Squak Mountain

A beautiful and rugged Issaquah Alp with miles of trails

revised 1/13/2018

Squak Mountain Park is small in area, but its rugged slopes offers some of the best walking in the Issaquah Alps. This hike starts right in downtown Issaquah, then climbs out of the valley to make a rambling arc around Squak’s 2024’ summit. A viewpoint at the midpoint of the hike offers a great place to soak up the sun and view Mt. Rainier (if the weather gods permit, of course). The hike ends with a two mile downhill walk through quiet suburban neighborhoods to Tibbets Park and the good bus connections at Issaquah Transit Center.

The trail network on Squak is complex; be sure bring along the latest Green Trails map of Squak Mountain to sort the maze out. You’ll need good navigation skills for this hike. Smart phone apps, such as Google Maps, now show the trails on Squak Mountain, which can be a big help.

Remains of Bullitt family's lodge on Squak Mountain

Getting There

In downtown Seattle, catch the Sound Transit 554 bus and ride it to downtown Issaquah (Sunset and Front Street). Walk Front Street south to Newport Way.

The Hike

This hike starts at the intersection of Front Street and Newport way. Walk west on Newport across the bridge over Issaquah Creek and then immediately turn left onto Wildwood Boulevard. A few feet beyond the intersection, turn left off the road onto a paved drive heading toward the creek. This is the beginning of the “Squak Mountain Access Trail” as shown on the Green Trails map. A display sign describes the coal mining history of Issaquah.

The walk along the creek, a rather sizable rush of water in winter, is quiet and pleasant. Beyond a gate, the drive turns to gravel. After a third of a mile, you reach a small dam and fish ladder on Issaquah Creek. Here the trail climbs away from the creek on wood steps, then passes to the left of an apartment building. Watch for signs directing you through this confusing area. The trail follows a driveway for a bit, then squeezes between two condo complexes via a narrow greenbelt. Beyond the condos, the trail crosses a road (Sunrise Place); a sign at the far side confirms that you are on the Squak Mountain Access Trail [1.0 miles, 190’].

Past the road, the well-built trail quickly takes you into wilder country. It climbs steadily, crosses a succession of cascading creeks in fern-filled gulches, then reaches the pretty valley of Crystal Creek and an junction with Sycamore Neighborhood and East Ridge trails[ 1.9 miles, 600’]. There's a fine new log bridge crossing the creek here. Continue the hike by following the East Ridge Trail, which dips slightly to pass a rocky bluff, then begins a stern climb up the ridge on steep but well-built tread. The trail switchbacks upward through an open forest of large Douglas firs, with peek-a-boo views out toward Tiger Mountain. The dry, gravely soil of the ridge supports a understory of sallal and oregon grape, quite a change from the wetter forest below.

The trail gradually levels out on the upper part of the ridge, passes a junction with the East Side Trail , then drops a bit down to Thrush Gap, an tranquil place enfolded by mountain ridges on all sides. From the Gap, it is just a short climb to the junction with Phil’s Creek trail [3.6 miles, 1500’]. Turn right (S) here. Phil’s Creek Trail gradually descends on an old road, passing a horse barrier and a junction with Phil’s Connector trail along the way. Turn right (east) at the junction with the May Valley Loop Trail [4.4 miles, 1100’]. In a short distance, the trail crosses a creek, then reaches the wide, gravel-surfaced South Access Road [4.5 miles, 1070’].

Follow the road uphill a quarter mile and turn right (E) on a newly built portion of the May Valley Loop Trail. Just past a crossing of Bullitt Creek, the trail reaches an intersection with the Bullitt Gorge Trail [5.0 miles, 1280’], onto which you turn left (uphill). This trail is leaf-covered and little used. It climbs steeply along the side of the gulch of Bullitt Creek, then levels out at a signed junction[ 5.3 miles, 1580’]. Turn right (east) onto the recently improved Perimeter Loop Trail, which gradually climbs to a gentle, forested ridge top and the intersection with the viewpoint trail [5.8 miles, 1750’]. The sign for the view trail has been broken off; look sharp for the path taking off to the right and perhaps a fragment of a sign nailed to a tree. The short side trip to the viewpoint is well worth the effort, for it offers the best view on Squak Mountain, even better than the view from Squak’s summit, which is hemmed in by trees. From the south-facing bluff, you can see out over May Creek valley and a vast expanse of the Green River Valley, all the way to Mount Rainier. On a clear day, the sun-warmed rock is a pleasant place to take an extended rest. Beyond the viewpoint, the Perimeter Trail traverses forested slopes and reaches a junction in a deeply wooded saddle [6.0 miles, 1800’]. This is the highest elevation of the hike. Turn left onto the Chybinski Loop Trail, an old road which has decayed into a pleasant path. The trail descends steadily to a creek crossing, then reaches a junction with the West Access Trail [7.2 miles, 1200’]; turn left (downhill). A short distance later, turn right(N) onto the Coal Mine Trail [7.3 miles,1080’]. This nearly level trail passes some gullies filled with vegetation and pools of water, all that’s left of the former mine. At the next junction [7.5 miles, 1100’] turn right (downhill) onto the road-like Bullitt Access Trail, which makes a steady descent to a reader board and trailhead on Mountainside Drive [8.0 miles, 740’].

From here, it’s a two mile walk on quiet suburban streets to the end of the hike at Issaquah Park&Ride. Walk down Mountainside Drive, then turn left onto Mountain Park Boulevard at a major ”T” intersection. Follow Mountain Park as it climbs briefly, turns north and inexplicably changes its name to Mount Olympus Drive. At a major “Y” intersection [ 8.5 miles, 400’], stay on Mount Olympus Drive as it branches left. Follow the steeply dropping road as it turns north and becomes 12th Ave. Eventually, the large, grassy expanse of Tibbetts Park comes into view. You can avoid some road slogging by crossing the park diagonally (NW) and hitting Newport Way at the edge of the Park&Ride, which span both sides of the street. Cross Newport Way at the stoplight and enter the north section of the Park&Ride; the bus stop is at the west side of the parking lot, adjacent to Highway 900.

A chilly winter day on Squak Mountain

Getting Back

To get to downtown Seattle, catch the westbound Sound Transit 554 bus at the Issaquah Transit Center.