Grand Ridge

One of King County's newest wilderness parks in Issaquah offers a long trek through quiet woodlands

updated 9/22/2021

As you head east out of Issaquah on I-90 and into the canyon of Issaquah Creek, you experience a wonderfully abrupt transition from suburban sprawl to protected parkland. To the south of the freeway is the well-known and loved Tiger Mountain and its vast wilderness, and to the north is the lower and lesser-known height of land called Grand Ridge.

Local hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers have long enjoyed Grand Ridge’s extensive network of trails. Development has wiped out much of the old trail system in recent years, but King County and the city of Issaquah have worked hard to protect the remaining forest land. With the help of hardworking volunteers, a long new trail (6 miles!) has been created so that hikers can enjoy the rich forests and wetlands in this brand new park. Eventually, KIng County plans to extend the trail all the way to Soaring Eagle Park on the Sammamish Plateau.

Grand Ridge info and maps:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry/grandridge.aspx

https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/gis/web/VMC/recreation/BCT_GrandRidge_brochure.pdf

Grand Ridge cedar grove

Getting There

In downtown Seattle, catch the eastbound Sound Transit 554 bus, and ride to the Issaquah Park and Ride bus station. There, transfer to the Metro 208 minibus Get off at the High Point bus stop, at the first freeway interchange past Issaquah (exit 20).

Since service on the 208 is so sparse, you might want to remain on the 554 and ride to the new Issaquah Highlands park and ride. Access to Grand Ridge from there is discussed below in the Option 2 section.

The Hike

Option 1: Grand Ridge from High Point Interchange

From the High Point bus stop, walk north underneath the freeway overpass and past the on/off ramps. Note the Metro 208 bus stop on the westbound ramp, which you can use to get back to Seattle. Just beyond the ramps, look for a gravel parking lot , the trailhead for the Issaquah-to-PrestonTrail. Walk through the parking lot and past a gate onto the wide, gravel surfaced trail, which is build on the old path of the former Seattle, Lakeshore, and Eastern Railroad. The name "High Point" derives from the fact that is spot was literally a high point on the rail line.

Despite the close proximity of the freeway, the trail is surprisingly pleasant as it follows the wooded ravine containing Issaquah Creek. In a half mile you reach the first of two trails the ascend the ridge. This first trail is the start of the Grand Ridge Trail. If you continue west on Issaquah to Preston Trail, you will reach a second trail junction, the start of the Coal Mine Loop. Follow either of these two trails to head up to Grand Ridge.

Though logged in the distant past, Grand Ridge is now heavily forested with second-growth trees. The large, widely spaced trees are taking on the look of an old growth forest, quite a pretty sight. Houses in the Issaquah Highlands development are sometimes visible to the north, but they don't intrude too much on the serene setting.

For a long hike, stay on the Grand Ridge Trail, which after a steep climb levels out onto a wooded plateau, then reaches a paved road that accesses a luxury home development. Cross the road and walk onto the continuation of the trail on the other side, marked by a King County "Natural Area" sign. Heading through more pretty forest, the trail tops a saddle (elev. 1100') then makes a gradual descent in a valley enfolded by the three highest summits of Grand Ridge. These summits block almost all of the sights and sounds of civilization, making this valley feel exceptionally peaceful.

In this area is a recently constructed loop trail, the Water Tower trail, about 2.5 miles long. It's a pleasant walk, well worth doing.

The Grand Ridge trail continues a gentle descent following an old, grown-over road bed. At a low point, note an unsigned but prominent trail branching right (south); this frequently muddy trail connects with 63rd St, which in turn leads to High Point Way. This is a possible return route to the High Point bus stop if you don’t mind walking roads.

To continue on the Grand Ridge Trail, stay left. Eventually the official trail veers right off the old roadbed at another unsigned junction. The freshly constructed trail dips to a marshy saddle, climbs the side of Grand Ridge's east peak, then turns north toward Duthie Hill Park, slowly losing elevation. The trail eventually reaches the valley floor and crosses a marshy area on a long boardwalk. Beyond the marsh, the trail climbs to the Issaquah-Fall City Road.

If you get this far, instead of retracing your steps, you might walk the Issaquah-Fall City Road west to the Klahanie development and take the Metro 269 bus from there (stops on Issaquah-Pine Lake Road - good service weekdays, none on weekends) back to Issaquah. This makes for a very nice one-way hiking trip of about 9 miles. Otherwise, backtrack on the Grand Ridge trail to the Issaquah-to-High Point Trail. You could return to the I-90 High Point interchange and catch the Metro 208 bus there, but due the sparse schedule of that bus, you are better off walking to the Issaquah Highlands Transit Center or downtown Issaquah for better bus connections.

Option 2: Access to Grand Ridge from Issaquah Highlands

The opening of the new transit center at the Issaquah Highlands development has created a fast and easy way to get to Grand Ridge. Simply ride Sound Transit 554 from downtown Seattle to the end of the bus line, and you are there! Well, sort of...it is a bit of a walk to get to Grand Ridge Trail from the park and ride lot.

At the Issaquah Highlands bus stop, you find yourself in the midst of a rapidly developing urban village. Walk the wide sidewalks of Park Ave eastward and uphill until you reach Central Park located under a power line corridor. Walk south through the park, passing various lawns and sports fields. To the left of the baseball field is the start of a paved trail that leads past a large stormwater retention pond to Grand Ridge Park's newly designated South Pond Trailhead. A newly constructed and lovely stretch of trail (part of the Coal Mine Loop on King County's map) eventually takes you to the Grand Ridge Trail.

There are a few trails internal to Issaquah Highlands that are also worth a look. On the north side of Park Avenue where it passes Central Park, look for the start of "Kathy's Trail", a woodsy romp through a greenbelt.

Getting Back

You could try to catch the Metro 208 bus at the High Point I-90 Interchange, but considering how sparse its schedule is, the best option is to walk to the Issaquah Highlands transit center and catch Sound Transit 554 there.