Len's Trail - Grand Ridge Park

With all the rain, wind and flooding recently it’s hard to know which trails and access roads are open and usable so let’s play it safe and keep it local and go someplace we know should be open. There may by a tree or two down along the trail (or not) but if so the terrain and vegetation would lend itself to this not being a problem to get past.

We did this hike in 2022 and interestingly enough we had one of our best bear encounters on this trail. A mom and two cubs were right along the trail and we had to wait until they decided to move along before we could pass. I don’t necessarily expect a repeat of that event this time around but it was a pretty fun experience just the same. This hike is in Grand Ridge Park which has a pretty extensive trail system. It’s rolling, forested terrain and a nice spot for a walk in the woods. It’s a multi use trail so mountain bikes use it as well but I don’t expect to see many on a Tuesday in late December.
Let’s meet at 9:30 AM and plan to start moving shortly thereafter.

-Distance: 7.4 miles
-Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
-Pass required: None
-Privy: At the trailhead parking lot. Can’t confirm that it’s open but very likely
-WTA link: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/grand-ridge-park
(Note: this WTA link is not to the exact trail that we’ll be hiking but it’s in the same general area. Do Not Follow the directions to the trailhead described in this link)

Directions to the trailhead: Enter “Duthie Hill Park Southwest Parking Lot” into Google Maps and you’ll be directed to the correct starting spot. This is a large parking lot on the SE Issaquah Fall City Rd. just east of the intersection with Duthie Hill Rd. Coming from Seattle take exit 17 off of I-90 and turn left at the stop light at the bottom of the exit ramp. Go 0.3 miles and then go right on SE Issaquah Fall City Rd. From there it’s about 3.0 miles to where SE Issaquah Fall City Rd. goes right off the main road which becomes Duthie Hill Rd. From this intersection it’s only about 400 feet to where you turn left into the parking lot.