An expanded service including more trailhead and pick-up locations is coming to Trailhead Direct for the 2018 season.

The highly successful Trailhead Direct is back is business for the 2018 season, returning with an expanded service including more trailhead and pick-up locations.

The Trailhead Direct pilot program kicked off last year as a joint effort between King County Metro and King County Parks Department and help of nonprofit partners like WTA to reduce vehicle congestion at popular trailheads in the Issaquah Alps. It was a step towards ensuring more equitable access and public transportation to trails as the demand for hiking opportunities around Seattle, Issaquah and North Bend continue to grow.



King County's Trailhead Direct will be back for its second summer. Photo by Keiko Betcher.

Last year, during the shortened season of August-September, about 900 hikers used the service, averaging around 40 riders per day. This season the service will return with bigger and better routes to reach even more hikers—easing congestion at trailheads and helping car-free hikers make it out on trail.

Find the full schedule for each route on the Trailhead Direct website.

Issaquah Alps

Starting on Saturday, April 21, the Issaquah Alps shuttle will pick up riders at the Mount Baker Transit Center, Eastgate Freeway Station and the Issaquah Transit Center, (all of which have plenty of parking spaces and are a bus ride away from downtown Seattle) and carry hikers between popular trailheads like Margaret’s Way, Poo Poo Point, the High School Trail and East Sunset Way.

Mount Si/Mount Teneriffe

A new route to Mount Si and Mount Teneriffe will begin on Saturday, May 19. The shuttle will pick hikers up from the Capitol Hill Link Light Rail Station, Eastgate Freeway Station and the North Bend Park & Ride and shuttle between the Mount Si and Mount Teneriffe trailheads.

Mailbox Route - Coming Soon

In early summer, an additional Trailhead Direct service will run from a free parking lot in North Bend to the very popular Mailbox Peak trail.

The Details