livingbeyondseattle.com/outdoors. James Bergstrom, Founder/Broker, Paramount Real Estate Group. (360) 777-7212
The map
24 parks, preserves and state forests on and around the peninsula. Tap a dot for its name.
- Forest and trails
- Public shoreline
- Forest and shoreline
What's close to each community
Up to four places within 20 minutes, or the two closest if fewer are that near. Minutes are by road from each town center with no traffic, so an exact address can be closer or farther.
| Community | Closest protected land, with minutes by car |
|---|---|
| Kingston | North Kitsap Heritage Park (8), Point No Point Park (22) |
| Hansville | Point No Point Park (5), Foulweather Bluff Preserve (6), North Kitsap Heritage Park (18) |
| Port Gamble | Kitsap Memorial State Park (10), North Kitsap Heritage Park (14), Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park (19) |
| Poulsbo | North Kitsap Heritage Park (14), Kitsap Memorial State Park (14), Fay Bainbridge Park (20) |
| Suquamish | North Kitsap Heritage Park (7), Fay Bainbridge Park (14), Grand Forest (17) |
| Indianola | North Kitsap Heritage Park (8), Kitsap Memorial State Park (26) |
| Bainbridge Island | Grand Forest (7), Gazzam Lake and Close Beach (8), Fay Bainbridge Park (13) |
| Silverdale | Newberry Hill Heritage Park (7), Illahee Preserve (12), Illahee State Park (17), Scenic Beach State Park (20) |
| Seabeck | Scenic Beach State Park (5), Newberry Hill Heritage Park (11), Guillemot Cove (14) |
| East Bremerton | Illahee State Park (5), Illahee Preserve (6) |
| West Bremerton | Illahee Preserve (11), Illahee State Park (11), Newberry Hill Heritage Park (17), Coulter Creek Heritage Park (18) |
| Port Orchard | Square Lake (12), Manchester State Park (13), Banner Forest Heritage Park (15), Coulter Creek Heritage Park (15) |
| Manchester | Manchester State Park (6), Banner Forest Heritage Park (11), Anderson Point Park (18) |
| Olalla | Anderson Point Park (4), Banner Forest Heritage Park (9) |
| Gig Harbor | Kopachuck State Park (12), Anderson Point Park (22) |
| Belfair | Belfair State Park (6), Coulter Creek Heritage Park (11), Square Lake (14), Tahuya State Forest (15) |
| Allyn | Belfair State Park (15), Coulter Creek Heritage Park (19) |
Every place, and what it takes to get in
State parks and DNR forests need a Discover Pass: $45 a year or $10 a day. Fees and rules change, so check before you go.
| Place | Size | Pass | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foulweather Bluff Preserve | About 100 acres | No pass listed | Beach and short forest trail. Daylight only, no dogs. |
| Point No Point Park | About 60 acres | No pass listed | Beach walks and the 1879 lighthouse. |
| Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park | About 3,500 acres | Check first | Hiking, biking, horses and paddling. |
| North Kitsap Heritage Park | About 800 acres | No pass listed | Hiking, biking and horses near Kingston. |
| Kitsap Memorial State Park | About 60 acres | Discover Pass | Camping and beach on Hood Canal. |
| Fay Bainbridge Park | About 17 acres | Check first | Camping and beach on the north end of the island. |
| Grand Forest | About 240 acres | No pass listed | Forest trails for hiking, horses and bikes. |
| Gazzam Lake and Close Beach | Size not confirmed | No pass listed | Lake, forest and a beach trail. |
| Illahee Preserve | About 600 acres | No pass listed | About five miles of forest trails in East Bremerton. |
| Illahee State Park | About 82 acres | Discover Pass | Camping, dock and beach on Port Orchard Bay. |
| Newberry Hill Heritage Park | About 1,100 acres | No pass listed | Hiking, biking and horses west of Silverdale. |
| Scenic Beach State Park | 88 acres, 1,500 ft of shoreline | Discover Pass | Hood Canal beach and Olympic views near Seabeck. |
| Guillemot Cove | 184 acres | No pass listed | Coastal trail on Hood Canal. No dogs. |
| Green Mountain State Forest | About 6,000 acres | Discover Pass | Hiking, biking, horses and motorcycles. |
| Manchester State Park | 111 acres, 3,400 ft of shoreline | Discover Pass | Historic military buildings, beach, camping and diving. |
| Banner Forest Heritage Park | About 635 acres | No pass listed | Hiking, biking and horses in South Kitsap. |
| Square Lake | Size not confirmed | No pass listed | Quiet fishing and picnics. No longer a state park. |
| Anderson Point Park | 66 acres, about 2,000 ft of shoreline | No pass listed | Forest trail down to a quiet beach. Daylight only. |
| Coulter Creek Heritage Park | Over 1,000 acres | Check first | Mostly undeveloped, with some mountain biking. |
| Tahuya State Forest | About 23,000 acres | Discover Pass | About 84 miles of trails, including ORV routes. |
| Belfair State Park | About 94 acres | Discover Pass | Camping and saltwater swimming on Hood Canal. |
| Twanoh State Park | 188 acres | Discover Pass | Swimming, camping and a boat launch on Hood Canal. |
| Kopachuck State Park | About 109 acres | Discover Pass | Beach, moorage and diving near Gig Harbor. |
| Penrose Point State Park | 237 acres, about 2 miles of shoreline | Discover Pass | Camping, beach and biking on the Key Peninsula. |
Sources: Washington State Parks, Washington DNR, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Trails Association and Visit Kitsap. “No pass listed” means the sources we checked don't show one. Confirm county park rules with Kitsap County Parks.
Beach access that comes with the home
Some communities have a private beach through a deeded easement or a community club. Your home search won't reliably tell you which, and “beach rights” in a listing is only a starting point.
| Community | What it offers | How access works, per its own site |
|---|---|---|
| Driftwood Key, Hansville | Private beach, marina and boat launch | Covenant-controlled association of 700+ properties, with a new-member fee |
| Twanoh Falls Beach Club, Belfair | 400 ft private beach, pier and dock | Private club. Confirm who qualifies |
| Holiday Beach Home Tracts, Near Hoodsport | Beach, private dock and clubhouse | Owner-based, about 60 members |
| Lakeland Village, Allyn | Lake Anderson beach and swim docks. This is a lake, not saltwater | For club members and their guests |
These are examples we could confirm from each community's own published information, not a complete list. Other neighborhoods have access too.
Read the title report
Ask for the recorded easement or covenants. Those documents decide who holds the right, whether it transfers to you, and where the access is.
Ask about dues and rules
Find out whether membership is automatic or optional, what it costs, and how the club handles guests, boats and upkeep.
Walk it at high tide
Some beaches nearly disappear. And Puget Sound stays cold all year, so plan your gear before you plan your swim.
Watch: Kitsap's hidden parks and beaches
Looking for trails out the back door?
Tell James what you want to do on a free morning. He'll point you to the neighborhoods that fit.
