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Around-the-Bay Trail
Hiking in Port Ludlow

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The Around-the-Bay trail links the North Bay and South Bay areas of Port Ludlow. Signposts (numbered and incised with "ABT") have been placed along the trail to guide walkers. The numbering system starts on the North Bay side; the numbers get higher as you travel south.

The Around-the-Bay trail can be entered and exited at any point along the route so you can walk it in segments depending on your ability, available time, and the location of your home. Almost all the other trails in Port Ludlow either intersect the Around-the-Bay trail or have a nearby access point.

There is minimal elevation gain or loss on the Around-the-Bay trail, maybe 20 feet at the most. The trail is approximately 2.5 miles in length; 5 miles if walked as a loop.

These directions assume you start at Port Ludlow Marina, at the northern terminus of the trail, and travel south to the holding pond at the southern end of the trail, near Bayview Village.

Parking is available in the gravel lot above the Port Ludlow Marina. From the marina, follow the access road out onto Oak Bay Road and turn left without crossing the road. Head south, walking so that you can see any traffic that is coming, until you reach at Scott Court. At approx. signpost #3, cross Oak Bay Road and walk along the asphalt pathway on the west side of the road. The Rainier Loop trail intersects the Around-the-Bay trail along the asphalt pathway at signpost #4.

A little south of the entrance to the North Bay Condominiums, the asphalt pathway on the west side of Oak Bay Road will appear to end and you'll reach signpost #5. The asphalt pathway resumes on the other (east) side of Oak Bay Road, so you'll need to make a second crossing of Oak Bay Road to stay on the paved path. Just south of the last building in the North Bay Condo #2 group, the paved pathway rejoins Oak Bay Road at Waterhouse Lane.

There are two alternate routes between your location at the intersection of Oak Bay Road and the segment of the trail directly across from the Village Center.

The shorter, but less scenic route, is to simply continue straight ahead along the east side of Oak Bay Road, walking on the shoulder facing the traffic. You'll cross a bridge over a ravine, then turn the corner onto Paradise Bay Road. A couple decades ago, this bridge used to wash out periodically, but that has been fixed for some time.

Please do not take a shortcut through the business property at the corner of Oak Bay Road and Paradise Bay Road.

After you turn the corner onto Paradise Bay Road, look for signpost #8, which directs you back to the path again. Or, if you want to stop in the Village Center, stay on the roadside. There are several crosswalks in this area, but traffic does not automatically stop. Please use extreme caution!
The much more scenic, but slightly longer and more strenuous route starts either at Waterhouse Lane or at the top of the path that leads down the hill. The path going down the hill intersects the road just south of the posts that block off North Bay Lane between the condominiums and the new in 2006-2007 homes. This was the location of a old large nurse log that used to be in the middle of a turn-around that the fire department hated because they felt it was too small for their trucks. When the developer was Olympic Resources, they made a verbal promise to preserve that nurse log, but by the time North Bay Lane was extended, the developer had reorganized and the nurse log "disappeared" during construction of the then-new homes..

Either go down that path or turn left at Waterhouse Lane and follow it as it curves left down the hill. When you reach the flat North Bay Lane (at the stop sign if you go down Waterhouse Lane), turn right so that you are going south again, and walk to the edge of the road and across the small bridge. The trail drops into the ravine and crosses the stream via a large bridge, then climbs up the other side and ends on Ebb Tide Court. Follow Ebb Tide Court until it connects with the trail again, directly across from the Village Center. Turn left.

Continue to follow the trail south from across from the Village Center. After a short distance, the trail returns to the pedestrian lane along Paradise Bay Road. Walk along the west side of Paradise Bay Road, facing traffic, as you cross Ludlow Creek where it empties into Port Ludlow Bay.

After you cross Port Ludlow Bay, look for signpost #12 marking the trail as it passes Inner Harbor Village. Cross Spinnaker Place and proceed along South Keel Road past Hidden Cove Village.

If you want to transition to the Timberton Loop, look for a short narrow trail about 100 yards beyond signpost #14. If you exit to the right and cross Paradise Bay Road (using extreme caution), you'll be on Timberton Drive. The Timberton Loop trail head is about half way up the hill.

To continue on the Around-the-Bay trail, keep walking straight to the end of South Keel Way. The trail will enter the woods at this point. follow it until it emerges onto Camber Lane. Staying to the right, walk along Camber Lane and turn right onto South Bay Road. Follow South Bay Road until it ends at Paradise Bay Road. Turn left on Paradise Bay Road, stay on the west side and walk facing traffic for a short distance until you reach Ludlow Bay Road. Cross Ludlow Bay Road and walk a short distance to a trail segment on the right.

At milepost #22, you go up a hill through the woods next to the Wedgewood Short Plat, and emerge back onto Paradise Bay Road, just short of Mariner Place. Turn left on Paradise Bay Road and walk on the west side in the pedestrian lane again for a very short distance. Turn left onto Mariner Place and continue to the far end of the cul-de-sac.

At the cul-de-sac end of Mariner Place, look for milepost #25, which marks another trail segment along a tall wood fence next to the house at 120 Mariner. The trail soon enters the woods again and eventually reaches a chain link fence which encloses a detention pond system. Go through the gate (being sure to close it behind you) into the pond area.

Enjoy the abundant bird population in the pond area, especially red-winged blackbirds. When you reach the end of the pond area, turn left, exit through another gate, turn left again onto Ludlow Bay Road, and follow Ludlow Bay Road back to Paradise Bay Road.

Retrace your steps to the Marina to complete the loop.

Port Ludlow's trails are privately owned, operated, and maintained for the residents of Port Ludlow, their guests, and guests of the resort. Dogs must be on leash and owners should bring a bag to pick up all pet waste.

Because of potential fire danger, there is NO SMOKING on any of Port Ludlow's walks or trails.

All users of this Port Ludlow trail assume all responsibility for their actions, including their personal safety. Please use extreme caution at all road crossings - automobile traffic does not automatically stop for pedestrians!

See the notes on trails for additional comments, requests for courteous conduct, and other notes.

The above description is based on information provided by the Port Ludlow Village Council Trails Committee in a handout, and on personal experience. Copies of the original PLVC Trails Committee handouts (which are shorter and do not contain any editoralizing) are available at the Bay Club and the Beach Club.

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Port Ludlow :: a Master Planned Resort Community for All Ages :: Birding, Boating, Golfing, Hiking, & More

Around-the-Bay Trail Hiking in Port Ludlow

Around-the-Bay Trail
Hiking in Port Ludlow