7:19 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:33 PM | 252° | 10h 15m |
| March | 7:25 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:16 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:19 PM | 8:01 PM | 286° | 13h 40m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:44 PM | 300° | 15h 12m |
| June | 5:11 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:14 PM | 308° | 16h 03m |
| July | 5:27 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:08 PM | 305° | 15h 41m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:26 PM | 292° | 14h 20m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:25 PM | 276° | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:31 AM | 8:14 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:23 PM | 258° | 10h 52m |
| November | 7:19 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:34 PM | 243° | 9h 15m |
| December | 7:56 AM | 8:50 AM | 3:24 PM | 4:18 PM | 235° | 8h 22m |
Computed for the park's reference point (48.2140, -122.6877); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ebey's Landing, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through July. May gives the longest window (about 1.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 3:48 AM – 4:18 AM | 0.5 | 12° |
| May | 1:52 AM – 2:52 AM | 1.0 | 13° |
| June | 12:37 AM – 1:37 AM | 1.0 | 13° |
| July | 11:58 PM – 12:48 AM | 0.8 | 12° |
| August | 10:33 PM – 10:53 PM | 0.3 | 11° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Fall and Winter often bring blustery and rainy weather, and while winter storm watching might be fun from the many beaches within the Reserve, it's important to watch for high waves and logs coming ashore. Always dress appropriately for the weather, which can change suddenly from warm to chilly very quickly.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (83%). August is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. The island is easily accessible from the mainland by vehicle via Washington State Route 20 from Burlington and aboard the Washington State Ferries from either Mukilteo or Port Townsend.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Sailing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Paddling
- Canoeing
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