Enjoying the Issaquah Alps in the Summer
View of Mount Rainier from Tiger Mountain. Photo courtesy of Kira Telgen.
By Kira Telgen, IATC Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Summer is officially knocking on the door of the Issaquah Alps, everyone! All sorts of local residents are out and about (our wildlife cam has been catching some incredible footage lately—check it out here!), and you should get out and join them. With the snow melting away and wildflowers blooming, there’s no better time.
Check out these trails below (each one on a different mountain within the Issaquah Alps) and enjoy all our public lands have to offer!
Cougar Mountain: Coal Creek Falls Hike
Coal Creek Falls. Photo from Save Coal Creek/IATC Archives.
Coal Creek Falls
Distance: 2.5 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 416 feet
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Trailhead: Red Town Trailhead
This 2.5-mile out-and-back leads to a 28-foot waterfall. The falls are seasonal, so be sure to get out early in the month before they run dry. If time allows, you can also turn this into a loop thanks to Cougar Mountain’s extensive trail network. Simply continue south along Coal Creek Falls Trail after viewing the falls, and then take a right to head west along the Quarry Trail before using the Indian Trail to link up with Red Town Trail. You’ll only add a quarter mile or so to your day.
Before you go, read up on the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and the community’s efforts to help Save Coal Creek. At the end of 2024, two parcels previously slated for development were purchased by Bellevue and added to the Coal Creek Natural Area.
Parcels acquired by the city of Bellevue and put into permanent conservation through the community efforts of the Save Coal Creek campaign. Map courtesy of King County.
Squak Mountain: Bullitt Fireplace Trail
Bullitt Fireplace. Photo courtesy of Washington Trails Association.
Bullitt Fireplace Trail
Distance: 4 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Bullitt Fireplace Trailhead
Tour a historic Issaquah Alps landmark, the Bullitt Fireplace, which is what remains of the cabin built by the Bullitt family in the mid-1900s. You can learn more about the history of the formation of Squak Mountain and the role the Bullitt family played here.
In November 2024, a bomb cyclone left many of the trails on Squak Mountain seriously damaged. Over the course of 2025, Issaquah Alps Trails Club volunteers helped restore these trails. Read about the efforts to restore trails on Squak Mountain here.
Tiger Mountain: Tiger Mountain Loop via Preston Railroad and Silent Swamp
View of Mount Rainier from Tiger Mountain. Photo courtesy of Kira Telgen.
Tiger Mountain Loop via Preston Railroad and Silent Swamp
Distance: 11.1 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 1712 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: West Tiger Mountain Parking Lot
If you’re looking for a challenging hike that offers views of Rainier, this is it! Take Main Tiger Mountain Road, a logging road, up towards the summit. The route linked above does not include a trip to the summit, but you can take Crossover Road and 5550 Road up to the summit to maximize your views of Rainier. Be mindful of mountain bikers sharing these trails, and enjoy the serenity of the Silent Swamp trail!
Taylor Mountain: Elk Ridge and Sherwood Loop
Taylor Mountain. Photo courtesy of Kira Telgen.
Elk Ridge and Sherwood Loop
Distance: 3.6 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 547 feet
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Trailhead: Intersection of Road G and SE 208 Street.
Check out one of the least trafficked parts of the Issaquah Alps with this loop on Taylor Mountain! Taylor Mountain is a newer addition to the King County Parks system and is popular among horseback riders and mountain bikers. If you’re looking for a lush, quiet trail, this is it. We recommend hiking the loop clockwise so that you end your outing along the serene Elk Ridge Trail.
Keep an eye out for signs noting seasonal closures to help maintain and preserve salmon habitat, particularly along Carey Creek.
Explore these trails on your own or join us at one of our upcoming hikes and events.