New Trailhead Direct Routes and Stops
Trailhead Direct is back, now with new route options that better connect you to popular hikes in the Greenway!
This transit-to-trails shuttle service makes it easy to catch a King County Metro bus to numerous recreation destinations, including the Issaquah Alps, Mailbox Peak, Mount Si, and new stops at Little Si and Cougar Mountain’s Sky Country Trailhead.
Starting April 20, Trailhead Direct will provide weekend and holiday service every 30 minutes from Seattle’s Capitol Hill Station, University Street, Mount Baker Station, and now the Tukwila International Boulevard Station, with additional stops at Eastgate, Issaquah Transit Center, and North Bend Park-and-Ride.
Trailhead Direct was first launched in August 2017 as a pilot project sponsored by King County Metro and King County Parks with the mission to connect more people to the regions great outdoors while additionally reducing dangerous vehicle congestion at trailheads. Trailhead Direct brings to life the longtime Greenway dream of accessing wilderness on the Metro. Transportation options like Trailhead Direct are more important than ever to sustainably connect our growing urban population to our beloved outdoors, and to make access to public lands more equitable. In 2018, Trailhead Direct provided more than 10,000 rounds trips. Thanks to additional funding from the City of Seattle, King County was able to expand and modified this service based on customer feedback from last season.
New routes and stops create a better-connected transportation system that offers hikers opportunities to hike from one Trailhead Direct drop-off location to a different pick-up location. All routes now connect at the Issaquah Transit Center where people can more easily transfer to Trailhead Direct routes. Please see below the changes and additions that were made.
New Route! Cougar Mountain
Start and end point: Bay 1 Tukwila International Boulevard Station on Southcenter Boulevard (downstairs from the Link light rail platform).
Additional stops at the Renton Transit Center, Renton Highlands, and Issaquah Transit Center. Riders can connect with other Trailhead Direct services at Issaquah Transit Center to hike elsewhere in the Issaquah Alps and Mailbox Peak.
Issaquah Alps
Trailheads: Margaret’s Way, Chirico Trail-Poo Poo Point, the High School Trail, and East Sunset Way
Start and end point: Mount Baker Transit Center Bay 2 across the street from Sound Transit’s Mount Baker Link light rail station on Rainier Avenue South.
Additional stops at Eastgate Freeway Station and Issaquah Transit Center.
New Route! Mailbox Peak
Trailhead: Mailbox Peak
Start and end point: Issaquah Transit Center: 1050 17th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA 98027 – Shuttle to Mailbox Peak will no longer begin at satellite parking lot at Twin Falls Middle School.
Additional stop at North Bend Park-and-Ride at 301 North Bend Way.
New Stop! Mount Si
Trailheads: Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, new! Little Si
Start point: Bus stop at Broadway and East Denny Way across from Sound Transit’s Capitol Hill Link light rail Station located at 140 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
End point: Bus stop at East John Street and Broadway East, adjacent to Sound Transit’s Capitol Hill Link light rail station on Broadway East in Seattle.
Additional stops on First Hill, on Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle near the University Street Link light rail station; the Eastgate Freeway Station in Bellevue; and the North Bend Park-and-Ride
The program is a public-private partnership between King County Metro Transit’s Community Connections Program, King County Parks, the Seattle Department of Transportation, REI Co-op, and Clif Bar and Company. Many community partners have come together to support this effort, include the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, the cities of Issaquah, North Bend, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila, Eastside Fire and Rescue, ECOSS, Issaquah Alps Trails Club, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Si View Metropolitan Park District, The Mountaineers, The Wilderness Society, TOTAGO, U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Washington Trails Association.
Need help planning your next hiking trip? Trailhead Direct is partnering with TOTAGO (Turn Of The App – Go Outside) a free transportation-focused web and mobile application for the outdoors. Plan your trip on Trailhead Direct with integrated hiking and transit information, plus offline trail maps if you download the iOS or Android app.
