HomeWashingtonBainbridge Island › Fort Ward Park

Fort Ward Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 474 Google reviews · Running trail in Bainbridge Island, Washington · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Fort Ward Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADATrailhead parkingQuiet

Historic park offering boating, fishing, an underwater scuba park & a paved beachfront trail.

What runners say about Fort Ward Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (474 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Picnic tables and a scenic trail around the southwest edge of the island are the main draws here, along with the boat launch.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Serene and peaceful during weekday with joggers and walkers.”

A very nice park to come to and unwind. Well maintained paved trail for bicycling, roller blading, or skate boarding. I love sitting on the benches and laying on the grass and listening to the wind and waves. The trail is short. But, worth it.

★★★★★ — Noel , Apr 2022

Another great little stop as your journeying through Bainbridge Island. There's a 2-mile trail with some insights into history scattered through it. Would love to come back here with our bicycles.

★★★★★ — Joli , Aug 2022

This little park is nestled away in a corner of Bainbridge Island likely unfrequented by tourists. Picnic tables and a scenic trail around the southwest edge of the island are the main draws here, along with the boat launch. I came in search of a view/photo of the Olympic Mountain Range.

★★★★☆ — Steve , Apr 2021

Peaceful and quiet. A quick walk around or biking. Lovely veiws. Highly recommended. I'm a caregiver and I brought my client here with her wheelchair, plenty of room, no issues.

★★★★★ — Toni , Apr 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 474 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“Picnic tables and a scenic trail around the southwest edge of the island are the main draws here, along with the boat launch.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 8 mentions

“We did a loop from the parking lot down to the water, along the paved path, then up the far edge and back to the parking lot on a lovely trail.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Beautiful walking trails dogs need to be on a leash but they're allowed and no Discovery Pass needed.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Serene and peaceful during weekday with joggers and walkers.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“We did a loop from the parking lot down to the water, along the paved path, then up the far edge and back to the parking lot on a lovely trail.”

More trails like this →

Stroller / ADA accessible 3 mentions

“I'm a caregiver and I brought my client here with her wheelchair, plenty of room, no issues.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Fort Ward Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitebiparks.org

Hours

Monday 7 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–9 PM
Thursday 7 AM–9 PM
Friday 7 AM–9 PM
Saturday 7 AM–9 PM
Sunday 7 AM–9 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Fort Ward Park

2241 Pleasant Beach Dr NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Get directions

Running trails near Bainbridge Island

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Blakely Harbor Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 219 reviews

Bainbridge Island, WA

Former logging site featuring walking paths and a graffiti-covered mill as well as picnic spots.

under a mile away

Manchester State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,384 reviews

Port Orchard, WA

LoopNatural surfaceLitScenic

111-acre tree-filled park offering camping, hiking & a picnic shelter in a former torpedo warehouse.

1.2 miles away

Wynn-Jones Preserve County Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

Port Orchard, WA

1.3 miles away

Old Mill Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Bainbridge Island, WA

5 miLoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

1.4 miles away

Bluff Trail

4 ★★★★☆ 1 reviews

Bainbridge Island, WA

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

1.6 miles away

Cross Island Trail

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Bainbridge Island, WA

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Bainbridge Island, WA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.