Originally published by King County Parks blog
With 175 miles of regional trails to choose from in King County, you can use this summer to explore areas of the county that you may not have known even existed. With so many places to choose, how do you even begin?!
Here’s a list of our top five favorite biking destinations for your summer adventures:
- Soos Creek Trail – The Soos Creek Trail follows the scenic Soos Creek Valley for six miles as it meanders through woods, wetlands, and meadows. This paved trail, with a separate natural surface path (popular with people who ride horses), traverses extensive riparian and wetland areas on elevated decking, wanders through upland forests, and crosses open meadows offering wildlife views. The trail provides a quiet respite among south King County’s urban communities and a destination for active recreation.
- Tokul trestle on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail – The Snoqualmie Valley Trail is King County’s longest and perhaps most majestic regional trail. This soft-surface greenway parallels the Snoqualmie River for more than 31 miles from Duvall southeast to Rattlesnake Lake and Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed above North Bend. The trestle is located south of the parking area at 356th Drive SE near Fall City and offers exceptional opportunities to experience the rural King County landscape from the 60-foot high Tokul Creek crossing.
- Matthew’s Beach via the Burke-Gilman Trail – The Burke-Gilman Trail runs 20 miles from Golden Gardens Park in Seattle to Bothell, where it intersects with the Sammamish River Trail. Part of the “Locks to Lakes Corridor,” the BGT is a dedicated pedestrian/bicycle path that is paved over its entire length…with the exception of the infamous “Missing Link” segment that drops you on roads in industrial Ballard. Matthew’s Beach is a fun family beach located just north of Magnuson Park.
- Alki Beach via the Alki Trail – The 5-mile Alki Trail is a popular route along Seattle’s Alki Beach. The trail provides extensive access to the Elliott Bay shoreline and Alki Beach. On sunny summer days, the Alki Trail is busy with walkers, joggers, bicyclists, skaters, and others seeking access to Puget Sound.
- Lake Wilderness via the Green to Cedar Rivers Trail – This 3-mile regional trail links Maple Valley with the Cedar River Trail and metro areas to the northwest. The trail follows an abandoned railroad route and was formerly known as the Lake Wilderness Trail because of its close proximity to the lake and surrounding Lake Wilderness Park.
Planning your trip to one of these destinations or looking for other fun places to walk or bike this summer? Check our King County Parks’ Trailfinder to plot your route, explore other trails, or find parks near your destination.
Get out and explore #YourBigBackyard!