Gig Harbor (Wash.) Visitors Guide 2018

outdoors
56 GIGHARBORGUIDE.COM | 2018-19 GIG HARBOR VISITORS GUIDE
Sunrise Beach Park
10015 Sunrise Beach Drive NW
The 6-acre beachfront portion
of the park includes designated
parking areas, picnic tables, day-use
areas, 2 miles of walking trails and
forest paths with views of Mount
Rainier and Puget Sound, and
beach access to the 2,400-linearfoot
shoreline on Colvos Passage.
The beach provides access to a
popular scuba diving destination.
Portable toilets, unpaved parking,
fishing.
Key Pen Parks
Gateway Park
10405 state Route 302
72 acres. This is Key Pen Parks
newest park.This park features
plenty of parking, restrooms,
play areas for all ages and a large
pavilion. Key Pen Parks purchased
this 39-acres of this property in
2012 (and another 33 acres in
2016). A master plan was adopted
in April 2015 for Gateway Park.
The master plan includes sports
fields, playground, restrooms,
a splash pad, amphitheater and
more. Its proximity to the 360
Trails has allowed for a trailhead
from Gateway Park. Construction
will continue to take place as funds
allow.
Home Park
17220 8th Ave. Ct. NW
This is the first neighborhood park
on the Key Peninsula, complete
with a playground, picnic shelter,
adult swing and restroom. This
park is a tremendous asset to the
community and enjoyed by all ages.
Key Central Forest
10527 Wright Bliss Road NW
480 acres. The property is off
Wright Bliss Road. Visitors may park
at the gate just off the road and
walk in. The property consists of
forested land and Vaughn Creek,
a salmon habitat creek. While
there are many trails in Key Central
Forest, they are not through trails,
meaning they dead-end. Wildlife
viewing.
Maple Hollow Park
4411 Van Beek Road NW
This 58-acre site offers a circular
trail with midpoint access to a
stretch of beach along Puget
Sound with views of Mount Rainier.
This park includes an improved
walking trail, hiking trails, handicapaccessible
trail, picnic area and
walking access to a saltwater beach
on Carr Inlet. There are three
campsites via water access only.
The park is open to the public, even
when the gate is closed.
Rocky Creek
Conservation Area
State Route 302 at 150th Avenue
The area covers over 224 acres of
park, open spaces and conservation
land and is managed jointly with
Pierce County and Key Pen Parks.
Rocky Creek has over 3 miles of
walking (nonmotorized) trails, two
benches, a trailhead kiosk with map
and limited parking space at the
trailhead. The property consists of
wetlands, two streams, and various
plants and wildlife.
Taylor Bay
17916 76th St. SW
This is a nonmotorized boat access
park, which includes 40 acres of
wetlands, pocket estuary, mudflats,
lagoon, salt marshes, creeks,
forested uplands, riparian areas and
patches of open meadows. A great
place for a picnic!
Volunteer Park
5514 Key Peninsula Highway N.
This 20-acre park includes
three baseball fields with lights,
picnic areas, skateboarding
park, horseshoe pits, half-court
basketball, quarter-mile ADA paved
walking trail. Restrooms, outside
concert area, 9-hole disc golf
course, picnic shelter rental. Home
of the Snack Shack.
360 Trails
10905 144th St. NW
Accessible through Gateway Park
by using the trailhead. This 360-
acre property located on the north
end of the Key Peninsula includes
trails which are accessible to
walkers, equestrians and mountain
bikers. The main trail is a large
2-mile open loop that takes about
an hour to walk with smaller trails
that cut throughout the woods to
rejoin with the main trail. Whatever
level of mountain bike experience
you have, our trails are designed
for beginner, intermediate and
advanced riders. Pump track. Picnic
tables and benches. Trailhead
kiosk. Wildlife viewing. Available for
events.
Dog Parks
McCormick Forest
Off-Leash Dog Area
10123 78th Ave.
Area of 122 acres of old forest
growth that is fenced in for dogs
to play off-leash. Water stations
and refuse bags at each entrance.
All handlers must carry a leash per
dog. Outside of this area dogs
must be leashed within the rest of
McCormick Park. No bicycles or
horses permitted within this fenced
area.
Rotary Bark Park
10100 Bujacich Road NW
This 97-acre natural area contains a
15-acre off-leash dog area with over
one mile of fenced trails. The
property includes older forest,
regenerating forest, abundant
wildlife, and over 3 miles of trails
for hikers, bicycles or horses.
Features off-leash area with play
meadow, paved parking, portable
toilet, refuse bags. Park in Fire
District No. 5 headquarters lot.
Tubby’s Trail Dog Park
2120 14th Ave. NW
Small dog off-leash area with play
meadow for dogs under 25 pounds.
Large dog off-leash area with
play meadow. Additional features
include parking, portable toilets
and refuse bags. Tubby was a
black, male cocker spaniel who fell
into fame when Galloping Gertie
collapsed on Nov. 7, 1940. As the
only victim of that great disaster,
Tubby has earned a special place in
the hearts of many.