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Starting tomorrow, get a lift out to our amazing natural forests to the east with the return of Trailhead Direct!

We are pleased to have partnered with King County Metro and King County Parks – among other regional partners – to offer Trailhead Direct

Trailhead Direct is a seasonal transit service to popular hiking destinations in King County. This innovative program allows you to enjoy the beauty and adventure that our region offers – without a car, or worries about parking at busy trailheads. 

Passengers pay Metro’s standard fares  and can pay with an ORCA card, Transit Go Mobile ticket, or cash with exact change. 

Thank you for making this possible! The City of Seattle contributions to Trailhead Direct have been made possible through voter-approved Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) funding. These funds are used to improve transportation options for all users. The STBD currently includes a $20 vehicle licensing fee (VLF) applied when you pay your car registration and a 0.15% sales tax to help fund transit programs. The STBD also includes an additional $20 VLF that starts in July.     

From tomorrow, June 5 until September 26, you can use Trailhead Direct to enjoy hikes in the Issaquah Alps and at Mount Si on weekends and holidays. 

Photo Credit: King County Parks. 
  • The Issaquah Alps route will start at the Mount Baker Transit Center with service every 30 minutes to Squak Mountain State Park and Tiger Mountain.  
  • The Mount Si route will start at the Sound Transit Capitol Hill Link light rail station with service every 20 minutes to Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, and Little Si. 

P.S.: Tomorrow is National Trails Day, and June is Ride Transit Month! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate both. 

Making it easier to reap the benefits of being outdoors is more important than ever.  

Trailhead Direct is one way that we are working with partners regionally to address transportation barriers and enhance mobility for those who have traditionally been underserved by public investment. 

Further, using public transportation to get to our favorite spaces supports a more sustainable future, and more people can enjoy our popular trails by limiting cars at the trailheads.  

We encourage you to safely take advantage of Trailhead Direct to get to some of our area’s incredible trails this year. 

Photo Credit: King County Parks. 

Everyone must wear masks and observe current health measures to keep fellow riders and operators safe. Trailhead Direct will operate with 14- to 32-seat vehicles and will observe current capacity limits. King County Metro is disinfecting vehicles daily, and has installed safety partitions. 

Please recreate responsibly! King County Parks said it best:  

Our day-to-day looks very different than it did in 2019, so too does the Trailhead Direct service. To protect each other, the land, and delicate ecosystems, King County Parks encourages you to #RecreateResponsibly by taking these things into account when planning your Trailhead Direct adventure this summer: 

Know before you go. Check the status of the place you want to visit to make sure it’s open. Have a back-up plan in case of crowding. 

Plan ahead. Prepare for facilities to be closed, pack lunch, and bring essentials like hand sanitizer and a mask. Give yourself extra time to catch your return trip and in case of changes to the plan. 

Practice physical distancing. Be prepared to mask up to give others space. Keep your group size small. If you’re feeling sick, stay home. 

Play it safe. Slow down and choose lower-risk activities to reduce risk of injury. Stay within your limits to prevent burdening search and rescue teams and health care providers. 

Explore responsibly. Be mindful of where you’re choosing to take a trip and your impact on the communities you visit. Always keep pets on leash. 

Leave no trace. Stay on the trail. Respect the land and water, as well as Native and local communities. Pack out everything you bring with you, including trash and pet waste. 

Build an inclusive outdoors. Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for people of all races, backgrounds, and abilities. 

Learn more: