Issaquah, WA Guidebook
Favorite Local Hikes
Some of the best hiking trails closeby. Feel free to ask us more about these. We've done quite a bit of hiking in the area! There are lots of longer and more difficult hikes but I just added the easiest, most accessible, and popular trails in the area - so if you'd like other suggestions, feel free to ask me!
2.6 miles RT, 500 ft elevation gain, an undulating path through the forest and along a river to a super cool waterfall! Love this one in all seasons! Find more info on WTA.org.
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Twin Falls Trailhead
Southeast 159th Street2.6 miles RT, 500 ft elevation gain, an undulating path through the forest and along a river to a super cool waterfall! Love this one in all seasons! Find more info on WTA.org.
There are two trails to get to Poo Poo Point, I recommend the Chirico trail. It starts in Issaquah, is a 3.8 mile roundtrip hike, involves about 1750 ft elevation gain, and from the top you have great views of either Mt Rainier, or out over to Seattle and beyond to the Olympics on a clear day. Poo Poo Point is where lots of paragliders takeoff from so you can see that too on most days!! Best in spring, summer, and fall, but can be done in winter depending on snow levels and your level of comfort hiking in snow. Find more info on WTA.org (be sure to look for Chirico trail).
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Poo Poo Point Trailhead gönguleið upphafsstaður
11400 Issaquah-Hobart Road SoutheastThere are two trails to get to Poo Poo Point, I recommend the Chirico trail. It starts in Issaquah, is a 3.8 mile roundtrip hike, involves about 1750 ft elevation gain, and from the top you have great views of either Mt Rainier, or out over to Seattle and beyond to the Olympics on a clear day. Poo Poo Point is where lots of paragliders takeoff from so you can see that too on most days!! Best in spring, summer, and fall, but can be done in winter depending on snow levels and your level of comfort hiking in snow. Find more info on WTA.org (be sure to look for Chirico trail).
Tradition Lake Loop (look up on WTA.org) is an easy, flat, 2.9 mile loop (can be shorter if you just go out and turn around whenever). Beautiful, PNW feel on an easy hike. Great for kids. If you park in the parking lot, you'll need a Discover Pass ($10/day) or you can park outside the gate for free and walk in. Great year-round hike.
Tradition Lake
Tradition Lake Loop (look up on WTA.org) is an easy, flat, 2.9 mile loop (can be shorter if you just go out and turn around whenever). Beautiful, PNW feel on an easy hike. Great for kids. If you park in the parking lot, you'll need a Discover Pass ($10/day) or you can park outside the gate for free and walk in. Great year-round hike.
Awesome views!! A little further drive (starts in North Bend), 4 miles RT, 1160 ft elevation gain, can get very busy on weekends but has pretty great views! Best in spring, summer, and fall. Find more info on WTA.org.
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Rattlesnake Lake
Awesome views!! A little further drive (starts in North Bend), 4 miles RT, 1160 ft elevation gain, can get very busy on weekends but has pretty great views! Best in spring, summer, and fall. Find more info on WTA.org.
The closest trail to the guesthouse - about 5-8 min drive. There's no real "destination" but if you want to get out in the beautiful forest on single track and maybe see some wildlife, it's a great trail for exercise! I go trail running there a lot and see lots of mountain bikers on it too. Great year-round trails. Find more info on WTA.org.
Grand Ridge Park
Southeast 63rd StreetThe closest trail to the guesthouse - about 5-8 min drive. There's no real "destination" but if you want to get out in the beautiful forest on single track and maybe see some wildlife, it's a great trail for exercise! I go trail running there a lot and see lots of mountain bikers on it too. Great year-round trails. Find more info on WTA.org.
A huge area of intersecting trails! You can go on a specific hike there (I recommend Coal Creek Falls in the winter and spring when the falls are not dried up - approx 2-3 easy miles depending on what route you take) or this is a great place to walk or trail run and just wander the different trails. You can get endless miles out of that place and it's all beautiful!! Very close by as well. Great year-round trails. Find more info on WTA.org or Alltrails.
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Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
18201 Southeast Cougar Mountain DriveA huge area of intersecting trails! You can go on a specific hike there (I recommend Coal Creek Falls in the winter and spring when the falls are not dried up - approx 2-3 easy miles depending on what route you take) or this is a great place to walk or trail run and just wander the different trails. You can get endless miles out of that place and it's all beautiful!! Very close by as well. Great year-round trails. Find more info on WTA.org or Alltrails.
A little bit further drive (near Snoqualmie Pass) but it's a great, easy, beautiful waterfall hike. Only 2 miles RT and 400 ft elevation gain. Popular on weekends. Best in summer and fall (if you want a clear hike... These are also beautiful frozen falls in the winter/spring but the road is closed so you'd have to add a few miles by hiking in on the road). Find more info on WTA.org.
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Franklin Falls
A little bit further drive (near Snoqualmie Pass) but it's a great, easy, beautiful waterfall hike. Only 2 miles RT and 400 ft elevation gain. Popular on weekends. Best in summer and fall (if you want a clear hike... These are also beautiful frozen falls in the winter/spring but the road is closed so you'd have to add a few miles by hiking in on the road). Find more info on WTA.org.
A relatively easy 2 mile RT (and only 400 ft elevation gain) hike will take you to a fun crossing of Denny Creek that, depending on water level, is a great spot to stay and play in the water! You can also continue past this water crossing to a waterfall a little further up. Best in summer and fall. Find more info on WTA.org.
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Denny Creek Trailhead
FS 5830A relatively easy 2 mile RT (and only 400 ft elevation gain) hike will take you to a fun crossing of Denny Creek that, depending on water level, is a great spot to stay and play in the water! You can also continue past this water crossing to a waterfall a little further up. Best in summer and fall. Find more info on WTA.org.
Approx 4 miles RT if you turn around at Talapus lake, or you can continue further to Olallie Lake to make it a total of about 6.2 miles RT. Both beautiful lakes! Best done in summer and fall when the snow has melted in the mountains. Find more info on WTA.org.
Talapus and Olallie Lake Trail
Talapus and Olallie Lake TrailApprox 4 miles RT if you turn around at Talapus lake, or you can continue further to Olallie Lake to make it a total of about 6.2 miles RT. Both beautiful lakes! Best done in summer and fall when the snow has melted in the mountains. Find more info on WTA.org.
Favorite Places to Eat in Issaquah
There are lots of fun restaurants in Bellevue or Seattle area - this list is just for the ones close to the guesthouse in Issaquah.
Quick, delicious, fresh sandwich place just 2 min from the guesthouse. They also deliver if you wish.
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Jimmy John's
1567 Highlands Dr NEQuick, delicious, fresh sandwich place just 2 min from the guesthouse. They also deliver if you wish.
The Habit Burger Grill
17025 Southcenter PkwyGreat burger joint just 2 min drive from the guesthouse.
Delicious Thai food only 2 min drive from the guesthouse and a beautiful atmosphere to sit and enjoy (or you can takeout). We love Thai food and have been to Thailand and we love this place.
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Bai Tong Thai Restaurant in Issaquah
1520 Highlands Dr NEDelicious Thai food only 2 min drive from the guesthouse and a beautiful atmosphere to sit and enjoy (or you can takeout). We love Thai food and have been to Thailand and we love this place.
Approx 6 min drive from guesthouse. Great Mexican food (Americanized, if you know what I mean). It's a fast casual place - we love their burritos and salads the most (sweet pork, yum!). And the orchata is good too!
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
730 NW Gilman BlvdApprox 6 min drive from guesthouse. Great Mexican food (Americanized, if you know what I mean). It's a fast casual place - we love their burritos and salads the most (sweet pork, yum!). And the orchata is good too!
MOD Pizza
1464 Highlands Dr NEGreat casual pizza place just 2 min drive from the guesthouse.
Fast casual chain restaurant with soups, salads, and sandwiches. 7 min drive from guesthouse.
Panera Bread
775 NW Gilman BlvdFast casual chain restaurant with soups, salads, and sandwiches. 7 min drive from guesthouse.
Grocery stores, Movie theater
Misc recommendations
Closest grocery store to the guesthouse - about 1/2 min drive or you can walk if you don't mind going up the hill. :)
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Safeway
1451 Highlands Dr NEClosest grocery store to the guesthouse - about 1/2 min drive or you can walk if you don't mind going up the hill. :)
Second closest grocery store - a little bigger and sometimes better prices than Safeway. 4 min drive down the hill.
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Fred Meyer
6100 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy SESecond closest grocery store - a little bigger and sometimes better prices than Safeway. 4 min drive down the hill.
Great movie theater just 2 min drive from the guesthouse. Has IMAX and RPX.
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Regal Issaquah Highlands IMAX & RPX
940 NE Park DrGreat movie theater just 2 min drive from the guesthouse. Has IMAX and RPX.
Things To Do in the Issaquah area
These are some of our favorite things to do in Issaquah and the surrounding area. In a separate list I'll give you ideas of things to do in Seattle.
Such a fun, smaller, more intimate zoo experience than the usual big zoos. You can feed a lot of the animals, which is really fun. Because it's not huge, you can enjoy the whole thing in an hour or two. Very pleasant and enjoyable place!
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Cougar Mountain dýragarður
19525 SE 54th StSuch a fun, smaller, more intimate zoo experience than the usual big zoos. You can feed a lot of the animals, which is really fun. Because it's not huge, you can enjoy the whole thing in an hour or two. Very pleasant and enjoyable place!
The fish hatchery is actually a really fun place to visit any time of the year. There are signs and a self-guided tour booklet you can use to walk around and learn about salmon. Sometimes you can even find a volunteer to ask questions to who can teach you a lot of cool facts! We love to go out Tuesday mornings in the fall (October/November) during spawning season to watch the volunteers gather the adult fish and collect the eggs and milt.
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Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
125 W Sunset WayThe fish hatchery is actually a really fun place to visit any time of the year. There are signs and a self-guided tour booklet you can use to walk around and learn about salmon. Sometimes you can even find a volunteer to ask questions to who can teach you a lot of cool facts! We love to go out Tuesday mornings in the fall (October/November) during spawning season to watch the volunteers gather the adult fish and collect the eggs and milt.
A gorgeous waterfall that is easily accessible. Park and walk about 5 min and you're at the lookout. Approx 20 min drive.
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Snoqualmie-foss
6501 Railroad AveA gorgeous waterfall that is easily accessible. Park and walk about 5 min and you're at the lookout. Approx 20 min drive.
Charming little homemade candy and chocolate shop near downtown Issaquah. You can take classes or a guided tour.
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Boehms Candies, Inc.
255 NE Gilman BlvdCharming little homemade candy and chocolate shop near downtown Issaquah. You can take classes or a guided tour.
A beautiful state park right on the south end of Lake Sammamish. Has a beach area (you can rent paddle boards and kayaks), a huge playground, and a large grassy picnic area with tables and grills. Bathrooms and shower facilities available. $10/day or Discover Pass required.
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Lake Sammamish State Park
2010 NW Sammamish RdA beautiful state park right on the south end of Lake Sammamish. Has a beach area (you can rent paddle boards and kayaks), a huge playground, and a large grassy picnic area with tables and grills. Bathrooms and shower facilities available. $10/day or Discover Pass required.
You can often see paragliders coming off of Poo Poo Point right above Issaquah - You could be one of those!! I haven't been paragliding but I have been hang gliding and skydiving and they were both amazing experiences!
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Seattle Paragliding
11206 Issaquah-Hobart Road SoutheastYou can often see paragliders coming off of Poo Poo Point right above Issaquah - You could be one of those!! I haven't been paragliding but I have been hang gliding and skydiving and they were both amazing experiences!
Renown mountain biking park just 5 min drive from the guesthouse. 120 acres of trails, great for all abilities!
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Duthie Hill fjallahjólaleikvangur
26100-26156 SE Issaquah-Fall City RdRenown mountain biking park just 5 min drive from the guesthouse. 120 acres of trails, great for all abilities!
This is such a fun Farmer's Market! Open every Saturday from May - September (9am-2pm no matter the weather) at Pickering Barn. There's food, flowers, local produce, handmade arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, etc.
Issaquah Farmers Market
1730 10th Ave NWThis is such a fun Farmer's Market! Open every Saturday from May - September (9am-2pm no matter the weather) at Pickering Barn. There's food, flowers, local produce, handmade arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, etc.
Things to do in Seattle area
Rúm-nál
400 Broad StPike Place Market Farmers Market
410 Terry Ave NThe Seattle Great Wheel
1301 Alaskan WayFlugmuseum
9404 E Marginal Way STyggjusein
1428 Post AlleyFremont Troll
Troll Avenue NorthAlki Beach
Surprisingly fun to watch boats go through the locks, also a great fish ladder to watch the Salmon
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Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Lögin
3015 NW 54th StSurprisingly fun to watch boats go through the locks, also a great fish ladder to watch the Salmon
Deception Pass State Park
41229 State Route 20Woodland Park dýragarður
5500 Phinney Ave NDiscovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdFun place to hike and see a lighthouse
Go checkout the boathouse if you've read the book "Boys in the Boat" and if you're here in the spring, go to campus to see the cherry blossoms! 😍
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Háskóli Washington
1410 Northeast Campus ParkwayGo checkout the boathouse if you've read the book "Boys in the Boat" and if you're here in the spring, go to campus to see the cherry blossoms! 😍
Beautiful place to walk in spring and fall especially
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Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens
2300 Arboretum Dr EBeautiful place to walk in spring and fall especially
Kerry Park
211 W Highland DrGreat views of the Seattle skyline and Mt Rainier behind
Borgartillaga
Samgöngur
Park 'N Ride
About a 5 min walk up the hill from our house