Tolt Pipeline Trail West

Hike Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Hike Difficulty: Easy
Map: King County Bicycling Guidemap
hike overview map


Yup, another hike on a utility right of way, this one brought to you by the water company. In truth, this is not one of the most exciting hikes around, but there’s enough greenery and views among the suburban sprawl surrounding the trail to keep things interesting. Fans of fermented beverages will enjoy this hike because it passes both the Chateau St. Michael Winery (tours and wine tasting available) and the Red Hook Brewery. Even nondrinkers can enjoy wandering about the lushly landscaped grounds surrounding Chateau St. Michael.

Getting there:

From downtown Seattle, catch the M 255 bus in the bus tunnel. In the University District catch the same bus at Montlake Freeway Station (departing every half hour). After a long, winding 45 minute ride, get off at the stop at 124th Ave NE and 149th street, in the south suburbs of Woodinville [GPS N 47 deg 44 min 10 sec, W 122 deg 10 min 31 sec].

Lack of Sunday M 251 bus service on Avondale Road make this hike impossible then.

The Hike:

From the bus stop near 149th St., walk north on 124th Ave few paces, then turn right (east) onto the Tolt Pipeline trail, which here is a gated gravel road lacking any identifying signs. From here, the pipeline trail heads due east for many miles(taking the place of 150th St.); the actual water pipe is buried and not visible.

Initially, the setting of the trail is thoroughly suburbanized and not very scenic. But as the trail tops the 300 foot summit of East Norway Hill and starts dropping into the Sammamish River valley, the scenery improves quickly. There’s a nice view over the valley to the Cascade Mountains, and a little greenery beside the trail. After a quick descent, the trail crosses a railroad, then shortly afterwards reaches the busy Woodinville-Redmond Road, 1 mile from the hike’s start.

Here, due to the lack of a bridge over the river, you must make a brief detour right(south) to NE 145 street, either via the shoulder of the Woodinville-Redmond Road or on the railroad track right-of-way just east of the road. Either way you soon arrive at the lushly landscaped grounds of Chateau St. Michael winery, definitely worth a visit. Tours of the facility and wine tasting are available.

From the winery, follow the paved trail on the north side of 145th St. past the Redhook Brewery complex and over the Sammamish River to a junction with the paved Sammamish River Trail, onto which you turn left (north). Near this junction, a trailside park provides restrooms and a drinking fountain. After a short walk along the Sammamish River Trail, always busy with bicyclist, joggers, and walkers, you soon rejoin the signed Tolt Pipeline trail ; go right (east) onto it.

The Tolt-Pipeline trail continues its eastbound trajectory alongside a pasture, then after a crossing of the high-traffic 148th Ave [2 miles], leaves the floor of the river valley and begins a brisk, 300' ascent up Hollywood Hill. After topping this first slope, the grade eases off considerably. The trail dips and climbs through rolling hills, passing country that is still quite suburban, but of the more large-lot, horse pasture variety. Views east toward the Olympic Mountains and west toward the Cascades open up as the trail climbs to the summit of Hollywood Hill [4 miles, 550'].

The trail then makes a long, gradual descent down to the Bear Creek Valley, where it reaches Avondale Road, the end of this hike [5 miles]. There is a M 251 bus stop here. Try to plan your arrival here carefully, because bus service is rather skimpy.


Getting Back:

Catch the southbound M 251 bus on Avondale Road. Note that the M 251 bus schedule is confusing because Avondale Road does not show up on the schedule. The nearest time point is the Woodinville Park and Ride, which is some distance away. To minimize waiting time, you can safely arrive at the Avondale Road bus stop up to 5 minutes after the bus departure time listed for Woodinville Park and Ride.

Once on the M 251 bus, ride it to Bear Creek Park and Ride. From there, you can catch the ST 545 busses to get the University District Montlake Freeway Station and downtown Seattle.

Rev 02.07.06