The Olympic Mountain range serves as a backdrop. Views of Puget Sound extend from Bay Street to Manchester. Evergreens dominate the landscape coming down Mile Hill Drive.
Everyone who has visited or lived in the South Kitsap area knows that it offers a unique, and sometimes stunning, landscape. And with so much geographic diversity, that usually means good walking and hiking options.
Prior to thinking of this column, I never had visited any trails in the area. For reference, I went visitkitsap.com and chose some destinations to chronicle. I didn’t get to them all, but here are my observations on some trails the area offers:
Banner Forest Heritage Park: Get ready for a workout. The trails here are as wide as any in the area. That’s because they not only are designed for hikers, but those who might enjoy a leisurely walk with the dog or the intensity of a bike ride.
Be careful not to sprain an ankle — several areas along the 635-acre plot are rocky — and take some time to view the scenery. I didn’t see any bears, but I did watch a monarch and a squirrel snacking from a raspberry bush.
Howe Farm: There’s no suspense when it comes to the trails here. Historic Howe Farm is visible as one enters the parking lot and there really aren’t any better views from the trails.
The trails are pretty ordinary — wooden with some roots in the paths, but otherwise easy to navigate.
Manchester State Park: Take the steep incline up from the parking lot and there’s a chain-link fence to the right with vegetation on the other side. And the hike only gets better from there.
As the trail continues, slight images of the beach begin to emerge. An opening arrives before long, which is a nice opportunity to enjoy sunlight on a beautiful afternoon. The path then leads back into a wooden area with a long stairway leading to a cliff above the beach.
The reward for advancing to this point is the view of Puget Sound from several locations. Watch the birds, glance at the houses across the water or even a ferry in the distance. Afterward, go check out the beach and the large boulder in one area.
McCormick Woods Trails: The golf course is more than enough for most visitors, but there are plenty of trails in this area to satisfy those looking for an adventure.
Beyond the turnoff for the golf course, I found the Huckleberry Trail. The trial provides an immediate obstacle as a fallen tree blocks the narrow path, but I didn’t have much difficulty clearing it. The highlight of this hike comes shortly after with a bridge across a small stream.
There are periodic benches carved from trees for who are looking for a break or just want to take in the scenes for a little longer. Just don’t count on enjoying huckleberries. I only encountered a few and didn’t try any.
Dogs on-leash are welcome until the course branches off into Grouse Trail, which is limited to hikers. The pathway on Grouse is wider, and it’s easy to determine just how much of an adventure you seek with frequent posted directions.
South Kitsap Community Park: The playground area and basketball courts seem more popular, but there is a trail here nestled in the woods. There are several entrance markers for the trail, but it’s choose your own adventure after that. Even though the trail forks in different directions without directions, the course is short enough that there’s little concern about getting lost.
The trail is flat and wide, which makes it an easy walk and a good place to bring along a dog. That aren’t really any distinguishable features — just the typical trees and ferns — but it’s a peaceful, quick getaway from one of the busier areas in Port Orchard.
Wynn-Jones Preserve: Nearby Beach Road is great for walking and biking with its stunning views of Puget Sound, but this trail strictly is for hiking.
There’s a small area to park near Wynn-Jones Road and a paved road uphill leads to the trail. Beyond that, there’s no semblance of urban life. Wynn-Jones is about as close to venturing directly into a forest as possible. There’s a bridge near the beginning, but the trail becomes increasingly narrow. Wearing long-legged clothing is a good idea on this trail as sticker bushes become an obstacle in some areas.
If you’re willing to brave some sloppy and unmaintained areas in the trail, the reward is views of oversized trees and just basking in nature itself.
And enjoy whatever South Kitsap trail you elect to try.
