Discover the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail
By Anne Erickson | Photos courtesy of Visit Kitsap Peninsula
Picture the perfect paddle through nighttime waters that shimmer with bioluminescent plankton. Or afloat in a sunny bay, startled by whale-exhales as black dorsal fins and white spotted backs break the surface and orcas cruise close enough that you now know what orca breath smells like (ask any boater who’s been close enough, it smells fishy). Or simply sitting still, adrift and silent as the sun melts into the Salish Sea, before heading back to your campsite to sauté the Dungeness crab you just pulled from the bay. Any of these experiences can be yours along the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail (KPNWT) - an extraordinary escape where unlimited wonders await discovery.
The very first nationally recognized salt water trail in the US winds along 371 miles of splendid shoreline and scenery on the Kitsap Peninsula. The water trail was officially designated by the National Park Service in 2014, but these same waterways are an eons old way of life, providing transport, sustenance and culture to the people of the Suquamish Tribe and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe for generations.
John Kuntz, owner of Olympic Outdoor Center and leader of the group that took the trail from concept to reality can’t believe the trail will celebrate 10 years in 2024. “It’s incredible, I’m flabbergasted,” Kuntz said, explaining that it took dozens of stakeholders from 3 counties, 15 port districts, 3 cities and 2 tribes, all paddling together to make it happen. He stresses that the KPNWT isn’t just for kayakers - this special place is for anyone who wants a more salty life, whether they venture by land or by sea. “It’s for everybody,” said Kuntz. “Hey you have a public beach, you have a place to go.” Stops along the trail include both places accessible by car and places you can only get to by sail, paddle or ‘beachable watercraft’. Many trail stops have campsites that are only accessible by boat - that alone is an excellent excuse to hit the water instead of the roads during the busy, and often booked, PNW summer.
Orcas, gray whales and even humpbacks make appearances on the trail, especially in the waters adjacent to Puget Sound. Sightings of marine mammals like river otters, harbor seals and sea lions are practically guaranteed. Explore the waters of Miller Bay near Suquamish or Silverdale’s Chico Creek drainage in the fall the water will be filled with flashes and splashes of silver - salmon heading home to spawn. Or, paddle by the light of the moon, as your kayak leaves a trail of sparks on the water - bioluminescence kayaking tours out of Port Gamble Bay are a magical midsummer excursion.
Sourdough Willy's is located in Kingston, Washington. Photo ©Serotonin Creative.
Sourdough Willy's pizza dough starter is 129 years old! Photo ©Serotonin Creative.
Being on or near the water is hungry work, and there are plenty of great eats within walking distance of trail stops. Put in at the Kingston Marina and grab a fresh poke bowl at Ono Poke II, or pizza made from sourdough that’s more than a century old from Sourdough Willy’s. They sell by the slice but if you settle in and order Willy’s Detroit style pizza (yes, he’s a real person) with a lacy crust of crispy cheese, you will never forget it. Paddle (or drive) to Poulsbo’s waterfront and get in line at Sluy’s Bakery to pick up a dinner-plate sized ‘viking donut’ or grab a cardamom braid if they haven’t run out. And if you’re still feeling adventurous after your adventure on the water, try a lutefisk taco from Slippery Pig Brewing if you dare. Prefer to DIY? Dig clams, shuck oysters, or gather crabs to steam over a campfire. There are many beaches along the trail, from Shine Tidelands to Kopachuck State Park where it’s legal to harvest shellfish and live the phrase ‘when the tide’s out the table’s set’.
Opportunities to learn more about Kitsap Peninsula abound on the KPNWT. The Suquamish Museum gives insight into the rich history and culture of the People that first plied these waters, and just a short walk from it is the final resting place of Chief Sealth, with a view across the water to Seattle, the city named for him. The Peninsula’s military connections can be explored via Water Trail as well. The US Naval Undersea Museum is close to two trail stops in Keyport and unpacks the fascinating history of submarines. Put in at the Port of Bremerton and explore the USS Turner Joy, a naval destroyer that’s also a museum. If you’re there at 8 am you’ll hear the National Anthem playing at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, it's a daily tradition. Stick around for sunset and you’ll hear Evening Colors.
Want to learn more about this one-of-a-kind trail? Join tribal canoes, trail founders and trail fans to ‘Ride the Tide’ in honor of the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail’s 10-year anniversary on June 8th, 2024. Enjoy an 8-mile-long paddle from the Port of Silverdale to Port Orchard and celebrate the trail’s beautiful beaches, peaceful places, and the treasure of public waterfront that belongs to anyone who makes the effort to explore it. View the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail MAP here.
Visit Kitsap Peninsula - the natural side of Puget Sound!
Discover the treasures around the Kitsap Peninsula. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and endless outdoor recreation opportunities, the Kitsap Peninsula offers the best of the Pacific Northwest. www.visitkitsap.com
