Why Choose Trails
NKTA’s mission is to unite North Kitsap County with regional land and water trails, promote stewardship of our natural resources and enhance our communities’ livability.
The North Kitsap Trails Association (NKTA) is entirely volunteer and donation-powered.
Look what your donations have funded:
In 2023 NKTA, as a partner in the Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) collaborative, co-funded a successful Federal Transportation “RAISE” grant application that awarded our region $16.3 Million Dollars! This project brought together 13 entities; local governments, tribes and WSDOT to work together across Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties, and will fund ten years of planning and design. The goal is to to connect 100 miles of trail gaps, and improve community connections and safety from the Kingston and Bainbridge Island ferries all the way to the WA coast. This BIG Vision is for the PS2P Trail to connect the Sound to Olympics and Olympic Discovery Trails, and complete the westernmost segment of the Great American Rail Trail from WA DC to the Washington State coast.
Locally NKTA helps build and maintain trails enjoyed by growing numbers of trail users by sponsoring work parties and providing materials, tools and equipment for volunteers. Recently we funded projects in Kingston and the Port Gamble Heritage Park and partnered with Kitsap County, REI and Rotary.
NKTA continues to work toward improving non-motorized "active" transportation & recreation options through multiple trail access points and safe, reasonably direct routes between North Kitsap communities, parks, schools, open space, local ferries and popular destinations.
NKTA also:
Joined with Forterra, Kitsap County and local donors by helping organize, publicize, and fund the purchase of timber rights on 756 acres of trees in Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, saving them from being clear-cut. A six-hundred-foot-wide corridor of mature trees were conserved along a mile of Sound to Olympics Trail, part of a set of carefully selected tree stands. Protecting these trees will speed the transition from industrial forest to a more diverse and resilient forest ecosystem with wildlife habitat where people can enjoy being in nature.
Recently pledged $3,000 to purchase a diverse mix of native plants to start a pilot restoration project that will begin to diversify the Port Gamble Forest Park. Both the tree purchase and restoration planting of appropriate native trees and understory flora, will help speed the transition of the park into a more natural, resilient, bio-diverse and beautiful forest ecosystem for the enjoyment of people and the health of forest wildlife.
NKTA’s mailing list now includes over 1,000 supporters! NKTA is entirely volunteer-powered. We have upgraded our website and are building e-lists for trail work opportunities, event support, newsletters and breaking news! Add your name to our mailing list or learn more at the NKTA website. We’re on Facebook and Instagram, too!
With your ongoing support, NKTA can continue its work to preserve open space, create forest and habitat diversity, and plan, build and maintain trails for future generations.
Thanks again for giving a donation to North Kitsap Trails Association during the 2024 Kitsap County Great Give.
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