It's not every day that a mile and a half of fully built trails becomes part of the public trail system – but that's exactly what happened with the Blakely Hill Trails. 

The 2020 donation of these trails, on approximately 55 acres east of the historic Port Blakely Cemetery, was made possible through the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. The trail easements were subsequently transferred to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, ensuring their long-term management and public access. 

Though the name "Blakely Hill Trails" is new, the paths themselves are familiar to many local hikers. The network includes informal trails and one of the island's oldest roads, crisscrossing a forested hillside bounded by Old Mill Road, Blakely Hill Road, and Blakely Avenue. It also incorporates the well-loved Blakely Cemetery Trail, which climbs from Blakely Harbor to the quiet pioneer cemetery above. 

The trails traverse varied terrain, from dense second-growth evergreens to open stretches beneath broadleaf canopies. The grades are generally uphill from south to north, offering a vigorous climb from Blakely Harbor Park.  

The Blakely Hill Trails are part of a larger vision for a connected south-end trail system. It's now possible to hike from the Eagledale neighborhood all the way to Fort Ward Park entirely on public trails – a significant achievement for community connectivity, outdoor recreation, and personal wellbeing. The trails offer a safe, scenic alternative to roadways and encourage healthy, active lifestyles while deepening connection to the island’s natural environment. 

This gift underscores the importance of having a visible and accessible organization like the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, one that landowners can turn to when considering how to preserve and share the island’s natural spaces for the benefit of the entire community. 

Blakely Hill Trails
Completed with support and in celebration with the Suquamish Tribe
Project Partners: Private land donor, Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District
Donated to the community: 2020