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City hall of Issaquah

Issaquah is a city in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State.

Get in

Bus: From downtown Seattle, take King County Metro routes 210, 214 and 215 or Sound Transit route 554 to the Issaquah Transit Center

Car: Interstate 90 eastbound, take exit 15 or exit 17 (Front Street). The main east-west roads are Gilman and Newport Way. Front Street runs north-south through downtown.

Bicycle: Bike lanes run east-west along W Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE (north of I-90, preferred) and Newport Way NW (south of I-90). If coming from Sammamish, it is recommended you avoid the segment of Front Street/East Lake Sammamish between Gilman and SE 56th as there is no bike lane until you've crossed through one of Issaquah's busiest retail areas. (Alternate route takes you along the soft trail past this.)

Get around

Issaquah is best accessed by car, although bicycling is a viable option. Issaquah also has a network of hiking and walking trails which extend through the Gilman Blvd shopping district to Lake Sammamish State Park. It is possible to walk from Issaquah to Redmond, WA on this trail network.

Bicycle: Bike lanes run east-west on Gilman, though alternative routes (Newport Way, W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy -- see above) have less traffic. If you need to cross I-90, the best route is the pedestrian trail adjacent to 4th Ave NW. Front Street/Issaquah Pine Lake between Gilman and SE 56th street has extremely heavy vehicle traffic.

See

  • Poo Poo Point, Chirico Trail (Landing Field/Chirico trailhead — from Interstate-90, take the Front Street exit (#17). Drive south on Front Street. Follow Front Street until it turns into Issaquah-Hobart Road. The trailhead and parking lot is on the left side of the road, across from the blue Squak Mountain-Tiger Mountain Corridor sign. Issaquah High trailhead — from Interstate-90, take the Front Street exit. Drive south on Front Street to Sunset Way and turn left. Then right onto Second Avenue. The trailhead is located on the right, after you pass Issaquah High, just shy of the Second Avenue’s junction with Front Street. The small lot has room for about four cars.). A viewpoint accessible by hike 2,000 ft above sea level. This is the take off point for parasailing operations in the area 

Do

  • Salmon Days. Held the first weekend of October, this large festival celebrates the return of the salmon up Issaquah Creek to the hatchery. Vendors, music and parades, in addition to viewing the salmon. 
  • Hiking the Issaquah Alps, consisting of nearby Cougar, Squak and Tiger Mountains.
  • 1 Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (From I-90: Take Exit 13 and drive south on Lakemont Blvd SE for 3.1 miles. Look for the entrance to the Red Town Trailhead on the left side of the road). Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (CMRWP) is a 3000+ acre park with 36 miles of hiking trails (12 miles suitable for equestrian use). It showcases a variety of natural features from forests and waterfalls to meadows and cliffs. There are four primary trailheads, each offering a different experience. Free. 
  • 2 Squak Mountain State Park (From I-90, take exit 17. Head south on Front Street, which turns into Issaquah-Hobart Road. Drive 4.5 miles, then turn right on S.E. May Valley Road. Drive 1.5 miles, and turn right into the park.). 6:30 to dusk. Squak Mountain is the second most westerly mountain of the Issaquah Alps mountain chain in Washington state. It is situated between Cougar Mountain to the west and Tiger Mountain to the east. There are 13 miles of hiking trails, 6 miles of which are suitable for equestrian use. There are a number of geocaches placed within the park (see geocaching.com)
    As with all Washington State Parks, a Discover Pass is required for parking ($10/day, $30/year). One can be purchased in a variety of places (e.g., Fred Meyer) or online at the state site http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/     $10. 
  • 3 Tiger Mountain State Forest (Drive east on I-90 past Bellevue. Just past Issaquah, take exit 20. Turn right on 270th Ave SE. Turn right on SE 79th Street. Drive through the gate, onto the gravel road and into the parking lot.). West Tiger Mountain NRCA comprises the easternmost of the "Issaquah Alps." The NCRCA encompasses 4,430 acres that range in elevation from 470 feet above sea level at Tradition Plateau to 2,948 feet at the summit of West Tiger Peak 1, the highest of three peaks within the natural area. The City of Issaquah owns most of the Tradition Plateau that is adjacent to the NRCA. The city co-manages the land with the Natural Areas Program at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
    As with all Washington State Parks and Forests, a Discover Pass is required for parking ($10/day, $30/year). One can be purchased in a variety of places (e.g., Fred Meyer) or online at the state site http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/ if parking at the access point above. There are numerous other access points (as the park is big) which are free.     $10. 
  • Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, 125 W. Sunset Way (Take I-90 East to Front Street exit. Make a right turn onto Front Street. (After you turn onto Front Street, move into the center lane, otherwise you will be forced to turn onto Gilman Blvd). Stay on Front Street for approximately 0.6 miles to West Sunset Way and make a right-hand turn onto Sunset Way. The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is on your left-hand side.). 8a - 4p. We strive to tell the story of salmon here in such a way that fosters a natural, life-long commitment to their well being. Free. 
  • Issaquah Depot Museum, 150 First Avenue NE, ☏ +1 425 392-3500. 
  • Gilman Town Hall Museum, 165 SE Andrews St, ☏ +1 425 392-3500. From the Gilman Town Hall Museum Website- "This exhibit tells the story of Issaquah's past through hundreds of photographs and artifacts and a variety of interactive elements. Come see one of Issaquah's original water pipes, a rare Native American fur trade knife, and graffiti hidden for 75 years inside the walls of the fish hatchery. Set off an imaginary charge with an authentic dynamite blaster, ring a logging camp bell or listen to the music of the Squak Valley Hot Shots." $2 for adults, $1 for children, $5 per family of 3+ $10 family pass gives all-day access to both museums. Friends of the Issaquah History Museums visit for free. 
  • Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish State Park (From I-90: Drive east to exit #15, and follow the signs.), ☏ +1 425 455-7010. Summer: 6:30AM to dusk. Winter: 6:30AM to dusk for the main park and boat launch.. Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858 feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Native American tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features.
    The park includes diverse natural wetlands, a large great blue heron rookery and the salmon-bearing Issaquah Creek. The park has one of the largest freshwater beaches in the greater Seattle area.     Discover Pass required for vehicles. Pedestrians Free. 

Buy

  • Experience Tea, 195 Front St (between Bush St & Andrews St), ☏ +1 206 406-9838. Tue-Sat 12PM - 6PM. A creative Tea Studio where you can experience different types of teas and tea related culture. 

Eat

  • Issaquah Brewhouse. The home of the Rogue Brewery, which creates a range of excellent beers. These beers are destined not only for patrons' livers but the food itself at their excellent restaurant. Few menu items do not include beer in the ingredients, be they the beer-cheddar soup or the barbecue sauce. The burgers here can be ordered with Kobe-style beef, and topped with Nueske's bacon for a carnivorous experience far beyond that of the average bar and grill. Ideal as a refueling stop after hiking on I-90's myriad trails. 

Drink

Sleep

Go next

  • Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest
  • Nearby Eastside cities: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and North Bend
  • The beautiful Cascades, rising up to the east of Issaquah, with numerous recreational opportunities.
Routes through Issaquah
Seattle ← Bellevue ←  W  E  → North Bend → Spokane


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