Hike of the Week: Harstine Island State Park
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Harstine Island State Park
Quiet retreat in the South Sound
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
Quick Facts
Location: Kitsap Peninsula
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Roundtrip: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Contact: Jarrell Cove State Park (360) 426-9226
Notes: Dogs permitted on leash
Access: From Shelton drive SR 3 east for 11.0 miles turning right onto Pickering Road. Continue for 3.3 miles bearing left onto Harstine Island Bridge coming to a T-junction. Go left on North Harstine Island Drive and at 3.0 miles come to a four-way junction. Turn right onto East Harstine Island Road and after one mile turn left onto Yates Road. Follow this road for one mile to park entrance and trailhead.
Harstine Island State Park may very well be the best-kept secret in Puget Sound. Short and sweet; this hike will bring you back to a time when most of Puget Sound’s shoreline wasn’t wall to wall development. One of the largest islands in the South Sound Region, Harstine still remains quite rural; and Harstine Island State Park protects 300 acres of this prime island from being developed.
This hike samples the park’s woods and shoreline. There are two ways to approach the beach. Both are fairly short. Take the one on the left for more variation. Follow trail for a quarter- mile into a cool and dark ravine graced with big cedars and firs. Come to a junction and head left. Drop deeper into the ravine and after crossing a pretty little creek emerge on a quiet and secluded beach. If the tide is low, hike south a short distance beneath forested bluffs.
When you’ve had enough surf, return to the junction and climb out of the ravine passing a few ancient cedars along the way. Reach another junction. The trail right heads back to the parking lot. Follow the trail left instead under a canopy of mature second growth eventually looping around to Yates Road. Turn right to return to your vehicle. Consider heading back out to the delightful beach before going home!
For more information on this hike and others in the Kitsap Peninsula refer to Day Hiking Olympic PeninsulaClick here to learn more about this book
