Larry Scott Trailhead

General Location

Trailhead is on the western edge of the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven.

General Description

A multiuse trail system along wetlands and shoreline of Port Townsend Bay. The entire system inside the City limits is over 7 acres of designated open space along wetlands and shoreline of Port Townsend Bay. The City is responsible for maintenance of the trailhead and assists the County Parks Department in garbage removal. Jefferson County maintains the restrooms, benches, bike racks, interpretive signs and kiosk, lighting, and garbage cans. The Jefferson County Parks and Trails page has a lot of great information about this trail.

History

A section of abandoned railway grade was deeded to the City in 1997 by the Port Townsend Paper Company. The strip of waterfront along the railroad grade was converted to a trail with a terminus at the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven and dedicated in September 1998 as the Larry Scott Memorial Trail. It will eventually extend all the way to Port Angeles as part of the Olympic Discovery Trail System, providing one of the most scenic routes for alternative travel on the Olympic Peninsula. The Urban Waterfront Plan identified the railroad transfer span that extended into the bay as a desirable feature for public access. The span was accessed from the Larry Scott Memorial Trail. In 2010, Department of Natural Resources money was acquired and the span was removed because of concerns about creosote contamination. Future expansion of the trail will extend to Port Angeles. The trail serves as an excellent example of intergovernmental cooperation.

Total Acreage

7.07 acres