Weekend Jaunt: Scenic Beach State Park

Our travel took place on the ancestral lands of the S’Klallam, Twana/Skokomish, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, and Suquamish peoples who have stewarded those lands since time immemorial.

After my trying, but altogether awesome, experience touring the San Juan Islands I had the bug and I needed to keep touring. I do not like having to vie for campsites in the Puget Sound Region because it requires thinking about a plan 4-6 months in advance. Hiker-biker sites in Washington State Parks make it so much easier to coordinate trips because as long as you are riding a bike, you can assume you will have a place to stay. I found Scenic Beach State Park and thought that it looked like a pretty phenomenal spot to hang out for a weekend.

Cyclists leaving from Seattle can get to the park by taking the Bainbridge Island or Bremerton ferries. Approaching from Bainbridge Island is slightly more scenic, since it crosses Bainbridge Island, Agate Point, Poulsbo, and then wooded farm and residential areas until you reach the shoreline. The route is about 40 miles and has some pretty big rollers — especially along Anderson Hill Road. Approaching from Bremerton is less scenic, since it requires navigating Bremerton and its suburbs, but it is much less hilly, and takes about 6 miles off the total mileage. Either way, cycling to Scenic Beach State Park is an awesome trip for beginner bike tourists!

My friend and I took the Bainbridge ferry and stopped for coffee and pastries in Poulsbo at the Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse. It is a really cute spot that has an outdoor seating area to enjoy the view of the inlet. Everything was very smooth sailing until we hit the hill along Anderson Hill Road… It had more than a 15% grade and we had to walk our bikes on the way in and out; but it was worth it! We spent a really lovely afternoon reading and sketching in a hammock we strung up along the beach.

There are two fairly large primitive campsites available for cyclists and hikers, they are in a wooded area at the north end of the park and provide ample opportunity to string up hammocks! Each campsite has a grill and a picnic table, and are a short walk to a water spigot and bathrooms. I highly recommend Scenic Beach as a great quick trip from Seattle.