Hiking is a great way to get out of the house and see something new; the scenery always changes. Here are some great hikes and bike rides to experience on The Eastside.
Hiking -
Redmond Watershed Preserve - {Redmond Ridge}
Address - 21760 Novelty Hill Road
Redmond, WA 98052
Parking - Plenty of space, no special permit required
A natural open space and trail system, perfectly designed for family hiking. For your convenience there are also parking areas and restrooms. The entrance off 209th is equestrian/hiking only. No pets, please. See Watershed Preserve Trail Map!
Saint Edwards State Park - {Kenmore}
Address - 14445 Juanita Drive N.E.
Kenmore, WA 98028
Parking - A Discovery Pass is required.
Saint Edward State Park is a 326-acre day-use park on Lake Washington. They have a big playground, picnicking, hiking, soccer, mountain biking, fishing, bicycling, swimming, bird watching, softball, and horse trails. Most of which are offered in the Holmes Point area. . See Saint Edwards State Park map.
Bridle Trails State Park - {Kirkland}
Address - 5300 116th Ave. N.E.
Kirkland, WA 98033
Parking - A Discovery Pass is required.
Bridle Trails State Park is a 489-acre day-use park with 28 miles of trails that welcomes equestrians, hikers, and visitors. The park features a 1.6-mile-long self-guided interpretive trail, perfect for the family, along with 28 miles of well-maintained trails suitable for recreational horseback riding, walking, jogging, and nature observing. Weekends can be busy with equestrian events.
Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park - {Redmond Ridge}
Address - 19545 NE Redmond Rd, Redmond, WA 98053
Parking - There is ample free parking at Farrel-McWhirter. North parking lot has limited small truck/trailer parking, entrance is on 196th Ave NE. South (main) parking lot accommodates limited disabled parking, and car parking; entrance is off NE Redmond Rd.
Fun for the whole family! Features include a children's animal farm (As of November 2020 the animal farm is temporarily closed due to COVID restrictions) and multi-use trails that connect to the Puget Power/City of Redmond Trail. This park is sure to keep the kids attention for many, many hours .
Burke-Gilman Trail - {Kenmore/Bothell}
Address - The Burke -Gilman Trail runs from North Seattle to Bothell.
Parking - You can access the trail in Kenmore at Log Boom Park. No parking permit required.
20 miles, stretches from Seattle to Bothell, and links with the Sammamish River Trail forming part of the 44-mile “locks to lakes” trail corridor. Paved with a flat grade, perfect for little legs.
Sammamish River Trail - {Bothell to Redmond}
Address - The Sammamish River Trail runs from Bothell to Marymoor Park in Redmond.
Parking - You can access the trail from Blyth Park, Bothell Landing, Jerry Wilmot Park, 60-Acre Park, and Marymoor Park. No parking permit required
11 miles, links with numerous regional trails including the Burke-Gilman, Tolt Pipeline, North Creek, PSE, and Marymoor Connector trails. Provides stunning views of the Sammamish River Valley with opportunities to spot salmon in September and October migrating upriver to Bear Creek. Paved with a flat grade making it an easy walk or bike ride for the kids.
Mercer Slough - {Bellevue}
Address - 2102 Bellevue Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Parking - No permit required
Nestled in the heart of Bellevue, the 320-acre park offers the perfect setting for a variety of recreational experiences: biking, hiking, canoeing, blueberry picking, and environmental education. Interconnected boardwalks, soft surface trails, and asphalt paths transport visitors through this unique urban wetland. See here for the Mercer Slough Nature Park Trails map.
Bellevue Botanical Gardens - {Bellevue}
Address - 12001 Main St., Bellevue, WA 98005
Parking - Parking is free
The Bellevue Botanical Gardens is 53 acres of gardens, wetlands, and woodlands. Perfect place to get out of the house for a short and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is free to wander the gardens and they even have a Children's Discovery Map. For a general garden map, click here.
Brightwater Center - {Woodinville}
Address - 22505 State Route 9 SE Woodinville, WA 98072-6010
Parking - Parking is plentiful and no special permit required.
Come and explore the 70 acres of open space & wildlife habitat open for public use.Take a walk on this easy three miles of walking trails and be sure to be on the lookout for a variety of wildlife including amphibians, mammals, birds, and fish. There are picnic areas and restrooms for your convenience . The trail is not paved and not very stroller friendly.
Weona Park - {Bellevue}
Address - 1420 168th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98005
Parking - No special permit required
This spectacular 90-acre open space park offers miles of peaceful hiking trails through old-growth forest with views of Lake Sammamish and the Cascade Mountains. Phantom Creek descends through the park to Lake Sammamish, creating a series of picturesque waterfalls and pools through a deep ravine.
Big Finn Hill Park - {Kirkland}
Address - 8106 NE 138th St, Kirkland, WA 98034
Parking - There are two parking lots within the park east of Juanita Drive NE.
Big Fill Hill Park, between Kenmore and Kirkland, is both a 220-acre wooded oasis with 9.5 miles of trails and a park with a range of recreation options, including a play area, ball fields, and picnic shelters. The trails at Big Finn Hill Park are steeper in the north and south portions of the park, with more moderate terrain along the ridge tops. Be on the lookout for all types of wildlife.
Biking -
The Sammamish River Trail runs 10.1 miles along the Sammamish River from Bothell to Marymoor Park in Redmond. The trail is paved the entire length and a great and easy ride for the whole family.
Access: Blyth Park, Bothell Landing, Jerry Wilmot Park, 60-Acre Park, and Marymoor Park.
The Burke-Gilman Trail runs more than 20 miles from Shilshole Bay in the City of Seattle to the City of Bothell where it intersects the Sammamish River Trail. The trail is paved the entire length.
Access: Gasworks Park, Matthews Beach Park, Log Boom Park.
