King County Announces Second Season for Trailhead Direct

After a successful pilot season for the Trailhead Direct, King County has announced the program will continue in 2018 with hopes of expanding.

Last summer, the pilot program developed as a joint effort, on behalf of King County Metro and King County Parks Department, to reduce vehicle congestion at popular trailheads in the Issaquah Alps. It was a step towards ensuring more equitable access and public transportation to trails as the demand for hiking opportunities around Seattle, Issaquah and North Bend continue to grow.

King County's Trailhead Direct will be back for its second summer. Photo by Keiko Betcher.

Last year, King County began running nineteen-seat vans on weekends and holidays. The vans ran every 30 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., picking up riders at either Issaquah Transit Center or Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride. From there, Trailhead Direct took riders to Margaret’s Way, Poo Poo Point, and Puget Power trailheads. Not only does this program make hiking in the Issaquah Alps accessible for more people, but it also leaves a smaller footprint on the environment we love to play in.

According to King County’s Parks project manager, Lizzy Jessup, about 900 hikers used the service last summer, just around 40 riders per day. Results from King County’s onboard survey found  that 91 percent of respondents felt Trailhead Direct could address parking congestion at trailheads. Many riders also expressed how they want to see service expand to include more trailheads and urban centers.

Going forward, the two King County agencies plan to optimize the bus routes and time schedules to accommodate more riders. They will also be discussing the possible expansion to North Bend and other urban centers. While King County has yet to finalize any decisions about Trailhead Direct's expansion, one thing is for sure; this service will be up and running for the height of 2018 summer hiking season.