Once upon a time, we were doing "compass point" traverses of Squak Mountain, e.g. west to north, north to south. Let's try east to south, and use some trails we don't usually take. To do this, we can take advantage of Trailhead Direct, to enter at one trailhead, and come out another. And we can use the same trick we did with the recent hike starting at Margaret's Way, where we get off at a trailhead that is intended to head one way...and then turn around and go the opposite direction.
So...we'll take the Trailhead Direct Issaquah Alps from Mount Baker Transit Center, get off at the High School trailhead, which most folks would use to enter the Tiger Mtn area, but we'll head the other way, and go to the Sycamore Access trail, which leads into Squak Mtn.
From Sycamore, we'll take the East Ridge trail up (and up and up), but instead of heading straight for the peak, we'll head north on Phil's Creek trail, just to be different. We can stop (as we often do) at the Bullitt Fireplace for lunch. This part of the hike is about 3.4 miles, 2400 ft up. Then we can head out, with a visit to the peak, and downhill on the Summit trail, back to Phil's Creek trail, but this time we'll head south, and turn off to the Equestrian Loop trail. Google Maps says this is 2.5 miles, but Google Maps does not know about the switchbacks that give the Equestrian Loop a nice gentle grade, so it is likely about 3-3.5 miles, with only a little uphill. When we last were on the Phil's Creek -> Equestrian Loop part of this route, folks thought it was quite pretty.
We'll come out at the May Valley Loop trailhead (sometimes also called the Squak Mtn State Park trailhead).
Total is about 7 miles, 2600 ft elevation gain. Nothing technical, but if your knees don't like downhill, trekking poles will help.
Weather forecasts are for low 70s deg F, partly sunny. We don't care if there are clouds for this hike, as Squak Mtn doesn't have views. This will be our one cool weekend -- the weekend after will heat up again.
Logistics:
Bring water, lunch, snacks.
Caution: The High School trailhead has no restroom, so be resigned to "using the woods". There is a restroom at the end of the hike, at the May Valley Loop trailhead.
Event start and end times are at the Mt Baker Transit Center, where the Trailhead Direct bus originates. The end time assumes the trail is longer than what Google Maps says, and that we miss the 3:20pm return bus, and instead catch the 4:20pm bus.
Bus riders coming from the Seattle side have two options. You can meet at the Mt Baker Transit Center (not the Mt Baker Link station!!), in time to get on the 8:44am Transit Direct bus. Or, you can catch the #554 bus in downtown Seattle, as needed to get to the Issaquah Transit Center in time to catch the Trailhead Direct bus as it goes through at 9:05am (it may be early...).
Bus riders coming from the Eastside can now go to either the Eastgate Park & Ride, or the Issaquah Transit Center. Metro announced that the Eastgate stop was added starting last weekend. However, they say it is at bay 1, which is a stop in the Eastgate P&R itself, right next to the parking lot. That's not where it used to stop. I have sent a query to Metro to confirm that, yes, the bus will get off the freeway and go into the P&R, rather than just stopping at the freeway ramp stops. Until we're sure of this, if you are thinking of using Eastgate, leave enough time to scurry around looking for where the actual Trailhead Direct stop is...or wait til I get an answer from Metro. Note that Tripplanner and OneBusAway do not know about the Eastgate stop. The Trailhead Direct schedule (link below) says the bus will be at Eastgate P&R bay 1 at 8:57am, and at Issaquah TC bay 5 at 9:05am. Allow extra time in case it's early.
Drivers: Don't try driving to the trailhead. You'll end up having to take multiple buses back to your car, and waiting a long time. You can park at the Issaquah Transit Center, and hop on the Trailhead Direct bus there. See note above about the Eastgate Park & Ride option, and about when the bus will arrive. Also, there is no convenient parking near the Mt Baker Transit Center. (Google Maps shows a "Mount Baker station park & ride" nearby, but this is incorrect. I've been there, and it appears to be a private lot.)
Use comments to coordinate.
Trailhead Direct Issaquah Alps schedule: https://trailheaddirect.org/issaquah-alps-2024/
Metro Blog post about adding the Eastgate stop: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2024/07/18/new-stop-for-trailhead-direct-added-at-eastgate-park-and-ride-starting-july-20/
Route to the Bullitt Fireplace: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7bPS1yPo64ft3sL16
Route after lunch: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cLpsm3fKt5PkZQiQ6