Tails & Trails | Port Orchard Waterfront

The Kitsap Peninsula is an especially pet-friendly place to travel. With loads of dog parks, pet friendly accommodations and parks that welcome furry friends, you’re sure to find an adventure that you and your animal companions will love.

Let’s catch up with moby & tim as they explore their favorite spots on the port orchard waterfront!

meet moby

Moby is a good boy! This lovable, gentle sweetheart belongs to Tim - a South Kitsap retiree who loves to sail, beach comb and enjoy the peaceful walking paths on the Port Orchard waterfront. Tim and Moby moore their sailboat at the Port Orchard Marina and can often be found sailing away on adventures to explore the Salish Sea and the waterfront communities of the PNW.

Moby loves beach walking with Tim, sniffing the kelp and watching the little crabs skitter from under the rocks. When a pod of orcas swim past Moby gives a few good natured barks to say hello. Moby is getting on in years so he likes to take it easy and enjoy a slower pace and a relaxed itinerary full of head rubs and snacks…

First things first, bring a leash as State, City & County parks require dogs to be on leashed (exception is off-leash dog parks).

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port orchard waterfront

The Port Orchard waterfront is great for grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat, shopping at the legendary local antique shops and of course strolling the pedestrian pathways. The various paths wind past piers and parks, offering plenty of opportunities to stop and relax. Local bookstores and coffee shops invite visitors to slow down, grab a seat and dig into a good read while taking in the beautiful views of Sinclair Inlet and the mighty Olympic Mountains. Dog walkers will enjoy wandering through the Port Orchard Marina and walking the shoreline-hugging pedestrian path that traces the downtown waterfront.

Moby and Tim started from the Marina and walked the docks before jumping on the footpath that took them past the Port Orchard Waterfront Park Soroptimist Overlook with its access to a pretty little stretch of sandy beach. They continued their walk through Rockwell park, another quaint little spot to dig your toes in the sand if you are so inclined, and along the shore to Etta Turner Park and Damn Fine Pizza.

brickhouse

714 Bay St

The family-friendly Brickhouse 714 Bar and Grill is a Bay Street staple with their menu full of yummy pub food, beautiful bar back and big outdoor area. The outdoor seating is partially covered and comes equipped with fire pits to cozy up to and a small stage where live music is played during the warm weather months. It’s the perfect place to wander into with your pup after an adventure on the Port Orchard waterfront. The food is tasty and affordable and the atmosphere is casual - perfect for parking your puppy and enjoying a burger and pint.

Tim and Moby ended their PO walkabout with Brickhouse’s Buffalo Chicken Wrap and an order of sweet potato fries - the perfect treat to share next to the mural celebrating the regions maritime history.

Plan your pet friendly adventure!

Use this map to plan your pet friendly visit to Kitsap. (Click on a point to open up your default map app on mobile).

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off leash dog parks in kitsap

The Kitsap Peninsula is home to many off-leash dog parks where your pups can exercise and play in a safe environment. Here’s a list of off-leash parks that we recommend.

Bandix Dog Park

A 30-acre park on Bandix Road off the Burley-Ollala Road near Highway 16. Bandix Dog Park has a variety of wooded trails and open clearings for four legged play.

Howe Farm Off-Leash Dog Park

Located on Long Lake Road in Port Orchard, Howe Farm also features scenic trails on a historic farm property.

McCormick Village Park

Two fenced dog park areas make this Port Orchard park a furry favorite!

Eagledale Park

A smallish 1 acre, off-leash area is located at the top of the park on Bainbridge Island.

Strawberry Hill Dog Park

Located on Bainbridge Island, this a wooded 2.35 acre, forest glade inside Strawberry Hill Park has been set aside for off-leash fun.

Frank Raab Park

A 21-acre Poulsbo park featuring walking trails & off-leash dog area.

Bremerton Bark Park

The name says it all! This puppy-preferred park is located within Pendergast Regional Park in Bremerton.

Silverdale Dog Park

Have some fun and get some exercise with your dog in Central Kitsap.

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pet-friendly hikes

Hansville Greenway Wildlife Corridor

At the very northernmost end of Kitsap is the peaceful Hansville Greenway Wildlife Corridor that traverses three county parks. This network of trails takes you and your furry friend from the Puget Sound to Hood Canal in an easy 8-mile day hike. 

Norwegian Point County Park

Norwegian Point County Park is a waterfront park in Hansville with a long sandy beach and huge views of Puget Sound & Whidbey Island. It’s a good place to park (grab a sandwich or snack at the Hansgrille Grocery!) to begin the Hansville Greenway Wildlife Corridor.

Buck Lake County Park

Buck Lake County Park is 20 acres of pet-friendly peaceful trails, beach access, a swimming area, restrooms, and perfect picnic spots.

North Kitsap Heritage Park

North Kitsap Heritage Park boasts 10+ miles of old logging roads and trails perfect for kids, dogs, and horses. The many loops through second-growth forests and over boardwalks have signposts at major intersections and are color-coded.

Point No Point Lighthouse Park

The Point No Point Lighthouse Park was one of Kitsap’s most loved and photogenic parks. Driftwood-strewn sandy beaches and beautiful views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier make this pet friendly park a must-visit.

Battle Point Park

Battle Point Park is a former Bainbridge Island naval radio station with an easy 1.5 mile walking trails for a relaxing stroll with your dog. Bonus points for the children’s play areas, a separate horse trail and peaceful ponds good for bird watching.

Green Mountain state forest

Green Mountain State Forest has 16+ miles of hiking trails perfect for an adventure with your four-legged friend, horseback riding & mountain biking. Green Mountainis the second highest peak on the Kitsap Peninsula and commands massive views of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier! 

Ueland Tree Farm & dickerson falls

This popular privately owned tree farm and trail system (called Lebers Lane Trailhead) are open to the public for non-motorized recreation and is a hiking, biking, and nature viewing favorite among locals. The 2,300-acre tree farm is especially loved as a destination for dog walkers. Dickerson Falls is perhaps the most popular hike, a 1.75 jaunt to a picturesque waterfall.

Illahee State Park

Illahee State Park is an 86-acre, marine camping park with beach access in Bremerton. The park features a magnificent stand of old-growth trees and the gravelly beach is perfect for combing for treasures. Discovery Pass required!

Scenic Beach State Park

ADA-compliant trails perfect for an easy stroll make Seabeck’s Scenic Beach State Park especially welcoming. The gorgeous park on the shores of the Hood Canal boasts unparalleled views of the looming Olympic Mountain range.

Banner Forest

Banner Forest is nestled deep int he rural wilds of South Kitsap. The 29-miles of trails and a 2-mile dirt access road loop wind their way through an enchanted evergreen forest. The two mile road offers a relatively easy walks for all ages. The trail system is more rustic and is very popular with mountain bikers seeking single track adventure.

Clear Creek Trail

The 8 mile long (and growing!) Clear Creek Trail is the best urban trail system on the Kitsap Peninsula. The Clear Creek Trails wend through both public and private lands. In the middle of a highly developed Silverdale urban area, the trails follow the salmon-bearing creek and wetlands with observation decks and benches along the way.

👉 View the Map here.