Grand Ridge

Hike Length 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Hike Difficulty: Easy
Maps: Green Trails “Tiger Mountain” # 204S (not very good); Issaquah street map or King County Thomas Guide.
hike overview map


As you head east out of Issaquah on I-90 and into the canyon of Issaquah Creek, you experience a wonderfully abrupt transition from suburban sprawl to protected parkland. To the south of the freeway is the well-known and loved Tiger Mountain and its vast wilderness, and to the north is the lower and lesser-known height of land called Grand Ridge.

Local hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers have long enjoyed Grand Ridge’s extensive network of trails. Development has wiped out much of the old trail system in recent years, but King County and the city of Issaquah have worked hard to protect the remaining forest land. With the help of hardworking volunteers, a new trail has been created so that hikers can enjoy the rich forests and wetlands in this brand new park. Eventually, KIng County plans to extend the trail all the way to Section 36 park (recently renamed “Soaring Eagle Park") on the Sammamish Plateau.

Getting There

From downtown Seattle, catch the eastbound ST 554 bus, and ride to the Issaquah Park and Ride bus station [GPS N 47 deg 32 min 32 sec, W 122 deg 03 min 44 sec].

There, transfer to the M 209 minibus. The M 209 bus goes through downtown Issaquah, then heads eastbound onto I-90. Get off at the High Point bus stop, at the first freeway interchange past Issaquah [N 47 deg 31 min 52 sec, W 121 deg 58 min 45 sec].

There is no M 209 bus service on Sunday.

The Hike

From the High Point bus stop, walk north underneath the freeway overpass and past the on/off ramps. Note the M 209 bus stop on the westbound ramp, which you can use to get back to Seattle. Just beyond the ramps, look for a gravel parking lot , the trailhead for the Issaquah-to-High Point Trail. Walk through the parking lot and past a gate onto the wide, gravel surfaced trail, which is build on the former Seattle, Lakeshore, and Eastern Railroad. The name “High Point” derives from the fact that is spot was literally a “high point” on the rail line.

Despite the close proximity of the freeway, the trail is surprisingly pleasant as it follows the wooded ravine containing Issaquah Creek. In about a mile, the trail reaches a junction with the Grand Ridge Trail, marked by a blue “King County Natural Area” sign. The sign does not indicate what trail this is or where it goes; unfortunately poor or nonexistent signage is the rule here.

Go right (uphill) onto the trail, which utilizes an old, nicely aged roadbed to ascend the steep hillside. Soon you will reach an unsigned junction; here stay right. The left-branching trail is a useful (but poorly maintained) link to Issaquah Highlands.

After a brisk climb up a thickly forested slope, the trail levels out and traverses into a pretty ravine with a good-sized creek, where much of the freeway noise is left behind. Beyond the creek, the trail resumes the climb which gradually becomes gentler as the path reaches the broad plateau-like summit of the ridge.

Though logged in the distant past, Grand Ridge is now heavily forested with second-growth trees. The large, widely spaced trees are taking on the look of an old growth forest, quite a pretty sight. Houses in the Issaquah Highlands development are sometimes visible a hundred yards to the north, but they don’t intrude too much on the serene setting. About a long mile from the Issaquah-to-HIghpoint trail junction, the Grand Ridge Trails crosses in quick succession a cable line right- of-way ( once used as a hiking trail but not any more) and two small creeks. The trail then ends at the side of a paved road that accesses a luxury home development.

Cross the road and walk onto the continuation of the trail on the other side, marked by a King County “Natural Area” sign. Heading through more pretty forest, the trail tops a saddle (elev. 1100’) then makes a gradual descent in a valley enfolded by the three highest summits of Grand Ridge. These summits block almost all of the sights and sounds of civilization, making this valley feel exceptionally peaceful. Much of the way in this valley, the trail is following an old, grown-over road bed. At a low point, note an unsigned but prominent trail branching right (south); this frequently muddy trail connects with 63rd St, which in turn leads to High Point Way. This is a possible return route to the High Point bus stop if you don’t mind walking roads. 

To continue on the Grand Ridge Trail, stay left. Eventually the official trail veers right off the old roadbed at another unsigned junction. The freshly constructed trail dips to a marshy saddle, climbs the side of Grand Ridge's east peak, then turns north toward Duthie Hill Park, slowly losing elevation. As of Oct 2007, the trail was nearly completed to Issaquah-Fall City Road, which can be reached by a short scramble up the hillside.

If you get this far, instead of retracing your steps, you might walk the Issaquah-Fall City Road west to Klahanie and take the bus from there (stops on Klahanie Drive) back to Issaquah. This makes for a very nice one-way hiking trip of about 9 miles. Otherwise, backtrack on the Grand Ridge trail to the Issaquah-to-High Point Trail. You could return to High Point and catch the M 209 bus there, but a better option is to follow the trail west into Issaquah, where bus service is more frequent. The trail crosses I-90 at the Sunset Interchange. Follow Sunset Way west into downtown Issaquah, where stops for the M 200 and M 209 busses may be found on Front Street.

Getting Back

From High Point Interchange, catch the westbound M209 bus and ride to Issaquah Park and Ride. If you walked to downtown Issaquah (Front Street), catch either the M 200 or M 209 busses and ride to Issaquah Park and Ride.

To get to downtown Seattle from the Issaquah Park&Ride, take the ST 554 bus.


Issaquah Highlands Trails

The opening of a new transit center at Issaquah Highlands has created a fast and easy way to get to Grand Ridge. Simply ride ST 554 from downtown Seattle to the end of the bus line, and you are there! The vast Issaquah Highlands development has its own trail network which you can access from this transit center. It is also possible to access the previously described Grand Ridge Trail this way.

At the Issaquah Highlands bus stop, you find yourself in the midst of a partially developed office park, which for now consists of empty dirt lots connected by a maze of roads featuring bizarrely numerous stop lights. The empty office park does offer nice views toward the Issaquah Alps and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Walk the wide sidewalks of Park Ave eastbound. Just past a fire station, power lines cross the road. Here you will find a signboard showing a map of the Grand Ridge trails.

Unfortunately, much of the system of trails shown on the map now exists only in the fevered imagination of the Issaquah Highlands developer. As for the trails that do exist, there are hardly any signs showing the way. For a final touch of confusion, the “You are Here” pointer is placed on the wrong spot on the map! But keep the faith, there’s some good hiking out there.

Head right (south) along a dirt service road under the power lines. Urbanity is quickly left behind as the power lines lead you into a block of undeveloped forest. Ahead you can see the forested rim of the Tradition Plateau and the green wooded bulk of Tiger Mountain, a popular hiking destination. In a quarter mile or so, look for an unsigned trail climbing away from the power lines via a steeply inclined trench to the left (east). Believe it or not, this is the official route shown on the reader board’s map. Follow this trail into a quiet, lovely forest.

The trail, following a telephone cable right-of-way, heads through the forest due east, at one point dipping through the valley of a trickling creek, then ending at another, even larger power line corridor next to a sports field.

If you are interested in a long hike, turn right and follow the power lines south. When the lines start plunging down a steep hill, look for a woodsy road which drops down the hill a bit, then contours east along the forested hillside above I-90. Eventually this road joins the Grand Ridge Trail. You can go left and follow this trail for many miles through wooded terrain, or head down the hill to connect with the Issaquah-Preston Trail, near the I-90 freeway. This trail offers walking routes to the High Point interchange(bus M 209 stops here) and downtown Issaquah (M 200 and 209 stops).

For the short loop hike, go left and follow the power line corridor northbound. The Issaquah Highlands developer has used the area under the power lines for lawns, playgrounds, and sports fields. A wide paved sidewalk (part of the “trail” system) lead you through the park; eventually you intersect with Issaquah Highlands’s main drag, Park Avenue. Across the avenue is another reader board and map.

Near the sign, look for and follow an unsigned, gravel-surfaced trail heading into a forested ravine. This pleasant stretch of trail (almost) gets you out of sight of houses. After a half mile, the trail ends at a paved road blocked off in one direction by wood posts. Go left (south) uphill a bit, then follow a gravel trail heading right (east). The trail goes behind some houses, then reaches a power line corridor where it turns south. Following the power lines, the trail passes by two ponds much appreciated by the local duck population, then ends at the edge of Park Avenue.

This is the end of the recommended short loop. Follow Park Avenue west back to the Issaquah Highlands bus station.

Rev 10/3/07