Transit Alert – Ride & hike: Trailhead Direct returns with more weekend service to more trailheads; connect to Cougar Mountain hiking trails starting 4/20

King County Metro Transit and Parks departments are partnering again to bring Metro
riders to area trails during the 2019 hiking season.

This Saturday, April 20, Trailhead Direct, seasonal weekend and holiday transit-to-trails
service, provided by a partnership between King County Metro Transit and Parks, will
return with more routes connecting hikers with convenient transit rides to popular
trailheads.

In response to customer feedback from the 2018 season, King County added and
modified Trailhead Direct service to provide more trail access to more people, with new
routes and stops to create better connections and more hiking options that also now
provide hikers with opportunities to transfer from one Trailhead Direct route to another
at Eastgate, Issaquah or North Bend (see timetables for specific details and
connections).

Cougar Mountain service
Trailhead Direct – Cougar Mountain
Riding Trailhead Direct is a great way for weekend hikers to get to the Sky Country
trailhead that provides access to a network of trails in the Cougar Mountain area.

Some of the trails in the Cougar Mountain area accessible from the Sky Country
trailhead, include:
- Sky County
- Military Road trail
- Cave Hole trail
- Nike Horse trail
- Old Man’s trail

Service days & times
Trailhead Direct service operates on Saturdays and Sundays, and on Memorial Day,
Monday, May 27; Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, and Labor Day, Monday,
September 2.

Cougar Mountain service operates about every 30 minutes from 7:36 AM to 1:28 PM
from the Tukwila International Blvd Link light rail station at bus Bay 1.

On the way to Cougar Mountain it serves the Renton Transit Center at Bay 4, and the
Renton Highlands, northbound on Union Av NE just north of NE 4th St.

It then serves the Sky County trailhead at Cougar Mountain and ends at the Issaquah
Transit Center.

Returning from the Issaquah Transit Center at Bay 5, via Cougar Mountain, it operates
about every 30 minutes between 10:40 AM and 6:44 PM, and returns to Renton and
Tukwila.

Hikers are encouraged to plan so they don’t miss the last return trips.

Major stops and transfer points
Hikers who want to access the Sky Country trail can ride regular Metro (or Link light rail
for Tukwila International Blvd Station) service to - or park, if applicable, at – Tukwila
International Blvd Station, Renton Transit Center or the Issaquah Transit Center.

For information about riding regularly scheduled bus service to connect with Trailhead
Direct service, visit Metro’s online Trip Planner or its Android or iOS mobile apps to find
out how to ride Metro routes
- 124, 128, the RapidRide A Line or the RapidRide F Line to
  Tukwila International Blvd Link light rail station;
- 101, 106, 107, 169 or the RapidRide F Line to Renton Transit Center;
- 105 to Renton Transit Center or the Renton Highlands;
- 208 or 269 (on Saturdays), or 271 on any day, to the Issaquah Transit Center;
- DART Route 908 (on Saturdays) to Renton Transit Center & Renton Highlands, or
- Sound Transit Express Route 554 to the Issaquah Transit Center.

At Issaquah Transit Center, hikers can also connect with other Trailhead Direct services.

Fares and how to pay
Riding Trailhead Direct costs the same as riding regular Metro service, including for
Youth, ORCA LIFT and RRFP cardholders. 

Payment of a valid fare is required for riders 6 and older, all regular transfer and fare
policies apply.  Up to four children through age 5 may ride free with a fare-paying adult.

Upon boarding, pay your fare with exact change, a convenient regional ORCA card
or an activated Transit GO mobile ticket.

FAQs
Visit Trailhead Direct’s FAQ page for information about planning your hike and what to
carry, safety, trail etiquette, biking and more.

Trailhead Direct – more service
In addition to the new Trailhead Direct – Cougar Mountain service, please also see
information about the Issaquah Alps route, the revised Mount Si / Little Si route, and the
revised Mailbox Peak route and the new Issaquah Alps route.

Information
For more information about Trailhead Direct, including FAQs, blog posts and sponsors,
visit kingcounty.gov/trailheaddirect.

For transit trip planning, including Trailhead Direct routes and regular transit service that
connects with them, visit Metro’s Puget Sound online regional trip planner.  When
planning Trailhead Direct trips, enter a weekend or holiday day/date in your query.

For assistance during business hours on weekdays, call Metro’s Customer Information
line at 206-553-3000.

For hiking and trail information, visit the Washington Trails Association website.

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