Our pups have always loved hiking, so we’ve searched for trails in our area of Western Washington that we can enjoy with them in their later years. I’ve compiled a list of hikes that we like and would recommend to others with senior dogs. Of course, every dog is different so do your research and adjust your plans as needed. The list is separated by geographical region. To view all the hikes, as well as additional tips, the best place to start is on the introductory page: Hiking with Senior Dogs in Western Washington.
And don’t forget, for everyone’s safety and enjoyment of the trails, make sure you keep your pup on leash and pick up after them!
Chops enjoying the beach at Anderson Landing at low tide during her younger years
Many of the parks in Kitsap County have trails that are suitable for senior pets, though the number of scenic ones is limited given the lack of elevation gain. We continue to explore these local trails, and have currently only scratched the surface. I’ve divided this list into two sections: 1) hikes that are higher on my list of recommend options for senior dogs and 2) trails that wouldn’t be my first choice but are still worth considering. Obviously the quality of a hike is subjective, but I’ve tried to categorize these local hikes so you can determine which ones you want to try first.
I’ve recently discovered Kitsap Trail Guide, which offers a number of interesting maps, including some in 3D, as well as commentary on local hikes.
RECOMMENDED
Morning light kisses the path amongst Western Swordferns in the Olympic View Park
Olympic View Park (Silverdale) – This small neighborhood park has limited parking and no views (and no beach access), but it’s excellent for senior dogs. Enjoy a cacophony of bird sounds and very few people as you stroll the mostly flat trails through quintessential PNW forestland. If you hike the entire park, you’ll get in about a mile and a half. Main Trail is flat; Fern Alley and Tall Trees Loop have only slightly moderate hills, and Huckleberry Loop has a moderate hill.
To do the entire park in a way that takes advantage of the less-steep routes, start at the parking area at the intersection of Jupiter Trail and Olympic View Loop (park on the side of the road). When you reach the intersection of Main Trail, Tall Trees and Fern Alley, take Main Trail to the right. Then veer left onto Fern Alley, and when you come across Tall Trees, go right. When you reach the three-way intersection again, go up Fern Alley on your left, and then go right when it becomes Main Trail again. Finally, take the first entry onto Huckleberry Loop (after the private property sign) on your left. At the bottom of Huckleberry, turn left and you’ll return to your vehicle.
This massive maple reminds me of the Whomping Willow in the Harry Potter series
For a shorter, easier loop, take Main Trail at the three-way intersection; then take Fern Alley back to your vehicle. With both trail options, along the way you’ll pass an old abandoned and collapsed truck (on your right a bit past the private property sign) as well as a massive maple tree that reminds me of the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter (on the left of Fern Alley, before you get to Tall Trees).
There are maps posted throughout, so feel free to wander and let your dog go where their nose takes them. It’s hard to get lost. Just remember that you’re parked at the South entrance so you can always find your way back.
The Main Trail at Gazzam Lake is flat and even
Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve (Bainbridge) – This lovely wooded trail is flat and wide throughout. There are two parking areas, and both are good starting points. From either lot, take the Gazzam Main Trail. This path will take you past Gazzam Lake, which is said to be a great place to watch for birds. The trail only circles the south and west sides of the lake, leaving the other two sides as a haven for wildlife. When we went in September the lake was almost completely dry. We look forward to going back again soon now that the rains have returned! If you want to add some mileage, take the Gazzam Loop trail, which is a horseshoe-shaped trail that starts and ends just slightly further down on Gazzam Main Trail. This park isn’t massive but a senior dog should be able to get lots of exercise on these safe walking paths. If you do the Main Trail and loop, your hike will be about 3 miles total. Be aware that horses and bicycles are allowed on some of the trails within the park.
Lots of switchbacks take you down to (or in this case up from) the beach
There is a path that leads down to the beach, but it’s quite steep and not appropriate for many senior dogs. Chops was able to make it down the switchbacks like a champ, but we didn’t feel comfortable taking her down the steep staircase at the end. If you do decide to attempt this route, you’ll want to go during low tide so you’ll actually have a beach to explore once you get down there.
Note that both of these parking areas are quite small. If one is full, just try the other. Learn more at the Bainbridge Island Parks website and read trip reports at the WTA site.
On clear days, the Anderson Landing viewpoints offer incredible views of the water and mountains
Anderson Landing Preserve (Silverdale) – This small park is densely wooded and has beautiful overlooks and beach access. Unfortunately, neither the steep trails to the beach nor the drop to get onto the beach is senior dog friendly. However, you can still hike the upper trails and access the overlooks. From the parking area off Warren Road, take the gravel road into the park and then veer onto the trail to your left. Along the way you’ll come across two horseshoe loops on the right side of the trail that are great for adding a little mileage. They are a bit more challenging than the flat ground of the main path, but most senior dogs should be able to hike them. Once you get on a loop, the trail will eventually spit you back out onto the main path, where you’ll take a right to continue towards the overlook. The first overlook is located on a spur off the main trail on your left. To stop at the second overlook, continue on the main trail and take the second spur on your left. To return to your vehicle, you can either go back the way you came or continue on the main path. If you continue going in the same direction, when you come to an intersection, go right (going left would take you down a steep path to the beach). At the next intersection, go left to get back onto the trail on which you started. Feel free to do those loops again if you want extra mileage, or continue straight if you’re ready to head home.
On the beach, it's easy to feel transported to another world as you listen to the lapping waves and observe the grace of a nearby Great Blue Heron with the snowcapped mountains in the background
If you and your pup want to attempt the hike to the beach (it is amazing!), you can get there two ways: 1)
Go straight on the gravel road (don’t turn left as suggested above), which turns into a steep, narrow trail and follows alongside Anderson Creek. When you reach an intersection, take the trail on the right to access the beach. This is the more difficult of the two routes because one section is particularly steep and narrow. Or 2) Go the way I suggested above, but after the second overlook, you’ll turn left instead of right. When you reach the next intersection, turn left to take the trail to the beach. Once you get to the end of the trail, you’ll need to jump a few feet down to get to the beach, or you can clamber down the roots. Note that this final section where the trail and beach meets changes over time as winter storms and high tides cause natural erosion and shifting.
When the tide is out, some sections of the beach have lots of sharp oysters so be careful of your pup's sensitive paws
The beach is lovely at low tide, with the gorgeous mountains in the background. I used to love coming here when my dogs were younger. It should be noted that this is a mud beach (not sand or rock) and it can act a bit like quick sand. Walking too far out is an easy way to lose your shoes!
You’ll find only a handful of parking spaces, so you might want to consider going during the week.
Point No Point (Hansville) – At the northeast tip of Kitsap Peninsula, Point No Point offers great views of all the boating activity coming into Puget Sound – cruise ships, fishing and personal boats, and military and cargo ships. And even better, this beach is an excellent place to spot whales when they’re in the area! The beautiful lighthouse, built in 1879, is open to the public on Saturday afternoons July through September. And if you can’t get enough of this location steeped in historical significance, you can even stay on-site! The lighthouse keeper’s home is available for rent.
This park offers two options for a walk with your pup. We like to incorporate both into our outing. First, take the path located on the right side of the lighthouse. This trail opens onto the beach in several places, but if you keep going, it enters into the woods and offers a few peekaboo views of the water. There is a section with stairs that some senior pups would have difficulty navigating. The entire trail is about a mile; when you’re ready to turn around, simply return the way you came. Honestly, the trail itself isn’t amazing, nor are the views. However, if you want to get in a bit of exercise before crashing on the beach, this is your only option. Take any of the side shoots off the main path to the beach. Some of the shoots have driftwood blocking that path that must be crossed to get to the beach. Keep trying different paths until you find one that you and your pup can safely cross. Stroll along the driftwood strewn beach; stop for a picnic and relax awhile.
Sadly, Point No Point Park is closed after the January 2023 flooding. Refer to the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management for updated information on closures.
TIER 2
Ueland Tree Farm (Bremerton) – The best trail for senior dogs in this public access portion of the tree farm is the Dickerson Trail. From the parking area, you can either take the wooded path or the gravel road. Both lead to a bridge and waterfall. I much prefer the scenery of the wooded trail, but there are a few moderately steep hills that some dogs might have trouble with. I imagine these would be particularly slippery in the summer when the trail is very dry. Chops didn’t have any issues with going up the hills. We took the gravel road back so I can’t comment on her ability to navigate downhill.
Not my best photo but at least you can see that the path starts out pretty even and wide from the parking area
If you take the trail, you’ll find that the path is wide and even most of the way. Eventually the trail connects with the gravel road, and just before this intersection is a massive drainage culvert with a creak running through it. You can veer right to access the creek, or for a more stable option, take the higher path to the left. Once you get to the gravel road, take a right until you see a right arrow. Take the path the arrow indicates, which will take you to a large bridge with a waterfall underneath.
You can briefly walk along the creek or take an alternate, more stable path. This is the creek path.
Unfortunately, the trail beyond the bridge is very challenging for senior dogs. We tried it but I ended up carrying Chops almost the whole way. There is an interesting view of the waterfall from down below – either straight down from the bridge area or taking the path beyond the bridge and then going right, which loops back towards the waterfall. If you decide to check out the waterfall on one of these trails, be extra careful. The trail is narrow and very rough. Return the way you came or take the gravel road back to the parking area.
Note: If you’re able to take the wooded trail, I’d consider this a higher priority trail. But if you and your pup need the safety of a flat trail, the gravel road isn’t very scenic. The bridge is interesting, but is more interesting if you’re able to go below it to get a better view of the waterfall, but most senior pups will have trouble with this. Therefore, I wouldn’t place it at the top of my list of Kitsap hikes for senior dogs. Learn more about this public access area on the Ueland Tree Farm page. Review trip for all tree farm trails (not just this recommended one) on the WTA website.
Banner Forest Heritage Park (Port Orchard) – This large park offers numerous trails that are accessible for hiking, biking and riding horses. It’s mostly wooded, with a wonderful display of native plants, and it’s a great place to search for mushrooms. There’s also a protected wetland area. I’ve only hiked this park once, so my experience is very limited.
My initial impressions are that the park offers an array of flat trails that are appropriate for senior pups. There’s also the option of walking the service road, which is wide, even and flat. The primary challenge we encountered with this park is that the trails (which we prefer over the service road) are quite short. You have to spend so much of your time looking at the map to keep track of where you are that the hike is less enjoyable. Also keep in mind that the trails around the wetlands may be flooded during winter months. All in all, while we felt it was cumbersome to constantly be consulting the map, we did enjoy the park and hope to visit it again. I’ll update this post as I have more experience with the park. Learn more on the Kitsap County Parks Department page and read trip reports through WTA.
Fish Park (Poulsbo) – This small urban park, located near the Viking statue in Poulsbo, offers a flat meandering walk along the Liberty Bay Estuary and Dogfish Creek. Comprised of a number of short trails, don’t worry about getting lost. Just wander wherever your dog’s nose takes you; it’s easy to find your way back to your vehicle. Boardwalks allow easy passage over some of the wetter areas, but be careful as some sections of the wood can be slippery. Along the way, enjoy learning about the areas wildlife and history through the interpretive signs available. Learn more on the Great Peninsula Conservancy page.
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