South Kitsap Regional Park

This 180-acre county park, created in 2007, is located just outside of Port Orchard and has lots to choose from. Batting cages and a little steamer train are just a few of the bells and whistles here, but the draw for hikers is the network of trails that extend out through the forest beyond the athletic fields.

This network of trails is extensive and will keep hikers busy exploring. The mostly unsigned network of trails is about 6 miles, and you can make any number of loop hikes. A longer forested loop of about 2.5 miles starts to the west of the batting cages (in the Chase Rd parking area) and is marked Skookum Connection Trail. It heads north on a wide flat trail, winds to the east and crosses the Explorer Trail (see below), heads north again to the northern park boundary (paralleling the small railroad tracks), then back south to the southern edge of the park, turning right and paralleling Lund Ave and back to the parking area.

There are many unmarked spur trails off this main loop, some leading to a creek in the northwest corner of the park and some to the edge of a deep ravine in the north-central portion of the park. Walking around the perimeter of the athletic fields is about a half-mile loop. Both described loops are almost completely flat. The second-growth forest is comprised mainly of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar and big leaf maple, with an understory of sword fern, salal, Oregon grape and huckleberries.

Another trail option is especially inviting to families with younger hikers. The Explorer Trail is a fun way for kids to experience the joys of hiking. This 0.3-mile loop is just north of the playground (marked Explorer Trail above the entrance to the trail) and features several different attractions along a walking path. The interactive trail includes physical challenges such as a narrow boardwalk, steps and bridges, and includes many fun informational activities such as measuring a tree’s height, telling time with a stone sundial and calculating a tree’s age. There is also a viewing platform over a large ravine.

In addition to the outdoor batting cages and little steamer train, the park features a large playground, baseball and soccer fields, a skating park, horseshoe pits and a covered picnic area.