The Mercer slough is a lovely place to walk...if the temperature has consistently been under 45. Ya…read moreknow what a slough is? It's a swamp/marsh/wetland/mosquitoes-will-murder-you place. Overall it's a beautiful place to walk. The trails are well maintained and there are some great views. This area has a few different trails to choose from that appear to be mostly loops. It's close enough to the freeways that you get a good amount of traffic noise, but if you go early in the morning it's not too bad. The mosquitoes are most certainly the worst part of this area. Either way, I think it's great we're letting nature be nature.

Since moving back to the Far East (aka Eastside) I was worried about places to walk our…read morenot-so-dog-friendly dog. Admittedly, having Green Lake at our front door was both a blessing and curse. Now we live right across the street from Mercer Slough, and it's been great! Nature right at our front door without the crowds!!! If you walk/run the perimeter it's about a 10k. Inside you'll find trails that are great for just about everyone. Beware you may see garter snakes, but also the occasional otter, beaver, and rabbits too! It's also great for birdwatching. Parking is VERY limited, especially with sound transit light rail being built by Bellevue Way. There is a small parking lot off 118th Ave SE, and some parking along that road, but check the road signs. There is also an Environmental education center and event spaces available. Overall, I enjoy being able to just go across the street and walk my pooch without fear of being run over by bikers and skaters.

I like this trail because it's an easy hike to bring your dogs. The trail leads you to Lake…read moreSammamish shoreline, amazing view! Anyone can enjoy this short hike.

Pro-Nice park, big pond/lake. Nice dog park. Lots of parking…read more Cons- half the lake is blocked off like property owners control it which I think is bogus. People should have access to this place since it's part of the Metroparks.........but whatever....... It is actually a long distance from home. I seriously doubt I'll be coming back any time soon.

This trail is beautiful. There's a good sized parking lot at the main entrance, as well as…read morebathrooms and a small picnic area (well, one table). The main trail (Pipeline trail) is an out and back, it's 2.25 miles each way and connects to the north parking lot. Connects to some shorter trails as well. No pets allowed here.

My friend and I went for a hike today at this Preserve. It was so pretty and peaceful there. The…read morepond was a spectacular sight, with the floating logs and the reflections of the tall trees in the water. We hiked the Tree Frog Loop Trail (beautiful) and also the trail to the left of the bathrooms (I didn't see a sign on that trail to tell me what trail it was). Thankfully the trails were all easy level. It was great to be out in the woods again. I think this was my first hike of 2024. It's still quite cold out, but I felt such joy as I took in the trees, the pond, the ferns, and the other scenery. The air here was very fresh, which I appreciated. On our hike today, we only saw one other hiker the entire time that we were there. We also did not see any wildlife at all today, although there may be wildlife to see at certain times. So, we basically felt like we had the place to ourselves for a little while. It was my first time hiking at this Preserve today, but it may not be my last. I'd love to go there again and sit on the bench by the pond.

Bridle Trails State Park is a great state park that's perfect for horses and everyone else!…read more Although this state park is used for riding your horse along the trails, I say it's a great park for everyone else who wants a stroll through the forest along the Kirkland-Bellevue border. Because it's a state park, you must pay for a $10 single-day pass unless you have the Discovery Pass. There are two parking lots to the area, one parking lot is closest to the entrance to the trails and the other parking lot is smaller, which is closer to the bathrooms and where community events are held as there's a stage. I've been here a few times and it's always a nice way to enjoy a nature walk. In my most recent visit, I came here on a hot day with my dog as Bridle Trails State Park is mostly shaded from the trees. There are three different trails, and if you're looking to spend more time here, take the Coyote Trail, which is about 3.5 miles long. It's not entirely flat, with some hills here and there, but it's a super easy trail, along with the other trails here. I saw a lot of families and horses here. And speaking of horses, be aware that there will be horse poop on the trails. The reason why it's not picked up right away is because unlike dog poop, it decomposes within a short time. Dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they're on leash. At the area where events are held are where bathrooms and a water fountain is located, along with benches. It's nice to live nearby Bridle Trails State Park and enjoy the trees, green space and well-maintained trails that provide shade for those scorching days we're not used to in the Seattle area. That right there is reason enough to visit Bridle Trails State Park.

- The horse Trail -…read more Hubby and I decided to take an afternoon hike here, and we had no clue it's a state park and a discovery pass is required. We parked at the parking lot closer to the entrance, and we bought an annual discovery pass. Other than the starting incline, there is nearly no inclination for this trail. It's rather family friendly if your kids aren't afraid of horses or horse poops as I saw two horses and gazillion poops. It's funny how there is a sign that identifies the differences between horse poop and dog poop lol. The whole trail is shaded except for a small part. There are three recommended routes and the signs are quite obvious, but it's also easy to walk elsewhere as there are so many routes in this park. We were going for the middle length route, but ended up finishing the bigger loop instead and it took a bit more than an hour. There were also tons of salmonberries next to the trail that's perfect for a healthy snack for your "hike" xD!

This is a great spot and so close to town. There are a lot of different parts of the trail so make…read moresure you follow the signs or use a map on your phone. The trail was fairly busy but there was plenty of parking, especially because there are different lots/different starting points. Decent amount of elevation and really beautiful scenery. A few parts of the trails were closed.

Love this for a casual walk or a serious hike. It's stunning features and different levels to test…read moreyour walking strengths. Two different access points either the top of the hill or the bottom. We've done both and can be as challenging as you choose! Rain or shine, visit this place!

Rattlesnake Ridge is an awesome hike that is quintessential to the area. It's popular for good…read morereason as it's accessible and has great views of Rattlesnake Lake and beyond. For anyone who loves hiking in the Seattle area, they've likely already visited Rattlesnake Ridge. So take your visitors from out of town here and it'll be a solid time. Because it's a popular trail in North Bend, like any others in the area, get here early if hiking on the weekend. We visited on a holiday where many people had the day off, so ended up parking on the side of the road as the parking lot for this trailhead was all full in the late morning. You've been warned! Bathrooms are located at the start of the trail and is where the lake is for beautiful views and a swim. The trail itself starts through a forest and is mostly covered by the trees. At the top is where it's clear, so it's a great hike for sun coverage. But you'll still break a sweat as it inclines. It's four miles roundtrip, and there are other trails attached to it for further adventures. For those who are used to hiking, this is an easy one to do. AND, it's dog-friendly! Loved seeing all the dogs here. I recommend climbing Rattlesnake Ridge and soaking in the views at the top. You won't regret it.

I have done this hike over a dozen times and still come back…read more 30-40 min drive from Seattle so not a far trek. 1.9miles each way and 3.8 Roundtrip so not a super long hike but not short either. It's perfect with great views. Expect the trail to be busy on weekends during the summer months. I always like to start early and end early. Would say it takes 2-3 hours round trip depending on your level of fitness (this includes some time at the top to enjoy the views, take a sip of some water or coffee, and eat a light snack). Highly recommend (wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and some snacks for the top).

Easy hike that ends with the most beautiful view! Might be tricky on the weekend with parking but…read morewe came on a Friday morning and the entire lot was empty. I recommend hiking boots especially on a gloomy day because it does tend to be a little slippery especially going downhill. Everyone was extremely friendly and just let people pass if you feel like you can't match their pace!

Easy hike, beautiful scenery. Tranquil water. Kid friendly hike. Easy access to water to kayak.read more

This hike was literally right out my front door. I had been enjoying hikes on the nearby mountain…read moretrails of Tiger and Cougar, that i hadn't taken the time to explore all the wonderful and beautiful trails and lakes so close. Well! That's begun to be remedied. Lots of connecting trails all through the Sammamish highlands, Klahanie, and Issaquah, right through suburbia. Lakes, streams, and wildlife. Work out stations along some of the trails. Easy to get as many miles as you desire to walk, up and down through the woods, houses, and mountains. It's a blessing to have trails like these so close, on days you don't want to adventure far. Looking forward to some urban forestry tomorrow. Yelping on, God bless, and Cheers!