The South Puget Sound Region offers 30 recreational sites in King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Mason counties. Sites include trailheads and picnic areas for day use and campgrounds for overnight use. South Puget Sound is the most diverse region in the state with a mix of rural and urban landscapes and large bodies of fresh and saltwater. Recreational opportunities are as diverse as is the landscape and include: hiking, mountain biking, 4x4 rock climbs, quad and bike trails, horseback trails, natural areas, paragliding, plus diving, boating, and other marine activities.
Updated: June 17, 2013
Find out which recreation sites in the South Puget Sound Region are open or closed...and more. Select one of the following links:
Major DNR Recreation Sites:
Recreation by County:ELBE HILLS AND TAHOMA STATE FOREST
(Pierce County)
| Beaver Creek Trailhead | Open | Non-motorized trail. Open dawn to dusk. |
| Elbe Hills ORV Campground | Open | Reservations required. Call 360-825-1631 |
| Elbe Hills Trails | Open | |
| Memorial Trailhead | Open | Non-motorized trail. Open dawn to dusk. |
| Mount Tahoma Ski Huts | Open | Reservations required. www.skimtta.com |
| Mount Tahoma Ski Trails | Open | Winter: Sno-Park permit required. |
| Nicholson Horse Trails | Open | |
| Sahara Creek Campground & Trailhead | Open | Campground is first come, first served. No reservations. |
GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE FOREST (Kitsap county)
| Green Mountain State Forest | | Green Mtn State Forest 2013 Event Schedule
Trail information:-- Red diamonds indicate single-track use only. -- Blue diamonds indicate two-track use. |
| Beaver Pond Trail | Open | |
| Gold Creek Trailhead Parking Area | Open | Open dawn to dusk. |
| Gold Creek trail | Open | |
| Green Mountain Horse Camp | Open | -- Walk-in access only year round. -- 16 sites available for first-come, first-served camping. No reservations. -- No camping in the day-use area. |
| Green Mountain (GM-1) | Open* | * GM-1 gate is opened each weekend now through October 2013 for vehicle access. -- Walk-in access available year-round. |
| Plumber trail | Open | |
| Vista trail | Open | |
| Wildcat Trailhead Parking Area | Open | Open dawn to dusk |
| Wildcat Trail | Open | |
Tahuya State Forest (Mason County)
| Tahuya State Forest | Recreation alert! Kammenga Bridge on the Tahuya River Trail is washed out. This route is inaccessible until further notice. (11/29/12) | Tahuya State Forest 2013 Events Schedule Kammenga Bridge/ Tahuya River Trail re-route map |
| campgrounds | | |
| Tahuya River Horse Camp | Closed until further notice - posted 05/14/13 | * Campground open from noon on Fridays through noon on Mondays. -- First-come; first-served. No reservations. Non-motorized camping only on the following dates: July 12 - July 14 July 19 - 21 August 2 - August 4 August 9 - August 11 September 13 - September 15 September 20 - September 22 |
| Kammenga Campground | Open | -- First-come; first-served. No reservations. |
| Camp Spilman | Open | -- First-come; first-served. No reservations. |
| Trails | | |
| Elfendahl Pass Staging Area | Open | -- Self-contained camping allowed.
-- First come, first served. No reservations. |
| Elfendahl Pass 4x4 trailhead | Open | |
| Kammenga 4x4 trailhead | Open | |
| Mission Creek trailhead | Open | |
| Motorized multiple-use trails | Open (unless posted otherwise) | Motorized trail sign information:
-- WHITE diamond: single-track use only.
-- YELLOW diamond: two-track use.
-- PURPLE diamond: 4x4 trail system. |
| Lake Access | | |
| Aldrich Lake | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Gate will be opened for fishing access from April 15-October 30. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
| Howell Lake | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Gate will be opened for fishing access from April 15-October 30. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
| Twin Lakes | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Gate will be opened for fishing access from April 15-October 30. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
| Robbins Lake | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Gate will be opened for fishing access from April 15-October 30. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
Tiger Mountain (King County)
| | | -- All Tiger Mountain facilities are day-use only. |
| Fifteen Mile Trailhead | Open | Walk-in only. No restrooms. |
| High Point Trailhead | Open | Dawn to dusk. |
| Paw Print Rest Stop | Open | Expect reduced maintenance/services. |
| Poo Poo Point Vista | Open | |
| Silent Swamp Trail | CLOSED | Trail construction in progress. Please stay out. |
| Tiger Summit Trailhead | Open | Parking is available at the gravel lot just off Hwy 18. Trailhead restrooms are open. |
| Tiger Mountain Trail | Open | |
| Tiger Mountain Multi-use Mountain Bike Trails (Iverson, Northwest Timber, East Tiger Summit Trail, and Preston RR Grade Trail) | Open | Find out more about the East Tiger Summit Trail! see blog |
KING COUNTY
| Little Si Trailhead | Open | Dawn to dusk. |
| Mount Si Trailhead | Open | Dawn to dusk. |
| Mine Creek Day Use & Picnic Area | Open | Dawn to dusk. |
| Rattlesnake Trailhead | Open | Dawn to dusk. |
| Tiger Mountain | | |
KITSAP COUNTY
MASON COUNTY
| Lilliwaup Creek Campground | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Walk-in access only. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
| Melbourne lake Campground | Open | -- Day-use only. -- Walk-in access only. -- No overnight camping. -- No campfires allowed. |
| Tahuya State Forest | | |
PIERCE COUNTYPlease note: DNR may close a recreational facility or trail either temporarily or permanently for the purposes of protecting the environment, public safety, property, or to ensure DNR meets its management and administrative obligations. (Learn more | WAC 332-52-100)
Pets
Pets are allowed on department-managed lands, except in areas that are closed to pets or animals for the protection of wildlife, sensitive natural systems, special cultural areas, or for other purposes. All pets must be on leash. If pets are accompanying livestock, they can be off leash but must be voice controlled. (Learn more | WAC 332-52-140)