City of Issaquah Secures 17.55-Acre “Kelkari” Property on Squak Mountain for $2.5 Million

Kelly Jiang serves as Board President of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and is a member of the Issaquah City Council.

As of March 4, 2026, the City of Issaquah has officially purchased the 17.55-acre “Kelkari” property on Squak Mountain, placing this land into permanent conservation status. The Squak Mountain Access Trailhead, on Sunrise Pl SW, is now officially on public land!

This acquisition has been many years in the making. The acquisition was originally approved in February 2025, following several years of advocacy from IATC, as well as behind-the-scenes negotiations between the City of Issaquah and the former landowner. It took over a year for the transaction to be finalized, given the nature of grant funding timelines for land acquisition.

Funding for the acquisition included $1,875,000 from King County Conservation Futures, a voter-approved levy that was renewed in 2022. The City of Issaquah contributed the remaining $625,000 from its Parks and Open Space Acquisition Fund. The City of Issaquah allocates money each year to this fund in order to have resources readily available to purchase properties when the opportunity arises. 

Following this acquisition, the exciting work of planning and building new trails can begin! IATC is actively working with the City of Issaquah and Washington State Parks on potential new trail connections between the newly acquired Issaquah parcels and the large trail network that already exists in Squak Mountain State Park. 

The City of Issaquah is currently considering a parks bond renewal for the November 2026 ballot, which could include funding to build this new trail connection. Please consider reaching out to the Issaquah City Council at citycouncil@issaquahwa.gov to share your thoughts on this acquisition and a potential new trail!

Kelkari property map. Note: Blue dotted lines indicate potential future trail connections. Red dotted lines indicate existing trail connections.