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Fox Island
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Fox Island is a 5.2 square mile island off the south end of the Kitsap Peninsula, in the Puget Sound of Washington state, across from the Tacoma "Narrows". It is semi-rural, with bridge access from Gig Harbor.
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Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Fox Island is connected to the rest of Kitsap Peninsula by a bridge located south of Gig Harbor. It is close to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
By boat
[edit]- 1 Fox Island Yacht Club, 1061 12th Ave. On 17 acres, fronting Cedrona bay. The club has amenities such as a large clubhouse, a field kitchen with a professional gas barbecue, approximately 150 feet of floating dock complete with 30-amp power and water, launch ramp, sport courts and an outdoor play area but reciprocal moorage only.
- 2 Towhead Island Boat Launch, 2607 Fox Island Bridge Rd. Boat launch with limited parking but wonderful views and great place for a picnic.
By bus
[edit]Nearest bus stops to Sound Transit (595), Pierce Transit (100, 101), and Kitsap Transit (Purdy Connector) are at the Purdy Park & Ride (P&R). Local commuters typically drive there to catch the bus into town.
Get around
[edit]
A car is necessary to navigate the center of the island but exploring the area by boat offers unparalleled views of Fox Island's terrain and Mt. Rainier across Puget Sound.
See
[edit]- 1 Fox Island Historical Museum, 1017 9th Ave, ☏ +1 253-549-2461. Saturdays & Sundays: 1PM to 4PM. The museum displays artifacts used by people on Fox Island to illustrate the changes in life styles through the years. There are more than 3000 artifacts on display in dioramas, showcases, and free standing exhibits exploring Fox Island's maritime history. Among them is a display describing the life of former Governor Dr. Dixy Lee Ray, the largest collection of pulley blocks in the state, Native American artifacts, several antique gasoline engines in working order and a display on the historic Mosquito Fleet that once served the area. $1 general admission and members are free.
- 2 Chapel on Echo Bay, 400 6th Ave, ☏ +1 253 549-7039. Situated at the water's edge, this 100-year-old Fox Island Chapel has romantic views of the Olympic Mountains and Echo Bay in the Puget Sound.
- 3 Tanglewood Island and Lighthouse (small island in Hale Passage off the northern shore of Fox Island in Pierce County, Washington). The island was a summer home of Conrad L. Hoska (1856–1910), a prominent figure in the nearby city of Tacoma. From 1945 it hosted a boys' camp, and in the following year the lighthouse structure was completed.
- 4 Fox Island Sand Spit (Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve), 53 Bella Bella Dr. Towards the north west corner of the island is a nature preserve. Please ensure you pick up after yourself and your dog and use the designated parking area to help ensure it stays open.
Do
[edit]
- 1 Fox Island Nature Center, 9th Ave. A 5-acre property south of the Nichols Community Center. It includes lush deep forest, one of the major year-round island streams and several wetlands.
- 2 Nichols Community Center, 690 9th Ave. An old WPA schoolhouse converted into the island Community Center. It has two classrooms with the original blackboards, a kitchen, lavatories, and an auditorium with a stage. The basement is used for indoor play on rainy days.
Fishing
[edit]- 3 Fox Island Fishing Pier, 1453 Ozette Dr. 7AM till dusk. A 5.5-acre park on the eastern tip of Fox Island, with a pier that is a great fishing spot. This unique fishing pier was built by the Department of Fishing and Wildlife and managed by the Pierce County Parks Department. Comprising a beautiful accessible fishing dock with paved pathway and handrails for safety in a picturesque setting.
Scuba diving
[edit]
Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. Many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Giant Pacific Octopus are common, along with friendly wolf eels. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, sea stars, soft corals, anemones and fish can be seen on nearly every dive. The state has offers a guide to parks with launch sites here.
Conservation areas
[edit]- Well-known to regional scuba divers, Z's Reef Marine Preserve is a designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolfeel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction. Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.
Sea kayaking
[edit]Sea kayaking is a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Fox Islands south Puget Sound location allows excellent viewing of thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees in the area and is an excellent place to launch from their public boat launch at 2607 Fox Island Bridge Road. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites and sea kayaking is an excellent way to explore the local tidal pools.
Kayak trails
[edit]Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate 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 by the White House. 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 and Fox Island is well situated in the South Sound section of trails.
- [formerly dead link] Key Peninsula Marine Trail. A 40-mile Peninsular Marine Trail with 14 legs between 15 points of interest during a paddling journey around the Key Peninsula Fox Island is not on the trail however it is nearby.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Fox Island Deli & Grocery, 587 6th Ave, ☏ +1 253 549-2124. 6AM – 10PM. Locally owned grocery store with gas & diesel, bulk propane and deli.
Sleep
[edit]Go next
[edit]By car
[edit]Gig Harbor is to the north and Tacoma is to the east via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
By boat
[edit]Fox Island is a good starting place to explore the area, Penrose Point State Park and the marina at Lakebay is about 2 miles to the west.
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