Hansville (Washington)

There are many ways to get to the Hansville highway but only two ways to get to Hansville. Come down the Hansville Highway from Highway 104 or come by boat to one of the many communities that makes up the Greater Hansville area.

Come to Eglon, Cliffside, Shorewood, Driftwood Key, Skunk Bay, Norweigan Point,or to a private dock on the Twin Spits side of the canal.

• Twin Spits Marina, Vista Key Dr NE. 
• Driftwood Keys, 37608 Vista Key Dr NE, ☏ +1 360-638-2077. Open moorage available for 2 to 3 days at a time. With a locked gate and ample tow parking 
• 🌍 Point No Point Water Access (N on SR3 from Bremerton, then NE on SR307 to Hansville Rd., go 8 miles N on Hansville to PT no Pt rd., east 1 mile to property, approx 1/4 mile west of Pt no Pt Light station). State-owned water-access site with on-site camping provided by private concessionaire. 

• Kitsap Transit, ☏ +1 360-479-6962, toll-free: +1-800-501-7433, kitsapride@kitsaptransit.com. Kitsap Transit offers transit services throughout the area including pickup from all ferry terminals and connects with Mason Transit (Mason County), Pierce Transit (Pierce County), and Jefferson Transit (Jefferson County) offering connections outside of the area. Full fare $2; it is part of the regional ORCA network system. 

The Kitsap Audubon Society has been meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Point No Point County Park near Hansville at Kitsap County's northern tip is particularly important for birds migrating the Pacific Flyway. The Audubon Society designated it an Important Bird Area (IBA), and it is considered one of the most important migratory areas in the state.

Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles (640 km) of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings Hansville is a great launching place being between the Hood Canal and the main channels of Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns like Hansville that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.

• Cascadia Marine Trail. This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads including nearby Hood Canal. 
• Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails. The National Parks Service named the this 'Trail of the Month' in the entire USA for December 2012. PDF copies of the water trails map are available and a launch near Hansville is the northern most point on the trail. 

Unlike many rocky areas around Puget Sound, Hansville does offer sandy beaches at the park surrounding the lighthouse. Oysters, clams and moon snails are common sites and this is an excellent area just to watch boat traffic on Puget Sound.

Sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed. Decomposing shells provide nutrients to other sea animals and driftwood helps control beach erosion. However the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Shellfish are prized resources of the Puget Sound, the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Hansville's wild coastline is a popular place for individuals to find these elusive and sought after shellfish. Maps of public shellfishing areas and health warnings and updates can be found online at the States Fish and Wildlife website, as with all fishing in Puget Sound permits are required and can be purchased online or in some sporting goods stores.

• Foulweather Bluff. Open year-round for clam- and oyster-fishing, however it is boat access only. There is no upland access. The beach is about 0.65 miles (1 km) from boundary to boundary. The boundaries are not marked. The best landmark for this beach is the northeastern point of Foulweather Bluff. The northeastern point is about 270 yards north of the eastern boundary and 970 yards east of the western boundary. It is recommended that harvesters stay well within these boundaries to avoid trespassing. Approximate GPS coordinates of the northeastern point of Foulweather Bluff are: 47.940º N, 122.604º W. 

Hansville is at the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula so there is nowhere to go but south to Kingston which has a large ferry terminal connecting to the mainland The historic town of Port Gamble is also near and worth a stop to see their historic buildings if your on your way to the Olympic Peninsula via Hood Canal Bridge.

Hansville is a last stop on the Kitsap Peninsula before heading on to the San Juan Islands via the Admiralty Inlet or also offers good access to the Hood Canal. If you are following the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails Hansville is also close to the Port Gamble to Foulweather Bluff leg of the trip.