Trailhead Direct – the weekend and holiday transit-to-trails service co-led by King County Metro and King County Parks – will return on Saturday, June 5, offering service to Issaquah Alps and Mount Si.

The Issaquah Alps route will start at the Mount Baker Transit Center with service every 30 minutes serving Margaret’s Way, Squak Mountain, Chirico Trail-Poo Poo Point, High School Trail, and East Sunset Way. The Mount Si route will start at the Sound Transit Capitol Hill Link light rail station with service every 15 minutes to Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, and Little Si.

Both routes are easily accessible to Sound Transit Link light rail.

“Trailhead Direct connects everyone in King County with some of our region’s most popular hikes and trails, and as we reopen this summer I’m excited to be able to bring this popular service back for another season,” said Executive Constantine. “Going from the sidewalk to the mountaintops without a car means more people have a chance to share these special places with their friends and family from all around King County.”

The 2021 Trailhead Direct season will operate each weekend through Sept. 26, offering service on Independence Day and Labor Day. The new season begins on National Trails Day.

The partnership that helped create Trailhead Direct continues in 2021. King County, Seattle Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, and Washington Trails Association are working together to inform hikers throughout the region on the return of the service.

Developed in response to dangerous overcrowding at popular trailhead parking lots, which frequently exceed their capacity during spring and summer weekends and holidays, Trailhead Direct has become a popular, eco-friendly way to get out of the city and explore King County’s mountain forests. Passengers boarded Trailhead Direct for 17,500 hikes in 2019, a 75 percent increase from the previous season.

“Metro’s commitment is to provide mobility options that allow people a quick and convenient way to enjoy getting out of the city and hit the trails,” said Christina O’Claire, King County Metro’s Mobility Division Director. “Crowded roads leading up to the trails are a hazard to not only hikers, but to the drivers using the highways surrounding them. Trailhead Direct reduces traffic while still ensuring people easy access to the parks.”

For 2021, passengers will be required to wear masks and observe the current health measures in place to keep your fellow riders and our operators safe—and don’t forget the rules of the trail.

Trailhead Direct will operate with 14- to 32-seat vehicles and will observe the current capacity limits for coaches. Each vehicle has a rack for either two or three bikes. Passengers pay Metro’s standard fares and can pay with an ORCA card, Transit Go Mobile ticket, or cash with exact change.

Adults (19 and older) $2.75
ORCA LIFT Fare*

*income qualified

 $1.50
Youth (6-18 yrs) $1.50
RRFP cardholders

(registered seniors, Medicare, disabled)

 $1.00
Children (thru age 5)

Four may ride free with person paying adult fare

 $1.00

Use Metro’s Puget Sound Trip Planner via desktop, mobile, or Android or iOS apps for details about transit stops, routes and schedules.

Trailhead Direct connects everyone in King County with some of our region’s most popular hikes and trails, and as we reopen this summer I’m excited to be able to bring this popular service back for another season. Going from the sidewalk to the mountaintops without a car means more people have a chance to share these special places with their friends and family from all around King County.

Dow Constantine, King County Executive

Metro’s commitment is to provide mobility options that allow people a quick and convenient way to enjoy getting out of the city and hit the trails. Crowded roads leading up to the trails are a hazard to not only hikers, but to the drivers using the highways surrounding them. Trailhead Direct reduces traffic while still ensuring people easy access to the parks.

Christina O’Claire, King County Metro’s Mobility Division Director

We are pleased to have partnered with King County Metro and King County Parks to offer Trailhead Direct over the past few years. This innovative program allows people to enjoy the beauty and adventure that our region offers even if they do not have a car. We can all work together for a more sustainable future by using public transportation to get to our favorite spaces, and we can ensure everyone can enjoy our popular trails by limiting cars at the trailheads. I encourage our community to safely take advantage of Trailhead Direct to get to some of our area’s incredible trailheads and parks this year.

Sam Zimbabwe, director Seattle Department of Transportation

Totago is a proud partner of this forward-thinking initiative. We are excited to play a role in promoting equitable access to the incredible natural spaces and trails we love in King County.

Adrian Laurenzi, CEO and Founder TOTAGO