Urban Walk - Downtown Issaquah

This walk combines an urban trail in the city of Issaquah with nearby forested trails in the Tradition Plateau area of the Tiger Mountain Lowlands. Please wear sturdy shoes or boots as it has been raining and we may encounter patches of mud and some rocky terrain.

Section 1 (1.25 miles, ~50 ft gain): We'll start at the Issaquah Community Center and take a counterclockwise loop, traveling north on the paved Rainier Trail to visit the Harvey Manning Statue, the Issaquah Alps Trail Club mosaic, and the Issaquah Depot Museum. We'll leave the Rainier Trail to explore the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (where a large number of Chinook are making their way up the Issaquah Creek), then back to the community center to visit Jakob Two Trees. For more information about Issaquah's newly installed troll, please visit:   https://issaquahwa.gov/3426/Jakob-Two-Trees-Issaquahs-Troll. 

Section 2 (5 miles, ~500 ft gain): We'll continue southeast on the Rainier Trail to visit Tradition Plateau, veering off at High School Trail to start our ascent (330 feet, 0.75 miles). While on the plateau, we'll visit an old abandoned school bus, read the Swamp Monster story boards, and view the Big Tree. We'll take a fairly steep trail (-300 feet, 0.25 miles, similar steepness to Lincoln Park trail to beach but 2x longer) to get off the plateau. You may want trekking poles for this section, but it is doable without. Our last stretch will be on SE Bush St where we'll pass a Halloween decorated home, then back to the community center.

Cell phone service: consistent throughout the walk

Emergency access and egress: nearby

Meeting Place: Issaquah Community Center. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jrRUnVjZHBCgAj5L8

Meeting Time: 9 am, gear on and ready to go