Here's one priceless piece of property on an island of million-dollar building lots. At nearly 400 acres, Gazzam Lake and Close Beach make up the second-largest undeveloped tract of land on Kitsap County's Bainbridge Island. Managed as a natural preserve by the Bainbridge Island Parks Department, it's a prime hiking spot in heavily populated Puget Sound.

This is not the shortest way to Gazzam Lake. It can easily be reached by a 0.25 mile hike from the northern Marshall Road trailhead. But hey, we're here to hike! Start by heading down the gated dirt road to two rather unattractive water towers and then through a scrappy patch of invasive species. Just wait-in 0.25 mile it gets better when you enter healthy forest. Now on good trail, encounter a junction. Take the right path for a slightly longer hike, or veer left to get right to the point. At 0.6 mile (0.8 if you went right) the trails meet back up.

Through a nice forest of cedar and maple, approach Gazzam Lake. Spur paths lead down to the wooded shore. At 1 mile the best of them leads to a small open area complete with a bench. Watch for buffleheads, cormorants, and eagles among the avian residents of this 14-acre lake.

Leave the lake and head north for about 0.1 mile, coming to a junction. The trail right leads to the Marshall Road trailhead. Head left for the best part of this hike. Crest a small hill and begin a steep descent. After 0.6 mile arrive beneath a canopy of big firs to a secluded little beach on Port Orchard Narrows. Pull out your lunch, plop down on a log, and enjoy the sweet smell of salt air along with views of the Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Mountains rising behind.

Thanks to the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, $2.5 million was raised to purchase this 550 feet of shoreline and 64 acres of upland, adding it to Gazzam Lake Park. Hikers are sure to get many returns on this wise investment!