*Thanks to Visit Kitsap Peninsula for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Happy March!
Spring is in the air, finally! If you want to escape the burbs head to Silverdale. This lovely town is centrally located on the Kitsap Peninsula. It's just 30 minutes by WA state ferry from Seattle, and a 40 minute drive west of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
I've explored the area from top to bottom and side to side! There is a lot of nature to explore and endless trails for walking. Oh, and I can't forget to mention: You'll love the breathtaking views of the snow capped Olympics and Sinclair Inlet.
Clear Creek Trail is a big hit with visitors and residents of the Kitsap Peninsula. It's crazy, I've lived in the west sound for years and have walked this trail just a few times. The best way to celebrate spring, is to get out and enjoy all nature has to offer. Here are some tips for visiting and facts that may interest you:
ARRIVE EARLY
I was just a little excited for some sun and decided to hit the trail again. Most of the time the parking here is a big pain. There is a good sized lot at the head of the trail but it's always overflowing. Parking is available on the side of the road. I do recommend arriving early in the day. In spring and summer the trail is always packed, of course. It may be a good idea to wake up with the chickens and start trekking!
WHAT TO WEAR
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As you might already know, the weather in Western Washington can be just down right crazy! There can be wind and rain one minute, and sunny and calm the next. The Kitsap Peninsula is no exception to the rule. A good pair of waterproof tennis shoes, layers you can peel off, and a rainproof jacket will serve you well.
BE MINDFUL OF WILDLIFE
Clear Creek trail is not heavily wooded. It's quite the opposite. However, there could be creatures lurking in the trenches, so just beware! As we know, most wildlife will shy away from humans and only come out at night. There isn't much to fear here, but bears and coyotes have been sighted.
Other fun creatures you may encounter are:
- Raccoons
- Deer
- Fox
- Muskrat
- Mice
- Rats
- Birds
- Salmon
VOLUNTEER
If you live nearby there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Keeping scotch broom and blackberries from overtaking the place is a big problem. Trash clean up is always needed, and people to help out with the
"Salmon in the classroom" program.
SALMON IN THE CLASSROOM
I'm an educator and am so happy how this program has benefited local schools. It's exciting to see kids get excited about the environment in which they live. Each year hundreds of students in Kitsap County are educated about the life cycle of the salmon.
The program was originally started by the Kiwanis Club but it got too big for them to handle. Now several agencies are involved to make sure this experience continues. Clean Water Kitsap, Kitsap Public Utilities, Kitsap Public Health District and the Suquamish Tribe help out with running the program each year.
The eggs are hatched on site at each school and the life cycle is studied in the classroom. Later in the spring, field trips are planned to release the salmon into the creek. The fish run from late September through November. This time can vary. Most of the salmon wait until there is a lot of rainfall before entering the creek.
Types of salmon occupying the creek are Chum,Chinook and Coho.The environment at this creek makes it difficult for the salmon to survive. It's because of the runoff from some of the surrounding areas. Luckily, many of them do manage to survive and spawn.
As I mentioned, the trail does get quite soggy, so best time to visit is in the summer or spring. Maybe it's dry enough to do a hike in your neck of the woods! Have fun exploring where ever your travels take you.
Where is your favorite place to hike, or explore nature?
