KEY PENINSULA TRAIL

A safe and scenic trail connecting the people and places of the Key Peninsula to each other and to a healthier, more vibrant future

Above: Illustration of Key Peninsula Trail concept

Below: Key Peninsula Trail Concept Map

The Key Peninsula Trail concept has been in the works for decades. The “head-to-toe” system of trails will connect the many parks and public facilities on the Key Peninsula while providing a safe path for pedestrians, equestrians, and bicyclists. Connecting the Key Peninsula Trail to the Cushman Trail in Gig Harbor and to trail systems in Kitsap County and Mason County will open access to the entire Puget Sound region for non-motorized recreation and transportation from the Key Peninsula.

The Key Peninsula Trail concept has appeared in official Pierce County, Puget Sound Regional Council, and Key Peninsula planning documents since 1994. Building the Key Peninsula Trail from Purdy at the north end all the way to Devils Head at the southern tip of the peninsula will be a major undertaking involving State, County and local agencies as well as private citizens and organizations. Public support is critical to the success of this project!

The trail will be planned and constructed section-by-section over a period of years. Preliminary work on Section 1 from the Key Center Library to Red Barn Youth Center began in 2026. Preliminary work on Section 2 from Gateway Park/360 Trails to Rocky Creek Conservation Area is expected to begin in 2027.

The KP Trail Task Force meets monthly to advance the progress of the trail project, plus meeting with stakeholders like public agencies and legislators to gain support and explore funding opportunities for the trail.

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BENEFITS OF THE KEY PENINSULA TRAIL

CONNECT COMMUNITIES

The Key Peninsula Trail will provide a connection between our local activity centers – offering pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists a much safer alternative to traveling along the busy highway.

SUPPORT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

The Key Peninsula Trail will improve quality of life and health for residents of the Key Peninsula by offering a long distance trail right here at home, with all of outdoor recreation’s mental and physical health benefits.

LINK TO REGIONAL TRAILS

Connecting the Key Peninsula Trail to the Cushman Trail in Gig Harbor as well as Kitsap and Mason County trail systems would open access to the entire Puget Sound region for non-motorized recreation and transportation from the Key Peninsula.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Key Peninsula Trail will draw users from around the region to visit local businesses while also providing a safe route of non-motorized travel for local residents to access our commercial centers.

HONOR KP HISTORY

Key Peninsula’s history is marked by foot and horse travel, from the paths and portages of the Coast Salish tribes to the backwoods trails that linked early homesteads. These social trails have been largely lost, but a renewed trail will bolster the connections between families and forests that are a big part of what makes the Key Peninsula special.

KEY PENINSULA TRAIL IS IN THE PLAN

2026
Preliminary work begins on Key Center section from Library to Red Barn
Link to document
2020
Pierce County PROS Plan (2020-2030)
Link to document
2020
Key Pen Parks Comprehensive Plan (2020-2024)
Link to document
2018
Puget Sound Regional Council PROS Plan (June 2018)
Link to document
2014
Key Pen Parks Comprehensive Plan (2014-2019)
Link to document
2010
Devils Head Acquisition for Pierce County Parks (2010)
Link to document
2008
Key Peninsula Community Plan (2008)
Link to document
2003
Key Pen Parks & Recreation District Comprehensive Plan (2003)
Link to document
1994
Pierce County PROS Plan (1994)
Link to document

Pierce County Planning

The “Head-to-Toe Trail” concept on the Key Peninsula has appeared in official Pierce County plans for the last 30+ years. A significant investment was made by Pierce County in 2010 with the acquisition of the 94-acre property known as Devils Head, with the stated intention to develop that property into the southern-most destination of the Key Peninsula Head-to-Toe Trail.

Below are relevant excerpts from County plans over the years:

Pierce County Parks, Recreations, & Open Space Plan 2020-2030 (Update 2026) shows a list of Capital Improvement Projects including:

Pen Met Parks and Key Pen Parks Districts Regional Trail Partnership
Implementation date of 2027-2030 (PDF page 18)

Pierce County Parks & Recreation 2010-2011 Capital Facilities Plan describes the acquisition of the 94-acre site at the southern tip of Key Peninsula known as Devils Head. The plan reports:

“The [Devils Head] site is also part of two important trail systems – the southern terminus of the Head-to-Toe trail, a valuable connector in Pierce County’s Regional Trail system and the Cascadia Marine Trail, also included in Pierce County’s Regional Trail plan. The Cascadia Marine Trail extends from the waters at the Canadian border to Olympia. There are landing sites at various points along Key Peninsula, but no water access along the southern section, which makes the Devil’s Head acquisition a critical addition for the community.” (page 4)

Gig Harbor Key Peninsula Comprehensive Parks Recreation and Open Spaces Plan (1994) includes a recommendation for:

An interconnected system of trails is proposed to serve the Gig Harbor/Peninsula Area. A mainline, or trunk trail is proposed from the tip of the Key Peninsula traveling north through Purdy. After crossing State Route 16, it turns south and divides into two primary trail route systems. These two trails provide the backbone system for the Gig Harbor Peninsula. Secondary or connector trails branch off this backbone system to provide linkagges to other recreation facilities and neighborhoods. Routes were chosen to traverse known rights-of-way, undeveloped areas, or existing roadway routes where rights-f-way or off-road routes were less feasible. This trail system will provide both paved and unpaved trails. (PDF page 114-115)

Key Peninsula Planning

The “Head-to-Toe Trail” concept has also appeared in official Key Peninsula plans since the first Comprehensive Plan was created by the Key Peninsula Parks & Recretation District (the agency pre-dating Key Pen Parks) in 2003.

Below are relevant excerpts from Key Peninsula plans over the years:

Key Pen Parks Comprehensive Plan (2014-2019) lists Trail Systems among Goals & Objectives:

“Develop a high-quality interconnected system of linear parks/trails and corridors that connect significant environmental features, public facilities and developed local communities and business districts.” (page 10)
Key Pen Parks properties planned to be destination points along the head-to-toe trail (Pages 16-19)
Peninsula School District and community center properties planned to be destination points along the head-to-toe trail (Pages 23-25)

Key Peninsula Community Plan (2008) includes the goal of developing a trail system:

GOAL KP PR-2 Trails: Develop a community-wide system of recreational trails. The system of trails should link neighborhoods with parks, school sites, and other public property. Public lands and existing rights-of-way should be used for trail purposes whenever feasible. (PDF page 129)

Key Pen Parks & Recreation District 2003 Comprehensive Plan includes sections on:

Pedestrian Trails “in keeping with the intent of the original plan for the Head to Toe Hiking Trail as proposed in the 1994 comprehensive pan from J.C. Dragoo and Associates” (PDF page 9)
Hiking Trails “The Dragoo Comprehensive Plan of 1994 mandated the development of a Head-to-Toe Hiking Trail from Devils Head along the length of the peninsula to intersect the planned multi-user Cushman Trail. Although nothing has been done since that mandate, the Key Peninsula Trails Committee has recently begun investigating a feasible route for a peninsula long hiking trail.” (PDF page 24)

The Key Peninsula Community Plan (2008) aims to promote:

A small town, socially connected community dominated by a rural landscape.
Regional trails connect people with rural landscapes and inspire care and advocacy for natural and agricultural environments. The KP Trail would reinforce the unique character of the Key Peninsula.