Hikes in the Issaquah Alps
Over the years living in Sammamish, I have put together a little go-to list of some easy hikes that I like to take with my boys. Many are within city parks but still somehow manage to put you on a trail where you feel like you’re deep in the woods. And because you’re not 2 hours into the Cascade Mountains you normally also get well maintained paths and super low crowds. There’s nothing worse to me than driving to some great trail head and then enjoying it with hundreds of other hikers… I much prefer the casualness of a open trail – and let’s be honest, my kids have no idea where they are! We could be hiking Mt. Rainier for all they know!
Slight warning… even in Issaquah we have plenty of wildlife. My best sighting was just on the trail near my house where my 3-year-old and I came around a bend and right into a mother black bear and her 2 cubs. We might think the deep woods are hours up i-90 but the bears (and even cougars!) still think this is their home. Here’s a link with reminders about what to do when you see various animals in our Pacific Northwest backyard.
1. Hazel Wolf Wetlands
This loop trail in the heart of Sammamish is so unknow and under-used that sometimes you feel like you’re hacking your way through the forest more than going on a hike. But my kids think this is super fun. The trail itself is just slightly rugged and can be navigated easily by little legs.
The trailhead is right in a neighborhood: 24733-24739 248th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
The Wetlands loop is just 1.7 miles, but you can up this to 3 miles by turning off part way into Beaver Lake Preserve.
Things to bring: bug spray, lunch and water, Ergo or baby carrier
Things to leave at home: stroller – this hike is not stroller friendly, the dog – portions of the park are “no dogs allowed”
Parking: streetside and free
Our next favorite hike in the area does have you driving up i-90 a bit and is more of a traditional trailhead. So I only do this hike on weekdays to avoid the crowds. But this entire area is full of off-shoot trails and various loops to give you as much adventure as your family needs. The highlight of the trial is the abandoned bus (hence the name…).
The trailhead is just off exit 20: 26415 SE 79th St, Issaquah, WA 98027
Length of the hike really depends on the route you take, but you can easily make this an under 1 mile experience.
Things to bring: bug spray, the dog, water & snacks or lunch, ergo or baby carrier
Things to leave at home: stroller – you can do some of the trails with a stroller but it will limit your options
Parking: Discover Pass
The bus is at #5 on this map – we usually head right there then loop around the lake and just wander.
I have a whole separate post about this with some ideas about what you can do in Issaquah after your hike: A Hike at Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish
But the Cliff Notes version is that this easy loop trail is in the heart of Sammamish just next to Beaver Lake. You start next to the lodge and follow the below map (see the numbers for an order to follow). This trail goes through the woods (via an easy to navigate, packed dirt trail) but also swings by a playground and a dog park. We also enjoy spending some time next to the lake, throwing rocks and letting the dog swim (if it’s not busy).
Park on the lake side, near the lodge: 25201 SE 24th St, Sammamish, WA 98075
This is about a 3-mile, mostly flat loop. My 4-year-old was able to complete the whole hike on foot.
Things to bring: jogging stroller (the trial can handle “bicycle” type tires) or the baby carrier, water bottles, snacks, lunch, the dog
Leave at home: any stroller with small plastic wheels
Parking is free, no passes needed
Big Rock Park is a fun area, just perfect for little kids in the center of Sammamish. My boys love the zipline and embankment slide adjacent to the parking lot. But I love the wooded area just behind where you can hike to “Big Rock”. This park is nestled between some Sammamish neighborhoods and is mostly enclosed by the fences of these private properties. Because of this we just like to wander, map free and choose random trails to take and see where things take us. This is a great way for the kids to navigate through the woods in a controlled environment and use their instincts to pick a direction.
If you want to add to your adventure you could snag a reservation for The Treehouse and head into Big Rock Park Central. The Treehouse is open March through October and reservations are released a few months at a time.
We park at the north side of the park, closest to the zipline: 21805 SE 8th St, Sammamish, WA 98074
This is such an easy hike and can be as short or as long as you’d like. I’d encourage even young walkers (2+) to at least try and walk a bit of this trail.
Things to bring: baby Carrier for really little ones, sunscreen on a hot day as there is almost no shade near the zipline and slide.
Things to leave at home: almost everything else – this hike is so lowkey we often just stop by Big Rock Park spontaneously. If you’re looking for a treat after there’s a Met Market just down the road.
Parking is free and no passes are needed.
Yellow Lake Trail is our most frequented hike (and the sighting of our mama black bear!), because it is literally right in our front yard! We only have to walk one block to access this beautiful lake in the heart of the Klahanie neighborhood. The path is packed dirt, so very easy to navigate. Along the loop you’ll pass a great playground, multiple “exercise stations” where the kids can practice their pull-ups, and a dock on the lake where we stop to feed the ducks. There’s also a Fairy Garden, an area where kids have built teepees out of sticks over the years, and a beaver house. This is also a bike friendly trail – I often put the kids on bikes and run behind them.
Park in the Lakeside pool parking lot or just along Klahanie Drive next to the playground: 4210 244th Pl SE, Issaquah, WA 98029
The loop is an easy 1.25 mile circle and is mostly flat.
Things to bring: jogging stroller, bikes, snacks, water, duck food (uncooked oats, frozen peas, cut grapes), the dog
Things to leave at home: stroller with plastic wheels
Parking is free and no passes are needed.
Click here for more information on the Yellow Lake Trail.
And finally, don’t forget your Nature Hike Scavenger Hunt printable to add a little extra to your outdoor adventure!
