Grand Forest on Bainbridge Island
Grand Forest is the moss-and-fir hike: 240 acres, about eight miles of trail, woods that grew back after logging. Relatively flat. Dirt, mulch, gravel. You come for quiet, not a viewpoint or a summit selfie. Not a walk from the ferry.
Start at Grand Forest West unless you already know East. Island-wide clocks: visitor guide.
At a glance
Size
240 acres. West is 121. North is a separate 39-acre parcel. About eight miles of trail.
West parking
About ten stalls at Miller Road. That lot is the trail-user destination.
East parking
About eight stalls on Mandus Olson Road. Smaller, easier to miss.
Main loop
West Main Trail: a flat 1.5-mile walk, wood bridge over Issei Creek, a small pond on the east edge.
From Winslow
About twelve minutes by car. Not a walk. BI Ride is not a promise to this lot.
Directions
Map: Grand Forest listing. Printable Park District maps: biparks.org.
The lots are tiny.
Ten cars at West. Eight at East. A sunny Saturday late morning is how you drive around looking for a stall. Go earlier, or have Battle Point as the overflow hang.
West, East, and Forest to Sky
West is where most people should start. The Main Trail is a flat 1.5-mile loop with a wood bridge over Issei Creek. “Issei” means first-generation Japanese immigrants — the creek name is part of this island’s Japanese American history, not a random label on a map. The rock cairn off the Ron Williamson Trillium Trail (about a mile) is a popular sit. There is no wheelchair access right now: forest floor, not a paved path.
Forest to Sky, McRedmond, and Hilltop connect West to East. Forest to Sky is the longest (about a mile) and keeps going to Battle Point Park, so you can walk woods and then dump the kids at the playground without moving the car twice.
North Grand Forest is a separate piece of land. You cannot wander from West to North without a map.
Getting there from the ferry
The Seattle ferry lands you in Winslow. Grand Forest is west of downtown, past the high school, not a trail from the dock. About twelve minutes. Highway 305 backs up when a boat unloads.
- Car. The correct tool. Street shoes on a mud slog are not.
- No car. Book BI Ride, a taxi, Uber, or Lyft and the ride back. There is no stand at Miller Road.
Once you are on the island: getting around. Jacket every month.
What else that day
Battle Point is the natural pair — Forest to Sky dumps you at the play structure and pickleball. Bloedel is a different ride and a timed ticket. Do not do woods, gardens, and a tight last boat.
Rain: still go if you have real shoes. Light rain on firs is the island. Street sneakers after two days of rain are how you hate Grand Forest.
The Explore Bainbridge app
Live ferry, map from the dock, itineraries. Free. Download it on the boat. explorebainbridge.com.
FAQ
Where do I park for Grand Forest?
West: about ten stalls at Miller Road. East: about eight stalls on Mandus Olson Road. Both lots are small. This is not a walk from the ferry.
How long is the main trail?
The West Grand Forest Main Trail is a flat 1.5-mile loop with a wood bridge over Issei Creek. Whole system is about eight miles across 240 acres. Forest to Sky is the connector toward Battle Point Park.
Is Grand Forest wheelchair accessible?
Not currently. Dirt, mulch, and gravel. Relatively flat, few steep pitches, still a forest floor.
West or East?
West is the trail-user destination and the 1.5-mile main loop. East is Mandus Olson. Forest to Sky, McRedmond, and Hilltop connect them. Start West unless you already know East.
Can I do Grand Forest on a walk-on day?
Only with a booked ride. BI Ride is not a promise to this lot. Pair it with Battle Point if you already have the car. Do not stack it with Bloedel and a tight last boat.