Mercer Island’s Pioneer Park

Hike Length: variable, up to several miles
Hike Difficulty: easy
Map: King County Thomas Guide or street map

Introduction:

Mercer Island’s Pioneer Park forms a woodsy getaway in the middle of this mostly suburbanized island. A head-spinning confusion of trails devoid of signs interlace the heavily forested park, which comprises three separate tracts broken by roads. It’s good for several hours of roaming.

Getting There:

From downtown Seattle, catch ST 550 and ride to Mercer Park & Ride [GPS N 47 deg 35 min 18 sec, W 122 deg 13 min 56 sec].

Transfer to M 204 and ride to Pioneer Park, located on Island Crest Way and SE 68th St [N 47 deg 32 min 31 sec, W 122 deg 13 min 29 sec]. There is a park&ride lot and shopping center on the south side of 68th, the park is located north of SE 68th.


Weekend Note:

Weekend bus service is available.

The Hike:

Once off the bus, enter the forest and wander away. When you get tired of one tract of parkland, cross a street and explore another. My favorite section of the park is the north east block, where trails skirt steeply- sided, deeply-wooded ravines

Getting Back

Return the way you came, via busses M204 and ST 550. You could also walk back to North Mercer Park and Ride, a distance of about 4 miles.

Rev 11/27/06