North Kitsap Heritage Park

Location

Kitsap County

Date Conserved

2014

Acreage

818

Landowner

Kitsap County

Property Type

Open to the Public

Property Attributes

Forests, Recreational Trails, Streams, Wetlands/Ponds

What to Expect

If you are looking for a variety of trail types, head here. You can choose from narrow foot paths to wide gravel trails to wander or ride through the forest. Take time to explore the wetlands that are the headwaters of Grovers Creek.

Address

24701 Miller Bay Road NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370

[-122.54526881100, 47.78476554620]

All Properties Map

At over 800 acres, North Kitsap Heritage Park is one of Kitsap County’s largest parks, and is a critical anchor in a growing network of protected areas in north Kitsap County. With over 10 miles of trails it has something for everyone, from old logging roads that are perfect for trail running, to quiet back country trails that are great for seeing the many species of wildlife that call this park home.

In addition to its recreational value, North Kitsap Heritage Park helps to protect important wildlife habitat, as well as the headwaters of two vital salmon streams – Grovers Creek and Carpenter Creek. It also safeguards the drinking water of communities in Kingston and Indianola, and facilitates aquifer recharge.

In 2004, Kitsap County purchased 452 acres of forestland from Pope Resources to create the new North Kitsap Heritage Park. While the vision always was to expand it to include 366 acres on its eastern boundary also owned by Pope Resoures, the project lagged for lack of funding.

In 2011, a community coalition known as the Kitsap Forest and Bay Project, initiated efforts to conserve 7,000 acres of timberland owned by Pope Resources stretching from Port Gamble to Kingston and up to Hansville — including land adjacent to North Kitsap Heritage Park. Great Peninsula Conservancy was one of the leading partners in this legacy project.

Finally in 2014, grants from Kitsap County Conservation Futures Program, USFS Community Forest and Open Space Program, and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, came together and Kitsap County purchased the land. The expansion of North Kitsap Heritage Park and the eventual conservation of 4,000 acres of Pope Resources timberland in north Kitsap County was a huge win for local communities, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts throughout the wider Puget Sound region.

Accessibility

Trail map: https://www.kitsap.gov/parks/Documents/NKHP_TrailMap.pdf.

North Kitsap Heritage Park