Lake Desire Wildlands

A ramble in King County's Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park

Hike Length: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 500'

Hike Difficulty: moderate

Updated 9/22/2021

A surprisingly extensive swath of King County parklands around Lake Desire, east of Renton, makes for a fine hiking venue. A small peak with a rocky heart named either Cedar Mountain or Echo Mountain (depending on which map you use) offers a fine view out towards the Cascades. Lakes, ponds, wetlands, and creeks abound in this glacially scoured terrain. Try hiking here, you will like it!

The trail network around Echo Mountain is complex; to get full enjoyment, use a smart phone app designed for backcountry navigation, such as Gaia GPS. Maps on this app show the trail network in detail.

Here I describe a long loop walk that hits many of the highlights of the area.

A pleasant trail in Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park

Getting There

From Seattle, ride Metro 101 to South Renton Park and Ride, then transfer to Metro 148. Get off when the bus turns left on Petrovitsky onto 143 Ave and 177th Street (this is the end of the line).

The Hike

At first, this route is a suburban street walk. You will want a good paper street map or smart phone map app to navigate this maze.

Walk east on Petrovitsky, then cross at the light at SE 177th. Continue walking east on SE 176th. This turns into 155th Ave, then SE Fairwood Blvd.

Turn left onto 160th Pl. SE. Continue walking on the road as it changes to 162nd, then SE 165th St. Turn right onto 164th Ave. Continue on 167th St.

Right (south) onto Parkside Way SE. Left onto 171st Pl.

Across from 168th Ct., next to a house, look for the start of the McGarvey trail, marked by a King County park sign.

The good quality path immediately leaves the sight and sound of houses and heads into woodland. In a short quarter mile, you arrive at a signed trail junction; take the left branch, the East McGarvey Trail (the right branch ends at Lake Desire Dr. after a quarter mile). This trail once was a bit sketchy, but now it is wide and well built. It rambles for a half mile through woodland, crossing a paved road (174th) part way along. One quarter mile beyond the road, stay right at a signed junction.

This next stage of trail is quite lovely as it twists and turns through the hilly forested terrain. A creek is crossed via a sturdy bridge, then it bends south toward Cedar Mountain and starts climbing a hillside with gentle switchbacks. About one mile from the last junction, the trail reaches a junction with a much more developed trail, part of the extensive system of trails in King County's Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park.

There are miles of trails to explore here. The terrain is low but rugged, almost like a miniature mountain range. I suggest heading for the highest point, Cedar Mountain. To do this, stay right the junction, then follow the signed Cedar Mountain Trail. all goes well, you will find yourself climbing an increasingly steep trail among big trees and mossy boulders. You will enjoy a good aerobic workout here. A major trail joins from the left shortly before you reach the the top.

The summit of Cedar Mountain is a bald of bare, glacially scraped rock. Rest here and enjoy the views and sun(maybe). The summit seems much higher than the actual elevation of 880'. When ready to continue, backtrack a few feet and follow the major trail downhill. This path traverses to the south side of Echo Mountain, then takes a descending switchback route down the forested slope. Finally it ends at a forest road. Continue hiking south and downhill on the gravel lane, which is a gated service road and little driven on.

For the shortest return route to your bus, turn right on a unsigned but major trail. Then turn left at the next junction on another wide trail (no sign), then right at the next junction After a short climb, the trail reaches a paved road and parking area at the end of Lake Desire Drive. A tempting looking path called the Three Lakes Trail invites exploring if you have the time.

Otherwise, hike west on Lake Desire Drive, which has little traffic and is a pleasant walking route. You get glimpses of the lake itself beyond the line of houses along its shore.

After a half mile or so, turn left onto a wide, post-blocked path that cuts through from Lake Desire Drive to SE 185th Place. Turn left onto 173rd Way SE, then SE 188th St. Cross SE Petrovisky Rd.

On the far side of Petrovisky, you will find the Lake Youngs perimeter trail. Turn right (north) and and follow the trail as it circles the fenced perimeter of the Lake Youngs watershed reserve on a zigzag course. Eventually the trail settles on a course heading due west.

Near the intersection of SE 183rd Dr. and SE 184th St, veer right off the Lake Youngs Trail and onto a water pipeline right of way heading northwest. This leads to Petrovisky. Walk west for a short distance, then go left onto 143rd Ave. This quickly bends right and turns into 177th St. Metro bus stops are located here.

Ferns on the rocky summit of Echo Mountain

Getting Back

Hop onto the Metro 148 bus on 177th St. and ride to South Renton Park and Ride. Transfer to Metro 101 to get back to Seattle.