The Kingston Parks, Trails & Open Space Committee has put together a list to help locals and those who just moved to the area find their next adventure.
Arness Park: It is a little roadside park at the head of Apple Tree Cove on South Kingston Road. Whether from a picnic table or from the comfort of your car it is a spot to relax and take in the panoramas of Apple Tree Cove, Kingston and the mountains beyond. Though not a great spot for a walk, it has one of only two public access beaches in Kingston. Kids love to swim and wade along the sandy shores.
A Quiet Place Park: Several short trails loop through a 10-acre stand of second-growth forest of maple, alder, fir and cedars perched high above Puget Sound. The bluff trail looks down on lush fern bowl and offers peek-a-boo views across the Sound of Edmonds and Seattle. The walking is easy with only a gradual gain and loss of elevation. The longer outside loop is just over half a mile.
Village Green Park: In 2006 Kingston acquired property for a new community center. Three years later 150 volunteers and a few contractors cleared part of the site rubble, blackberries and weeds and developed it into a little park. The large grassy field makes a great place to enjoy a stroll while your kids can enjoy the swings and other playground equipment. The small adjacent pavilion provides cover for a picnic in case of inclement weather. There is even an adjacent tennis/pickleball court.
Kingston North Beach (Saltair Park): Kingston’s “North Beach” is just north of the ferry terminal. You can park for two hours at the marina, and then walk along the west side of the ferry holding area to stairs that take you to the beach. This beach is a fine place to look at marine and bird life. The easy access and smooth terrain make it a good choice for a walk with children, and it would be hard to beat this spot for a sandy play date or picnic. With a really low tide, it is possible to walk all the way to Hansville.
The Kingston-Eglon Trail: It is located on state Department of Natural Resources land between Kingston and Eglon. It begins at the north end of Parcells Road. After the pavement ends at the metal gate there is a small parking area. The first half is on an old logging road through recently harvested forest. Go right where the road forks and begin a gradual descent along a narrow trail to Eglon Road. This narrower section of the trail travels through second-growth woods and some thick stands of thimbleberry. The trail is generally manageable but has one washed-out section that requires care to negotiate. At about a mile and a half long walking it at a leisurely pace took about an hour for the three-mile round trip.
Whisper Creek GPC/PUD 1 Trails: Who would guess that there is a beautiful ravine full of wooded trails just a stone’s throw from downtown Kingston? This area is not a park, but rather publicly accessible land owned by Kingston’s Public Utility District 1. Located on the west side of Ohio Avenue, this deep ravine and the hillsides above tiny “Whisper Creek” provide some quiet hiking through deeply wooded forest and wetland. Hiking north along the stream you can see a classic variety of wetland plants. The sometimes steep and muddy terrain may make this a challenging area for young children. Start your walk by going west from the small path at the intersection of Ohio and 4th avenues. The trail goes north where the path dips down where it crosses the creek. You can also park at A Quiet Place Park on Ohio Avenue and walk down the street toward town until you find the steep flight of stairs on the right, which is one trailhead.
Carpenter Lake Trail: This preserve is easily accessible to young and old. The trail begins at the far end of the Gordon Elementary School parking lot. The gravel trail is wide as it descends about a quarter mile through a wooded area to the lake and a viewing platform. A sturdy boardwalk continues over the meadow and bog to a second large and comfortable viewing platform in Carpenter Lake. This is a good place to take some photos, do some painting and drawing, or just enjoy a secluded part of Kingston. You may notice large “reed islands” drifting around the lake.
Stillwaters Trails: Stillwaters Environmental Center is close to downtown Kingston at 26059 Barber Cut Off Rd. They welcome visitors to enjoy their trails, which are easy and appropriate for children. You can stop at the office to pick up a map and then walk the trails at your leisure. An hour will give you plenty of time to enjoy the trail system. The “Salt Marsh Platform” is a nice destination with a view.
Indianola Woodland Preserve: This preserve is located on the north side of Indianola Road just opposite Gerald Cliff Avenue. There is parking for a few cars across from the fenced public utility station. The trailhead is just a few steps up the hill on the left side of the drive. The preserve is 77 acres, and the well-marked trail is just a mile long. The loop trail goes through a mature forest of alder, maple and fir. It is narrow and primitive, steep in places, but well maintained. There are some attractive open groves of cedar near the top of the hill.
White Horse Trail: Named after the golf course through which it passes, it combines with a section of North Kitsap Heritage Park to provide a link between Kingston and Indianola. It is one of the few paved trails in the area making it a good location for people with disabilities or for strollers. However, the northern end does have a few steep places. It is best accessed at the southern end near the Indianola Fire Station. Some parking is also available at the small dirt lot west of the White Horse clubhouse parking area.
Heritage Parks: As many people are aware North Kitsap and Port Gamble Heritage parks are also located near Kingston. These are large parks with many miles of trails. NKHP, for example, covers about 800 acres and has about 12 miles of trails. PGFHP is even larger, covering some 3,500 acres and over 60 miles of trails. To obtain more information about how to access them go to the Kitsap County Parks Department website and click on “Find Your Park.”
Another park in Kingston is Kola Kole Park, while Hansville offers a wide range of options such as Buck Lake Park, Norwegian Point Park, Point No Point Lighthouse, Hansville Greenway and Foulweather Bluff Preserve Trail.
