5 Best Suburban Hikes in Seattle's Issaquah Alps

If you don't have time to venture far from the city, check out one of these five hikes in Seattle's suburbs.

Greg Heil

Images

13849217123_e075664264_k.jpg
36990362033_fd6b68850f_k.jpg
2606688368_84e0bc8722_k.jpg
3205645434_71ae825614_o (1).jpg
24052043103_84bfa104c9_o.jpg
31392575552_a885cea47b_o.jpg
372656422_a9133927cc_o.jpg
18470392839_e0e6904a27_o.jpg
101911417_755dd9d4e9_o.jpg
29492644458_40f29b1010_k.jpg
3194847231_8c89825dc6_k.jpg
Taylor Mountain trail

by King County Parks Your Big Backyard

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
3151633704_bb09cdd112_k.jpg
Taylor Mountain forest

by King County Parks Your Big Backyard

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
6820024443_39297b1d24_o.jpg
18470392839_e0e6904a27_o (1).jpg
8624551903_73e2aa29d3_o.jpg
27809341168_7c61a84446_o.jpg
35890122515_0fd020d6ed_o.jpg
4063044820_4c1e843c91_o.jpg
5799108314_fb8f97e247_o.jpg
35849444686_b6b9eb4b05_o.jpg
Poo Poo Point

by Paraglider at Poo Poo Point

Creative Commons: Attribution
e8f75969-3d48-4810-99a8-570429aa6fc5.jpeg
c6d8ec9d-a21f-47e0-a59a-44a4872562ea.jpeg
Cougar Mountain

by King County Parks Your Big Backyard

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
aa144f1f-1b5e-45a8-b0c4-3c6259c15c32.jpeg
dc0dd09d-617b-447f-a094-1a7c93c8fa8e.jpeg
29623934283_df2e392f07_6k.jpg
IMG_0418 (1)hdr.jpg
Seattle Skyline

by Greg Heil

Creative Commons: Attribution

Description

While Seattle is within easy striking distance of epic hikes in both the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains, if you don’t have time to drive far from town you can still access incredible trails with just a few minutes of car time. All five of the hikes included in this guidebook are located within minutes of downtown Seattle, and yet all five are still respectable adventures that will leave you feeling rewarded and accomplished at the end of the day!

The highlands rising above the suburb of Issaquah form the undisputed hotbed for suburban Seattle hiking. Known locally as “the Issaquah Alps,” these foothills “follow Interstate 90 from the shore of Lake Washington almost to the western face of the Cascade Range,” according to Wikipedia.

The Alps are home to “the popular Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain trail networks, [which] can see a lot of people,” according to Megan Michelson on Outside Online. You’ll also find the Squak Mountain and Taylor Mountain trail systems in the alps, as well as Rattlensake Ridge, Rattlesnake Mountain, and so much more.

Get started exploring the Issaquah Alps with these five must-do hikes!

Sources:
https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/08/job-ranking-top-cities-population-growth-census-data-us/596485/
https://www.outsideonline.com/2404959/6-great-hikes-do-seattle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issaquah_Alps

Adventures

West Tiger 3

One of the most popular hikes in Seattle leads to a gorgeous view of the Cascades.

Poo Poo Point

This grassy knoll on the shoulder of West Tiger Mountain provides beautiful views of Mt. Rainier and the nearby suburbs.