The hot spot in Washington for outdoors activities is the north Kitsap Peninsula, where adventure meets vision. Biking and kayaking lead the pack in interest, in part because of the country roads, protected waters, and the chance to appreciate stops at the Suquamish waterfront, historic Port Gamble, the lighthouse at Hansville and Norwegian-flavored Poulsbo.
The vision started with Olympic Property Group, which owns 8,000 acres and is the biggest property owner in Kitsap County. The concept is to connect the String of Pearls—communities along the extensive shoreline—with land and water trails for paddlers, hikers, runners, bikers and horseback riders.
The corporation is easing out of the forest business and has, on paper, subdivided its property into large lots. But it also has been working with residents and government authorities to create a large segment of open space.
John Kuntz, owner of Outdoor Olympic Center in Poulsbo and is also the director of the North Kitsap Water Trails system, has been involved with the initiative.
“We think we’ll be able to create a trail system that is one of the best in the country. And we have the resources for it,” he said. “I’m biased [but] I think it’s one of the premiere areas in the U.S., the world for that matter.
Northwest Adventure Sports Expo
The first Northwest Adventure Sports Expo was held May 8–9 in Port Gamble that offered beginners to learn new sports such as kayaking, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboards. It is planned to be an annual event.
Paddle Kitsap encourages riders of all skills
to participate in the 35-mile paddle from
Port Gamble to Olympia. Photo by Jean Boyle
Paddle Kitsap
Kuntz is also the founder of the annual two-day 35-mile Paddle Kitsap scheduled for Aug. 6–7. “I was so frustrated with people not believing in themselves,” Kuntz said. “We’d talk about paddling and they’d say, ‘I can’t go that far!’ We needed to create a challenge for paddlers and open it up to beginner paddlers.
“Paddle Kitsap is like a bike tour. You can get off and on it, there are power boats for rescue, rest stops and lunch stops. It’s a social event wrapped around paddling, with live music and beer gardens.”
Rookie and expert kayakers can enjoy the route that is purposely scheduled for August which takes advantage of prevailing winds and tides from Port Gamble to Poulsbo.
Click Here to Register for Paddle Kitsap . . .
Puget Sound Challenge
A lengthier event the same weekend as Paddle Kitsap is the Olympic Kayak Club’s Puget Sound Challenge, a 150-mile paddle from Port Townsend to Olympia.
PSC helps support the Washington Water Trails Association and the North Kitsap Trails Association’s String of Pearls project.
“The Puget Sound area is one of finest kayaking places in the entire world,” said club director David Fisher.
Fisher, an experienced kayaker, has a favorite paddle—the well-named Foulweather Bluff.
“It’s fun to go out there and enjoy a calm day paddling or get up there and paddle in a washing machine,” he said. “The point is that all skill levels can be rewarded according to your ability and it can be as safe as you want or you can make it as exciting as you want, and I like that.”
Tour de Kitsap
The peninsula is friendly to more than paddlers. Bill Abbey of West Sound Cycling is involved with the annual Tour de Kitsap, this year scheduled for July 25.
“We try to make it friendly for whoever wants to come,” said Abbey. “There’s a 15-mile ride for those who don’t ride all the time, which is pretty flat and easy. Any kid can do it.”
Other loops are a 30-mile ride with a few more hills, a 65-mile ride (“a challenge to people from the other side of the water who are used to flat”), and a 100-mile ride (“even if you’re in pretty good shape, it’s a challenge but then again, you’ve got all day”). All rides start in Silverdale.
Matt Slaney explores one of the Port Gamble
trails on the Kitsap Peninsula. Photo by John Hawkins
There’s also a single-track event beginning in Port Gamble July 24, which is mostly off-road on forest land.
“Talk about getting away. In a mile, you’re really away,” Abbey said.
John Hawkins is with the mountain biking club Northwest Trail Riders. Mountain bikers often take advantage of Olympic Property Group’s land around Port Gamble, which has an extensive trail system for mountain bikers of all levels, he said.
Stop at the visitor information center or the Port Gamble General Store for maps. Or download a map at www.portgamble.com (search for “trails”).
2010 Puget Sound Challenge
Take on 13 segments of a 150-nautical mile paddle from Fort Worden to Olympia to raise awareness and support Washington State’s water trails in the Puget Sound Challenge. The challenge is to complete the entire course in one year, individually or as a team. The segments can be paddled at any time, or can be enjoyed all in one continuous trip. The Olympic Kayak Club has scheduled group paddles for all 13 segments, now through October. All are welcome to participate. For more information or to register for the Puget Sound Challenge visit the Olympic Kayak Club’s website at www.olympickayakclub.com.
Poulsbo
Poulsbo is an excellent place to start a ride or paddle.
It’s a town with a sense of humor (“Parking for Leprechauns Only” sign); three bakeries, including the iconic Sluy’s; a bookstore with a blue steeple; and its biggest secret: Marina Market’s amazing collection of licorice and candy from around the world.
What you might not expect to see is Northwest Boat Rentals’ extremely quiet electric boats. Tugboat captain Bill Archer has a fleet of rental electric boats, canoes, speed boats and sailboats. www.northwestboatrentals.com/
Travel writers Sharon Wootton and Maggie Savage are co-authors of “Off the Beaten Path” and can be reached at (360)468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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