Trip
Urban Walk - Pioneer Park and Island Crest Park
*Faster-paced* Thurs morning brisk walk through two Mercer Island city parks. ~5.5 miles - ~480 feet elevation gain - avg 2.5 mph.
Contacts
- Thu, Apr 23, 2026
- Foothills Urban Walks Committee
- Urban Walking
- Adults, All Who Qualify
- Easy, Easy
- Challenging
- Mileage: 5.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 424 ft
- High Point Elevation: 350 ft
- Pace: avg 2.5 mph
- 1 (8 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
- Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
This trip covers Pioneer Park and Island Crest Park.
Starting at Starbucks, we will enter the Northwest Quadrant of Pioneer Park and walk through several trails. After exiting in the northwest, we will follow 84th Avenue SE and enter Island Crest Park from the southwest. We will head by Island Crest Elementary School, briefly reenter the park, then take Island Crest Way back to Pioneer Park. We will walk through several trails in the Northeast Quadrant, including the Engstrom Open Space, then do the same in the Southeast Quadrant before heading back to Starbucks. Note the Southeast Quadrant is open to equestrian traffic - remember horses have right of way.
This is not a slow stroll in the park, but a brisk walk. Please do not join this trip if you are unsure of your pace or are not accustomed to an avg 2.5 mph brisk walk for over 5 miles. For straightaway and slight downhill, will look do walk at abt 2.5-3 mph; for the few uphill portions, we will walk a bit slower. The primary reason this walk is rated as challenging is due to the pace, per the Urban Walks Standards.
Click here for club Urban Walks Standards.
Click here for Gaia route.
Click here for City of Mercer Island park webpage.
Full details will be soon after registration closes on Apr 21. In the interim, please contact the leader with any questions at BMPeacock@aol.com.
Meet at 8:30 am out front of Starbucks (8415 SE 68th Street - Mercer Island). Following introductions, description of route and current trail conditions, plan to start walking by 8:40 am. Large parking lot - no passes required. Public bathrooms at Starbucks and QFC.
Meeting place coordinates: 47.54180, -122.22577
Required Equipment
Water, snacks, appropriate outerwear, and sturdy shoes.