Our favorite parks and hikes near McCormick

Posted May 17, 2019

As the days become longer and the weather warmer, make plans to enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. Whether it’s a barbecue get-together with friends, a hike, or trip to the park, we have you covered in this blog post.

Big Pond Trail

Besides the local festivals, we at McCormick love to spend the weekend at a local trail or park. We’re, of course, biased toward our own Deer Park and the Big Pond Trail — a beautiful, 4-mile loop right in our neighborhood. It’s the quintessential Pacific Northwest experience.

At Big Pond Trail, you can enjoy pristine nature, surrounded by old-growth habitat that’s home to a variety of creatures. Catch a view of the sun peeking through the tall trees in the morning, or bring your dog along for an afternoon stroll. The loop takes about an hour, but we recommend taking your time and stopping along the way to let the tranquil setting soak in.

When you’re ready to venture a little farther, you’re in luck — you’ll find several parks within a short drive. Here are some of our favorites.

Manchester State Park

Manchester State Park is located at the edge of Manchester, this popular day-trip locale has gorgeous waterfront views. It’s a destination for kayaking, hiking, diving and swimming, or simply exploring the former torpedo warehouse — which alone may be worth your trip.

McCormick Village Park

McCormick Village Park is the City of Port Orchard’s park on Old Clifton Road. It is brand new, so make sure to visit and check it out. With picnic shelters and kids’ play areas and play structures, it’s a great place to spend a day with your kids or grandkids. And, when the weather gets hot, we’re betting on the water-play feature to become a magnet.

South Kitsap Regional Park

South Kitsap Regional Park is a popular county park for families and skateboarders alike, and has trails, a playground, a skate park, picnic areas and more — plus a fun surprise. It’s home to a 12-gauge railroad “operated” by the Kitsap Live Steamers. Every second and fourth Saturday, you can hop aboard one of the miniature trains and take a short ride among the towering trees. And don’t think the rides are just for kids, either — kids at heart are welcome.

Long Lake Park

Long Lake Park is the place to go if the water’s calling your name. This Kitsap County Park off Sedgwick Road is another great option. Dip your toes in the lake, toss a frisbee or just lounge around on the beach. You can even fish during the right time of the year.

Sehmel Homestead Park

Sehmel Homestead Park is located in Gig Harbor,  just a short drive from Port Orchard. This community treasure has a little bit of everything but for tiny tots, the most exciting area is the Boundless Playground, where they’ll spend hours if you let them. Other park features include a heritage garden, a pond, tennis courts and much more.

This is just a short list of local parks and hikes. With many gorgeous summer days ahead of us, there are plenty of other places to explore nearby.  Get out outside and enjoy one of these local spots!