Luther Burbank Park and the I-90 Trail
Mercer Island's Premier Waterfront Park
Hike Length: variable, up to several miles (more if you hike the I-90 Trail)
Hike Difficulty: easy
Revised 8/4/2021
Mercer Island's Luther Burbank Park is a quick and easy getaway by bus from Seattle. The park features almost a mile of Lake Washington waterfront and several miles of walking paths. It's a perfect place to relax.
Luther Burbank Park
Getting There & Back
Frequent buses travel to the Mercer Island Park and Ride from downtown Seattle (Sound Transit 550 and 554).
Use TOTAGO to get round-trip transit directions, plus offline trail maps if you download the app:
The Hike
From the Mercer Island Park and Ride bus stop, walk east a few paces, then turn left (north) onto 81st Ave. SE. Go right (east) onto SE 24th Street, and follow it to the park entrance. Helpful signs direct you to the park.
At 77 acres, Luther Burbank Park contains a satisfying collection of attractions, including three-quarters of a mile of Lake Washington waterfront, and almost three miles of meandering pathways for walking and bird watching. Views from the paths include Seattle, the Eastside and even the Cascade Mountains.
When finished with your Luther Burbank visit, you have some options if you want more exercise. You can hike on the I-90 Trail, which is located at the south end of Luther Burbank Park. Because of its proximity to I-90, this trail can be noisy but offers a scenic vista of Lake Washington where the trail crosses it on a two mile long floating bridge. Bring ear plugs for more enjoyment of the walk across the bridge. The park built on a freeway "lid" at the west side of Mercer Island is a scenic ( and quiet) destination if you head west from Luther Burbank Park on the trail.
Heading east on the I-90 Trail will take across the East Channel Bridge (also noisy but scenic) and eventually to the south side of the Mercer Slough Nature Park, where there is an extensive network of trails. Next to the park is South Bellevue Park and Ride, with excellent bus service (the park and ride is currently closed due to light rail construction as of 2021, and it is not possible to catch a bus there). The walk from Luther Burbank Park to the park-and-ride via the I-90 Trail is about 2.5 miles.
Another option is to stroll about Mercer Island's new downtown core, which is gradually becoming more densely populated and vital. The greenbelt park and trail system just to the south of the downtown area is worth checking out.
Luther Burbank Park, Seattle skyline in distance