East Lake Sammamish Trail

The East Lake Sammamish Trail is an 18 km paved, point-to-point trail in Washington State, United States, tracing the eastern shoreline of Lake Sammamish from Issaquah to Redmond. Gaining fewer than 60 m of elevation across its flat waterfront course, it suits hikers, cyclists and walkers of all ability levels and forms a central link in the 44 km Locks to Lake Corridor.

About the East Lake Sammamish Trail

The East Lake Sammamish Trail is one of western Washington's most beloved multi-use paths, threading 18 kilometres of paved trail along the tranquil eastern shore of Lake Sammamish through three communities: Issaquah, Sammamish, and Redmond. Managed jointly by King County Parks and the City of Sammamish, the route opened in stages between 2011 and 2023, with Redmond's northern section completed first, Issaquah's southern gateway added in 2013, and the final Sammamish links finished in 2015, 2018, and 2023.

At 3.7 m wide with soft gravel shoulders on either side, the trail accommodates walkers, runners, cyclists, and wheelchair users simultaneously — with a posted 15 mph speed limit keeping interactions safe. The surface is ADA-accessible along its entire 18 km length, making it one of the few long waterfront corridors in the Pacific Northwest that is genuinely open to everyone regardless of mobility level.

As a key segment of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust's Locks to Lake Corridor — a 44 km greenway connecting Seattle's Ballard waterfront to the Cascade foothills — the East Lake Sammamish Trail carries both recreational and commuter traffic year-round. On a clear morning, Lake Sammamish's calm surface reflects the forested ridgelines of the Issaquah Alps, and bald eagles are a regular sighting from trailside benches along the central section.

Connections at the northern end include a signed 2.4 km Marymoor Connector leading west to Marymoor Park — 195 hectares with a velodrome, rock-climbing wall, and the most popular off-leash dog area in King County. At the southern end, Issaquah's historic downtown and the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park trailheads lie within a short walk of the NW Gilman Boulevard terminus, giving strong hikers the option of extending their day into genuine wilderness terrain.

Route Overview & Stages

The trail runs south to north for 18 km, beginning at the Issaquah trailhead on NW Gilman Boulevard and ending at the Redmond trailhead near NE 70th Street and SR 202. The route divides naturally into three sections by city boundary and major access points.

† A 600 m section between Louis Thompson Road NE and NE Inglewood Hill Road is closed June 1–December 31, 2026, for culvert replacement. No detour is available; through-hikers in 2026 must turn back at this point or plan a split itinerary.

Most walkers complete the full 18 km in one direction in 3.5–5 hours at a comfortable pace. Because the route is point-to-point, arrange a car shuttle between the two trailheads (approximately 18 km by road via SR 202 and I-90) or plan a return journey by King County Metro bus. Cyclists typically cover the trail in under 90 minutes.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• NW Gilman Boulevard Trailhead, Issaquah — The southern gateway adjoins Gilman Village, a cluster of 1880s farm buildings repurposed into independent cafés, wine bars, and outdoor gear shops. Most hikers start here for easy parking and a pre-trail coffee stop before heading north.
• Lake Sammamish Shoreline Views — Along the southern and central sections the trail runs within metres of the water. Lake Sammamish covers 19 km², and from the eastern shore on a clear day you can track the full length of the lake with the Issaquah Alps rising steeply to the west — a panorama that rewards walkers at multiple points throughout the 18 km route.
• Sammamish State Park South Entrance (~3 km) — The first major facility stop, with public restrooms, picnic tables, and a boat launch ramp. The state park spans 287 hectares of lakefront and forest, and this access point is a natural rest break at roughly one-sixth of the total trail distance.
• Sammamish State Park Main Beach (~4.5 km) — The park's 600 m swimming beach is one of the finest on any trail in King County. Lifeguards are on duty from late June through Labor Day, and the grassy picnic lawns behind the beach provide the best mid-trail lunch stop on the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Parking is available directly at the park off SE 43rd Way.
• Louis Thompson Road Access Ramp, Sammamish (~8 km) — A lakeside parking area roughly at the trail's midpoint, with direct water views and forest shade. The surrounding wetland fringe shelters great blue herons, wood ducks, and red-tailed hawks — slow down and scan the water's edge for wildlife before continuing north.
• NE Inglewood Hill Road Parking (~11 km) — A King County-managed access point marking the transition from the Sammamish section into the Redmond leg. The wetland ponds just north of Inglewood Hill Road are a reliable spot for river otter sightings in early morning and at dusk.
• Marymoor Connector Junction (~16 km) — A signed 2.4 km connector trail branches west to Marymoor Park, adding options for cyclists, dog walkers, and those wanting to extend their day. Marymoor's velodrome, sport fields, and outdoor concert venue make it one of the most visited parks in King County, and food trucks near the park entrance offer a welcome mid-journey refuel.
• Redmond Trailhead — NE 70th Street / SR 202 — The northern terminus, with parking at NE 65th and NE 70th Streets. Downtown Redmond — with craft breweries, restaurants, and further trail connections along the Sammamish River Trail — lies within a 10-minute walk, making this an ideal north-bound finishing point.

Best Time to Hike the East Lake Sammamish Trail

The trail is open and walkable every day of the year, but Pacific Northwest weather shapes the experience considerably across the four seasons.

Spring (April–June) brings lush vegetation, flowering red currant and wild cherry along the forest edges, and temperatures of 10–18 °C. Rainfall is substantial — Issaquah averages 15–18 rainy days per month in April and May — but the paved surface drains quickly and the trail is rarely impassable. May offers the best spring conditions, with rapidly lengthening evenings and warming temperatures.

Summer (July–August) is the peak season: temperatures of 22–28 °C, low humidity, and fewer than 5 rainy days per month. Sammamish State Park's swimming beach is fully operational and the lake appears at its most vivid. Occasional wildfire smoke drifting from eastern Washington can reduce air quality; check the Washington Department of Ecology's air-quality index before heading out during August.

Autumn (September–October) is the most atmospheric window on the trail. September's average rainfall is just 38 mm, temperatures sit at a comfortable 14–20 °C, and the deciduous foliage along the forest sections turns amber and gold. September is the single best month to hike the East Lake Sammamish Trail: moderate conditions, reduced crowds after the summer peak, and exceptional low-angle morning light across the lake surface combine for a memorable experience.

Winter (November–March) is quiet and green. Temperatures at lake level rarely drop below 2 °C and snow is uncommon on the paved trail. Daylight is limited — sunrise after 7:45 AM and sunset before 4:30 PM in December — but waterproof footwear and a light rain jacket are all that's needed for a comfortable winter walk.

As of 2026, note the June 1–December 31 section closure that interrupts the central Sammamish segment. Hikers planning to complete the full 18 km during this period should contact King County Parks for the latest update on the culvert project timeline before setting out.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The East Lake Sammamish Trail has no huts or trail-side camping — it is an urban paved greenway. Accommodation is plentiful in all three gateway cities, and the Seattle metro location means options at every budget level.

Budget travellers can find a wider range of options in Bellevue, 10 km west of the trail's midpoint, with frequent King County Metro bus connections back to both trailheads.

Getting There & Back

By air: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is approximately 35 km from the Issaquah trailhead and 42 km from the Redmond trailhead — 30–50 minutes by car depending on I-90 traffic. Rental cars are widely available at SEA and are the most flexible option for reaching either trailhead.

By bus: King County Metro Route 554 connects Downtown Seattle to Issaquah Transit Center; the NW Gilman Boulevard trailhead is a short walk from the terminus. The 554 runs every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on weekends, with a journey time of approximately 40 minutes. For the Redmond trailhead, Metro routes 226 and 927 link Redmond Transit Center to Bellevue and Eastgate.

By car: Reach the Issaquah south trailhead via I-90 East, Exit 17 (NW Gilman Blvd). The Redmond north trailhead is accessed from SR 202 at NE 70th Street. All major access points along the trail have free parking areas managed by King County Parks or the City of Sammamish.

Permits & Fees

No permits or trail fees are required to hike the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Access is free at all King County-managed trailheads and parking areas. A Washington State Discover Pass ($11.50 per day or $35 annually) is required only if you park within Sammamish State Park's dedicated lots off SE 43rd Way. Hikers who use any of the King County trailhead parking areas along East Lake Sammamish Parkway pay nothing.

Gear & Packing List

As a flat, paved day trail with restroom facilities at Sammamish State Park and multiple car-access points along the route, the East Lake Sammamish Trail does not demand heavy gear. The right choice is a compact daypack or running vest rather than a large multi-day pack.

For an 18 km day walk, the Salomon ADV Skin 12 trail-running vest is an excellent match — soft flasks sit up front, a waterproof layer stows behind, and the pocket layout handles a full day's snacks and sunscreen without excess weight on the flat sections. Hikers who want more room for a camera, extra layers, or a packed picnic lunch should consider the Salomon ADV Skin 20, which adds side pockets and a larger main compartment while remaining trim against the back. For those connecting the East Lake Sammamish Trail into the wilderness routes of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park or Tiger Mountain State Forest to the south, the ultralight Hyperlite Mountain Gear Aero 28 carries an overnight kit without punishing your back on the long flat lake sections.

For help deciding between vest and traditional pack styles, the Best Ultralight Backpacks 2026 guide reviews seven sub-1 kg options in detail. The 18 km distance at a moderate walking pace burns roughly 900–1,200 kcal depending on body weight and conditions — read How Many Calories Do You Need Hiking a Full Day? to calculate your personal fuel requirements before you set off.

Day-kit essentials:

• Water: 1.5 L minimum (refill at Sammamish State Park facilities)
• Snacks: 500–700 kcal for a 4-hour walk
• Light waterproof jacket: Pacific Northwest weather can change quickly at any time of year
• Sunscreen and hat for the open lake-facing sections in summer
• Phone with offline maps downloaded (Gaia GPS or Google Maps)

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the East Lake Sammamish Trail leaves you wanting more elevation or dramatic scenery, these trails offer contrasting experiences across the United States. For iconic canyon hiking in the American Southwest, the South Kaibab Trail and North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon deliver steep, exposed desert terrain as far from a lakeside greenway as it is possible to get. In California's Sierra Nevada, the Clouds Rest Trail and Panorama Trail in Yosemite provide sweeping granite panoramas unavailable anywhere in the Pacific Northwest lowlands. The Hidden Canyon trail in Zion National Park offers a shorter but thrilling sandstone slot canyon experience for those visiting Utah. Further afield, if you enjoy the point-to-point structure of the East Lake Sammamish Trail but want a genuine mountain-pass challenge, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania is the polar opposite of a flat lakeside greenway — a one-day alpine crossing gaining over 1,200 m through the Albanian Alps, deeply rewarding for experienced hikers who want to push further.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to hike the East Lake Sammamish Trail?

September is the single best month. Rainfall averages just 38 mm, temperatures sit at a comfortable 14–20 °C, the lake retains summer warmth, and trail traffic drops sharply after the August peak. Autumn colour in the forested sections typically peaks in mid-October. Spring (May–June) is a strong second choice for lush vegetation and long evenings, though the Pacific Northwest's higher rainfall means wetter conditions underfoot compared to autumn.

How difficult is the East Lake Sammamish Trail?

The trail is genuinely easy. It is entirely paved, gains fewer than 60 m of total elevation across 18 km, and is ADA-accessible from end to end. The main challenge is the 18 km distance rather than gradient or technical terrain — most reasonably fit adults complete the one-way route in under 5 hours. Families with strollers, casual cyclists, and wheelchair users all use the trail regularly, which reflects its accessible character.

How far can I expect to walk per day on this trail?

The full 18 km is comfortably completed in a single day. Most walkers finish the one-way route in 3.5–5 hours; cyclists typically take under 90 minutes. Because it is a point-to-point trail you will need a car shuttle or a King County Metro bus return to your starting point. The flat paved surface sets no natural upper limit on daily distance for fit hikers wishing to walk there and back on the same day.

Where can I stay near the East Lake Sammamish Trail?

There is no camping or hut accommodation on the trail itself — it is an urban paved greenway. Hotels are available in all three gateway towns: Issaquah at the south end (from approximately €90 per night), Sammamish in the middle (€110–€180), and Redmond at the north end (€130–€220). Bellevue, 10 km west of the trail's midpoint, offers the broadest range of mid-budget options and has frequent King County Metro bus connections to both trailheads.

Do I need a permit to hike the East Lake Sammamish Trail?

No permit is required and there is no trail fee. All King County-managed trailheads along the route offer free parking. The only cost to be aware of is a Washington State Discover Pass ($11.50 per day or $35 annually), which is required only if you choose to park inside Sammamish State Park's dedicated lots off SE 43rd Way. Hikers who park at any of the King County trailhead areas along East Lake Sammamish Parkway pay nothing at all.