If you haven’t yet discovered Ueland Tree Farm, add it to your list! Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC), your local 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, is working to protect one of Kitsap County’s most beloved trail systems. The 2,200-acre working tree farm sits just outside Bremerton and has welcomed the public for decades — open for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, dog walking, trail running, and even mushroom and berry picking. With over 18 miles of trails, Ueland Tree Farm is known for the ever-popular 2-mile round hike to Dickerson Falls, the 6.5-mile trek to Zach’s Lookout — where clear days reveal views stretching from the Olympic Mountains to Mount Baker and the Seattle skyline— and the 2.9-mile South Loop Trail connecting the Lebers Lane Trailhead and Dickerson Falls.

Starting this year, GPC is working to purchase and protect 1,200 acres of this popular destination—protecting its public trails, as well as the headwaters of Chico Creek, which supports the Kitsap Peninsula’s most abundant and diverse salmon run. Surrounded on three sides by protected forests, the property provides habitat connectivity for wildlife and outstanding recreation opportunities for over 100,000 visitors each year. Protecting these forestlands will allow GPC to establish a community forest and publicly accessible nature preserve, with opportunities for further trail connection across the Kitsap Peninsula.

Founded in 2000, Great Peninsula Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the most ecologically valuable lands in West Puget Sound. Whether you’re drawn to salmon streams, old-growth forests, or simply a peaceful place to enjoy nature, GPC’s work shapes the landscapes you’ll come to love about living here. To date, GPC has conserved over 12,500 acres of wildlife habitat, working lands, and community green spaces—made possible through community support and state and federal conservation programs.

Want to get involved? On June 20, GPC is hosting a free Walk & Talk at Ueland Tree Farm. Join us for a hike, meet our staff, and learn how you can help protect this special place. Registration is now open at greatpeninsula.org/event-calendar.

Ueland Tree Farm
uelandtreefarm.com