New roadside signs point the way to your next spring hike.
“Public Trail” signs now mark many of the spots where trails meet public roadways, with more signs to go up soon. The wayfinding program is a joint effort of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, City of Bainbridge Island and Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District.
Funding is by the Parks & Trails Foundation, with sign installation by the City.
“This new wayfinding program shows the success of our work to connect the island by trails, linking parks, neighborhoods, schools and cultural areas,” says Mary Meier, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation executive director. “We’ve added 10 miles of public trails over the past decade, with more on the way. These signs empower islanders and visitors alike to access enjoy their public trail system.”
With nearly 50 miles of public trails on Bainbridge Island, a good hike shouldn’t be too hard to find no matter where you are.
Geographically, this is true – but the trails vary widely, from short connections within neighborhoods (like Koura-to-Yukio and Alder-to-Dingley) and between neighborhoods (Old Mill Trail, Finch-to-Weaver trail), to additional entries into parks (McRedmond Trail into Grand Forest East, or Gordon Drive into W. Port Madison Nature Preserve), to still longer, purpose-built hiking trails (the Forest-to-Sky and Blakely Hills trails).
Very few trailheads have had signs easily visible to passing motorists and bicyclists. Many may not know about the trails they are passing by, especially narrow, less-conspicuous paths that wind off into the woods.
The new wayfinding signs – consistent in design, and easy to see – will point the way to the many miles of public trails enjoyed by countless residents and visitors alike each year.
Most will be “Public Trail” and “hiker icon” signs at trail-meets-road locations, so passing motorists can watch for walkers leaving or entering the trail. Miscellaneous “To Trail” directional signs are also planned, with a third round of signs in 2027.
Support the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation’s “Trails Connect Bainbridge Island” campaign with a gift today. Your gifts will help us complete two more trails this year – the Lost Valley Trail (nexus of a cross-island route from Winslow to Gazzam Lake) and the Waypoint Woods Gateway Trails. See www.biparksfoundation.org/build-trails.