Tolt Pipeline and North Redmond Ramble

Hike Length: 8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 300’
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Maps: Redmond Watershed Park Brochure ( available at the main entrance)
King County Bicycling GuideMap
hike overview map


The 800 acre Redmond Watershed Preserve is a quiet wilderness oasis in the midst of the rapidly suburbanizing land east of the Redmond city center. The park features dense forests, ponds and wetlands, and eight miles of well-groomed trails. Lacking big views and high mountains, the park provides more in the way of relaxation than excitement. Still, it’s worth a few hours of pleasant roaming.

Regional utility corridor trails such as the Tolt Pipeline and City of Redmond Powerline Trail come close to the park. The hike described here combines portions of both these trails with a walk through the Redmond Watershed to make for a full day's outing.

The park's main entrance on Novelty Hill Road can be reached by the M 929 bus coming from Redmond. However, this bus runs only a few times a day and not at all on weekends. The walking route described here offers a better level of bus service.

Getting there:

From Downtown Seattle and University District Montlake Freeway Station, catch the eastbound ST 545 bus and ride to the end of the line at Redmond’s Bear Creek Park and Ride. Transfer to the hourly M 251 bus, which travels north out Redmond via Avondale Road. Get off at the bus stop located conveniently where the Tolt Pipeline Trail crosses Avondale, just north of 146th St [GPS N 47 deg 44 min 05 sec, W 122 deg 04 min 48 sec]. Note that if the Tolt Pipeline Trail were a street, it would be 150th.

There is no M 251 bus service on Sunday.

The Hike:

From the bus stop, go east on the Tolt Pipeline Trail, a wide gravel- surfaced corridor running between the backyards of houses. The actual pipe, which carries water from the Tolt River to Seattle is buried underground throughout most of its length. After crossing the rushing waters of sizeable Bear Creek, the trail begins a long climb to the crest of the east Redmond highlands. A typical east King County land use mix borders the trail's route; undeveloped woodlands, horse pastures, the aging and mossy homes of old time residents, clusters of gigantic ,new-money chateaux.

The trail eventually levels out on the rolling summit of the plateau, crossing several dirt and paved streets. Farther on, it begins to descend steeply into the Snoqualmie River valley, and a view opens up toward the Cascades [3 miles, 400']. It is possible to walk all the way to Duvall on roads and trails, but sparse bus service there makes getting around awkward. After you enjoy the view, I suggest continuing the hike by backtracking toward Redmond, and catching a bus on Avondale Road. Along the way, you can visit Redmond Watershed and Farrell-McWhirter parks.

From the Cascade viewpoint, return via the Tolt Pipeline trail to 232nd Ave, which includes a wide, paved horse/hiker path on its left side. Follow this path south, passing various wetland preserves set among new housing developments. In 1/2 mile, the path and adjacent road reach a major intersection with 133rd St. Continue south on 232nd Ave a short distance to a prominently marked trail crossing, complete with hiker-activated stop light, then turn right (west) onto the signed Redmond Ridge Trail, freshly rebuilt as a part of the surrounding brand-new Trilogy housing development.

The gravel-surfaced trail travels through a pleasant forest greenbelt. In a short distance, it reaches another street and the edge of Redmond Watershed Park. Enter the park, where the roaming is easy in the gentle, heavily wooded terrain. This park lacks big views or much in the way of exciting terrain, but the variety of ponds and marshes scattered throughout the area are pretty and attract abundant bird life. The eight or so miles of trails within the park are immaculately groomed and well-signed. Bicycles and horses are barred from Siler's Mill Trail, making this path especially pleasant for walkers.

When you are ready to leave Redmond Watershed Park, you can take either the Powerline Trail or Old Pond Trail to the west boundary of the park. The Old Pond Trail is the shortest route out and will be described here. After passing by a picturesque dam and pond, the Old Pond Trail crosses the park boundary. The path eventually becomes a private driveway ( a legal public access route to the park), then arrives at the intersection of 122nd St. and 209th Ave, where you have a choice of roads that lead to Farrell-McWhirter Park. The route that avoids the most pavement is to walk due west on NE 122nd St, a dirt road. The road turns into a path on private land where public foot access is permitted, then intersects 204th Ave, here a dirt lane on a gas line right-of-way. Go left (south); in a short distance, the lane passes a post-blocked trail ( the start of a long, winding nature trail eventually leading to NE 133rd St), then turns to pavement. At the next major intersection, cross 116th St and follow Redmond Road a long half mile to the south entrance of Farrell-McWhirter Park. Watch out for traffic on Redmond Road, which is fairly busy at times.

Once in Farrell-McWhirter Park, work your way north through its pleasant landscape via a variety of trails. At the north parking lot of Farrell-McWhirter, locate and follow the City of Redmond Powerline Trail, which leads west through the lushly vegetated flood plain of Bear Creek to Avondale Road [8 miles, 80'].

Getting Back:

Waiting for a bus on Avondale Road is not particularly pleasant, but at least here you have a choice between two bus lines. Take the hourly M 251 bus or half-hourly M 233 bus to Bear Creek Park and Ride; then transfer onto the ST 545 bus to get to downtown Seattle.

Rev 02/26/07