Parks & Trails
Nearly 10% of the island is parkland - forest trails, public beaches, and a salmon stream you can walk along.
Eight parks and counting.
The Anderson Island Park & Recreation District maintains almost 10% of the island as parkland - woodland trails, public beaches, tidal lagoons, and salmon-bearing streams. For a small island, it's a lot of ground to cover.
Below is a quick orientation grouped by what you're after. For trail maps, current conditions, park rules, and the full list of parks - eight developed and three still undeveloped - the Park District's own site is the authoritative source. We link to it generously - this page is a front door, not a replacement.
Parks by what they're good for.
Hiking & Nature
Parks DistrictAndy's Marine Park is the marquee hike - 81 acres on the west side, a forested trail down to roughly three-quarters of a mile of public beach, with Olympic Mountain views and a tidal inlet that's an active salmon nursery. The trailhead and parking are off Claussen Road; you can also arrive by boat.
Andy's Wildlife Park connects to it via the Deweyert-Claussen Trail, with a level 2.5-mile loop through heavy woods. Jacob's Point Park, about two miles from the ferry, offers more trails and beach with wildlife viewing - orcas, seals, and eagles on a good day. Smaller trail parks like Jane Cammon, Idie Ulsh, Montalvo, and St. Anne's Woods round out the system.
Beaches & Shoreline
Parks DistrictAndy's Marine and Jacob's Point both reach tree-lined saltwater beaches. A word of real caution from the Park District: the island sees tidal swings of nearly 18 feet, and some tidal zones turn into deep, sucking mud that has trapped small craft and people. Check the tide before you walk out, and don't cross mudflats you don't know.
For lake beaches and swimming areas, see Lakes & Beaches.
Kids & Sports
Parks District & RivieraThe Old Schoolhouse and park, run by the Park District, has a sports court, playground, and picnic table, and currently houses the island's Fitness Center (slated to move to Rick Anderson Place). Inside the Riviera, the parks add up fast: Gordon Nece Park has disc golf, a fountain, and tiny Pine Lake with a small dock signed for fishing by anglers 17 and under; Interlachen Park has a playground, sports courts, and a zipline; and Ray Park has a playground and a volleyball court.
Riviera parks are for RCC members and their guests; the schoolhouse grounds are public.
Dogs
Parks DistrictFreddie's Off-Leash Dog Park on Sandberg Road is the island's dedicated off-leash spot - a fenced acre with two areas, an obstacle course, covered seating, and a trail connecting into Andy's Wildlife Park. Leashed dogs are now welcome in several other parks too, including Andy's Wildlife, Jane Cammon, Idie Ulsh, and Tom's Park.
A handful of parks stay closed to dogs to protect sensitive salmon and shoreline habitat. The Park District keeps the current dog rules and the full list on its Dogs in Our Parks page - worth a look before you go.
A salmon stream running through the parks.
Several of the island's parks sit along Schoolhouse Creek, where an ongoing salmon-restoration effort - including a Pierce County culvert replacement - is reopening the stream to spawning runs. Andy's Wildlife Park and its connected trails are the heart of it, and interpretive signs along the way explain the work.
It's a quiet thing to witness: a small island community restoring its own salmon run. The Park District has the details on its Salmon Restoration page.
Two more places to walk.
The Park District runs most of the island's parks, but not all of them. Two others are worth knowing.
Johnson Farm
A preserved early-1900s homestead and public park maintained by the Anderson Island Historical Society - open dawn to dusk, with grounds to wander and a genuinely good gift shop on weekends, March through December.
Johnson FarmRiviera Parks
The Riviera maintains its own parks around the lakes - Ray Park, Interlachen, Gordon Nece, and others - for members and their guests. Lake access, swimming areas, and a boat ramp are part of the picture.
About the RivieraMore things to do.
Things to Do Overview
The full rundown - parks, lakes, golf, paddling, and the museum - and what's actually open to the public on a small island.
Read MoreLakes & Beaches
The two lakes, the swimming areas, the public shoreline, and which lake access is open to everyone versus Riviera members.
Read MoreGolf
The Riviera's 9-hole course is open to the public - a small, walkable round with views you wouldn't expect on an island this size.
Read More