Metro Transit Alert – Ride new Trailhead Direct weekend service to access Issaquah Alps hiking trails

In response to increased weekend parking congestion at area trailheads, and as a way to provide more trail access to more people, King County Metro Transit and Parks have partnered to create Trailhead Direct, a new weekend transit route that combines with regular bus service, or parking at nearby facilities, to provide direct service to several Issaquah area trailheads.

Trailhead Direct is a pilot project sponsored by King County Parks and Metro’s Community Connections program as a way for weekend hikers to get to trailheads that provide access to more than 150 miles of hiking trails in the beautiful Issaquah Alps.

Some of the trails available from these trailheads include:
- Margaret’s Way – Cougar/Squak Corridor trail map
- Poo Poo Point
- East Sunset Way – High School Trail

Trailhead Direct operates Saturdays and Sundays - and on Labor Day Monday, September 4 – every 30 minutes from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, until the end of October, and is expected to be available again starting in spring, 2018.

Hikers who want to access these trails can ride regular Metro service to, or park at, the Issaquah Transit Center or the Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride lot.

At Issaquah Transit Center, Trailhead Direct departs from Bay 5; at the Issaquah Highlands P&R it serves Bay 1.  Because the route is a one-way loop, riders traveling from the Issaquah Highlands P&R will experience a brief layover at Issaquah Transit Center on their way to the trailheads.

For information about riding regularly scheduled bus service to connect with the Trailhead Direct 19-passenger transit van, visit Metro’s online Trip Planner or one of its mobile apps to find out how to ride: 
- Metro routes 208 (on Saturdays) or 271 to the Issaquah Transit Center, or
- Sound Transit Express Route 554 to the Issaquah Transit Center or the Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride.

Regular fares apply on the Trailhead Direct route, and can be paid with an ORCA card.

For more information about Trailhead Direct visit kingcounty.gov/trailheaddirect.

Thank you for riding and for using Metro’s services.