Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve

Erin Beesley

The trail through the forest to the beach is the perfect length and content for kids and dogs

Steve Hiday

Easy hiking (more of a walk, really) in the quiet woods. Also great for walking dogs, though I saw several folks ignoring the leash law. You can tell masks are becoming more of a policy than a rule up around Seattle, especially in outdoorsy locations. There is in fact a lake along the trail, but you have to work a little to find it. Follow the map and look for a couple of unofficial soft trails that lead to a bench and lovely view of the ducks and lakefront. Olympic Otter

Jade “Nephrite” Lotus

Beautiful old growth forest with some huge douglas fir & cedar trees, & tons of beautiful moss growing everywhere. If you do the main trail & loops you can squeeze out a little more than 6 miles with around 800 ft elevation gain going up & down the hills & mounds. It's a family friendly, dog-friendly trail but there are some steep parts. If you take Peters trail, it goes right alongside some housing & across a road, which takes away some of the charm of being in a nature preserve. Be aware, there's always a possibility of encountering wild animals, but this is a well-traveled set of trails so the likelihood should be low. A note for those across the water - you can kayak from Bremerton side to the preserve trailhead. There shouldn't be a current, but there are seals that will pop up here & there.

Jenna Pratt

Unparalleled beauty in the heart of Bainbridge Island! Plenty of trails to choose from with clear markers along the way. I took the trail to the shore and enjoyed a spectacular 500ft elevation climb on the return. It really is worth a stop!