If you are anything like me sometimes you want to get outside and hike without making it a day trip.  One of the great things about living in the Pacific Northwest is that there are almost endless possibilities of hikes we have access to.

Most of them require at least an hour in the car each way, a Discovery Pass and a half of a day commitment.

Below you will find a list of local hiking trails within the Snohomish and King Counties.  Each hike is nearby and has at least a 3 star rating.  Most of the trails are family and pet friendly.

So hop in your car and take a short drive to one of these trails and get outside.

17 Snohomish County and King County Local Hiking Trails

EDMONDS

Meadowdale Beach Park Trail

6026 156th St SW
Edmonds, WA 98026

2.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 425 ft.
Highest Point: 425.0 ft.
Rating: 3.43

Meadowdale Beach Trail is my personal go to getaway.  When my wife and I are in the mood for a fun little hike and we are short on time this is the one.  It is a backward hike, as most are on this list, meaning you go downhill first and uphill on the way back. The tail is well groomed and wanders next to the Lunds Gulch Creek.  There are a couple of benches along the trail that you can stop and enjoy the woods or take a quick break.  

At the bottom of the trail you will hit a small park with volleyball net, horeshoe pits, a covered shelter, picnic tables and porta-potties.  There is a tunnel that goes under the train tracks that leads you safely to the Meadowdale Beach.  

If you hit the beach at low tide you can extend your hike by 1 mile by heading south along the beach line.  You can get as far as Sunset wharf if the tide is low enough.  There is hardly a better spot to enjoy a sunset than sitting on a log on Meadowdale Beach. 

When you get to the park you will go down a steep drive into a small parking lot.  No parking pass is required but the parking lot is almost always full during peak times, try to come during off hours.  If it is full be very careful if you decide to park nearby and walk in.  There are no parking tow away signs all over the place. Once you get parked and make it to the parking lot the trailhead is on the south side. 

 

EVERETT

Green Lantern Trail

Hauge Homestead Park: 1819 121st St SE Everett, WA 98208

2.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 33 ft.
Highest Point: 463.0 ft.
Rating: 3.00

The Green Lantern Trail mostly follows the shores of Silver Lake in South Everett, perfect for those looking to stretch their legs and experience the outdoors without having to leave the city.

Start your journey at the Hauge Homestead Park and end it at the Thornton A. Sullivan park. You will also pass by the Green Lantern park and where the trail gets its name.

With a multitude of attractions including passing through three parks with water access this trail is ready to please! Disc golfers, beach-goers, kids, birders and fishermen alike may all find something here.

 

ISSAQUAH

Squak Mountain May Valley Loop Trail

13201 Squak Mountain Rd SE

Issaquah, WA 98027

6.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1,684 ft.
Highest Point: 2,024 ft.
Rating: 3

This forested park, a wilderness with glimpses of Issaquah below, has miles of winding trails alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines. There are several trail loop options on this 2,024-foot-high mountain. With multi-use trails and a natural area, hikers have plenty to explore in this quiet sanctuary outside of Issaquah.

For those visiting for the first time, or those looking for a new way to experience this side of the mountain, try the May Valley Loop, which climbs through the lush forest on the south side of the mountain to Central Peak, then back down to the Squak Mountain State Park trailhead.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Bullitt Fireplace. All that remains of the the vacation cabin that was owned by the Bullitt family.

Poo Poo Point Trail

11400 Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast Issaquah, WA 98027

7.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1,748 ft.
Highest Point: 2,021 ft.
Rating: 4

Poo Poo Point lies on a shoulder of West Tiger Mountain, and a small knoll there is topped by a mast with a windsock. The knoll is only a few feet higher than the surrounding area, but it qualifies Poo Poo Point – if minimally – as one of West Tiger’s summits.

This hike reaches Poo Poo Point via a forested route, beginning from either of two trailheads near Issaquah High School. For the very different hike that reaches Poo Poo Point via a steep, rocky trail beginning near the glider field, see our entry for the Chirico Trail.

KENMORE

Saint Edward State Park

14445 Juanita Drive NE
Kenmore, WA 98028

3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 400.0 ft.
Rating:3.83

Hike through a diverse century-old second-growth forest with a dense canopy to the undeveloped shoreline of Lake Washington. This historic 316-acre state park, nestled in the midst of the Seattle metropolitan area, has playground facilities for children, picnic areas, trails for mountain bikers, and fields for sports teams as well.

 

KIRKLAND

Big Finn Hill Park

8106 NE 138th St
Kirkland, WA 98034

9.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 100 ft.
Highest Point: 450.0 ft.
Rating: 4.00

Big Finn Hill Park is the lesser-known cousin to the adjoining Saint Edwards State Park in Kirkland. Its expansive 220 acres are worth exploring and getting to know for their miles of meandering trails fit for mountain biking and casual strolling. Chock-full of tall Douglas-firs, ferns and bright green mosses, it offers possibilities to spot eagles, deer and owls.

 

MUKILTEO

Big Gulch

9600 Mukilteo Speedway
Mukilteo, WA 98275

2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 460.0 ft.
Rating: 3.33

Big Gulch includes a system of forested trails in Mukilteo.

 

Japanese Gulch

1101-1599 5th St
Mukilteo, WA 98275

4.0 miles of trails
Gain: 174 ft.
Highest Point: 363.0 ft.
Rating: 3.75

Lots of access points to this network of trails right in the heart of Mukilteo makes for great hiking for all ages.

 

REDMOND

Evans Creek Preserve

4001 224th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98053

4.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 325 ft.
Highest Point: 480.0 ft.
Rating: 4.00

Evans Creek Preserve features a WTA-built trail system in an ecologically diverse enclave. Wetlands, meadows, and hillside forest can be found in this 179-acre farmstead-turned-suburban nature preserve that will thrill both the hiker and the birdwatcher. Not only that, this gem has ADA-accessible trails and is reachable by public transportation.

 

SEATTLE

Camp Long

5200 35th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98126

1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 240 ft.
Highest Point: 350.0 ft.
Rating: 3.25

Camp Long is a hidden gem, a 68-acre enclave in West Seattle featuring old growth forest, wildlife, a variety of hiking trails, rock climbing, ropes courses, camping, and environmental education.

 

Washington Park Arboretum

2300 Arboretum Dr
Seattle, WA 98112

5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 50 ft.
Highest Point: 150.0 ft.
Rating: 3.20
The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum offers miles of trails that wind through forests of maples, magnolias, oaks, salmonberry, and the famous Azalea Way. Visit the Pacific Connections Gardens to see a variety of plant life from various countries that border the Pacific Ocean, or lose yourself in the many groves of trees that line the paths in the park.

 

Discovery Park Loop Trail

3801 Discovery Park Blvd
Seattle, WA 98199

2.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 140 ft.
Highest Point: 325.0 ft.
Rating:3.41

Seattle’s Discovery Park Loop Trail is a designated National Recreation Trail, 2.8 miles long with an elevation change of just 140 feet. It passes through both forest and open meadows, offers extensive views, good prospects for bird watchers, and it can be hiked or jogged year-round.

 

Lincoln Park

8011 Fauntleroy Way SW
Seattle, WA 98136

1.85 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 160 ft.
Highest Point: 160.0 ft.
Rating: 4.00

Located on the western edge of West Seattle, Lincoln park offers 5 miles of trails, including a loop hike with bluff and beachfront views of Puget Sound, Vashon Island, and the Olympic Mountains.

 

Cowen and Ravenna Parks

5849 15th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105

4.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 115 ft.
Highest Point: 200.0 ft.
Rating: 3.00

Cowen and Ravenna Parks form a contiguous urban nature area and green space, containing Ravenna Ravine and Ravenna Creek, in the middle of North Seattle. They contain 4.5 miles of trails that traverse a 0.75-mile stretch of Ravenna Ravine.

 

Golden Gardens Park

8498 Seaview Pl NW
Seattle, WA 98117

2.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 300.0 ft.
Rating: 3.00

Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park is best known for its wide sandy beach; on summer weekends, the large parking lot may be full and the beach crowded. Less well-known is the extensive trail system on the steep slopes east of the railroad tracks, constructed as a WPA project in the 1930s, with wide trails and stone staircases. Today, some of the stonework shows signs of age but the main trails still are well-maintained and in good condition.

 

SNOHOMISH

Lord Hill Regional Park

12921 150th St SE
Snohomish, WA 98290

10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Rating: 3.12

This is a wonderful wild park right in the backyard of those who live in the Everett area. Covering 1,463 acres of forest, ponds and meadows, the area is named for homesteader Mitchell Lord who farmed the area in the late 1880s. Hikers can roam all day on the network of trails leading through the forest, down to the Snohomish River and up to views of the Cascades and Snohomish valley. Explore, and keep an eye out for the wildlife that live in these woods.

 

WOODINVILLE

Paradise Valley Conservation Area

23210 Paradise Lake Rd
Woodinville, WA 98077

5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 150 ft.
Highest Point: 450.0 ft.
Rating: 3.31

Come hike the headwaters of the Bear Creek watershed in this close in Snohomish County Park near Woodinville. Here you will find a mature second growth forest, a wetland that plays a vital role in the health of this salmon stream plus a network of trails for any fitness level.

List Of Local Hiking Trails Within Snohomish and King Counties Summary

We have included 17 different trails and paths that you can get out and explore that are all a short drive from Snohomish County and Seattle.

Now get out there and stretch your legs, breathe that air and let the sunshine hit your face.

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List of Local Hiking Trails Ratings and Info Courtesy of:  Washington Trail Association