Vista Ridge Trail/Lakeland Hills/South Auburn

The suggested route is to start at Sunset Park and go counterclockwise.  Head north to Dorothy Bothell Park. Take the wide pathway on the north side of that park to Panorama Dr SE. The Vista Ridge Trail will be on the other side of Panoram Drive.  The trail wanders on the backside of the homes and has peekaboo views of the valley through the trees. A side trail will take you up to a pond and give you a bit more elevation gain before needing to drop back down. The Vista Ridge Trail eventually comes out at the Lakeland Hills Parkway Trail. This is a steep section of the trail (up to 10% grade) and adjacent to Lakeland Hills Parkway which can be a busy roadway, but there is separation between the road and trail. At the top of the hill is Sunset Park. There are a couple of smaller loop options to get back to the cars. Be sure to look for Mount Rainier on a clear day. 

For those wanting to tag the summit of Auburn for their peakbagger profile, the location is a few side streets from Sunset Park. Use Open Street Map in Peakbagger.

There are many ways to extend the mileage and elevation gain on the sidewalks of the quiet side streets. One option involves meandering down towards Mill Pond Park, Roegner Park, and the White River Trail. Another option, but perhaps in the near future, will be to continue down Lakeland Hills Parkway Trail and connect to the Sumner Link Trail. Unfortunately, the tie-in appears to be currently under construction.

• Suitable Activities: Urban Walking, Naturalist
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 2.6 mi
• Elevation Gain: 310 ft

• Land Manager: City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation
• Parking Permit Required: None
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12