Squak Mountain, from the south, via Trailhead Direct

NOTE: Due to a problem with a retaining wall at the Margaret's Way trailhead, we're now starting and ending at the May Valley trailhead. This simplifies travel instructions for folks wanting to drive, but it doesn't show off use of the bus to start and end at different trailheads... Thanks to Pavel for seeing the message posted on the Trailhaed Direct website -- I have not seen an alert from Metro about this.

We'll start from the May Valley trailhead, head north to the Bullitt Fireplace, then take the Formerly Secret Trail to the central Squak peak (no view, just radio towers). We'll stop for lunch either at the Fireplace, or at a spot on the Formerly Secret Trail near the central peak, where there are logs to sit on. (IMO the Formerly Secret Trail is much prettier than the Central Peak Trail, and it's "Formerly Secret" because now it's on the official map, and on Google Maps.)

From the central peak, we'll head west to the west Squak peak. (The west peak doesn't have a view either, but it's much prettier than the radio towers. We've never figured out what the little plates with numbers tacked to trees around the west peak signify.)

Then we'll detour over to Debbie's View, and head back south by an alternate route. We have some options, depending on time and what the group wants.

This option is about 6.5 miles, 2000 ft elevation gain -- it follows most of the same route that we used to enter.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bv591qChzX37WhGq9

For a bit longer hike, 7.4 miles, 2300 ft elevation gain, that avoids retracing our steps, we can take part of the Equestrian Loop.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AWXcgwZnRLhU3UHG7

Logistics

Bring water (recommend at least 2 liters / quarts), lunch, snacks. You'll want footwear with good traction -- the trails have several steep / slippery places.

Use comments to coordinate. (Note I will not see Meetup direct messages til after the event.)

If you sign up, but then find you can't go, please change your RSVP.

There are multiple names for the start / end location, which is the trailhead at the south end of the Squak Mountain area. It is different depending on which map or app you're using. Try "May Valley trailhead", "May Valley Loop trailhead", "Squak Mountain State Park". For King County Tripplanner, enter "Squak Mountain State Park" and select "64477 @ Squak Mountain State Park (NB)". All of the following links are the location. The problem seems to be that the sign at the entrance to the parking lot here says "Squak Mountain State Park", so that's what map makers called this spot, even though Squak Mountain State Park is the whole park, not this one parking lot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zwWHXu49CmH5xTUY8

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Cq1QbLN824Ye

https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/12117096111

https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/108848607

Oh, and Meetup insists on adding a street address to the location, and that street address does not appear to be correct. Ignore it.

The event end time is a guesstimate of when we'll be back at the May Valley trailhead, and assumes we'll want time to explore.

Bus riders: Use your favorite trip planning app to plan a route to the starting location, because this may differ quite a bit depending on where you are starting from. See above for names to try. The Trailhead Direct bus we want arrives at "May Valley trailhead" (or equivalent) at 10:13am, so set the arrival time in your app to a little later than that. If you are on the eastside, you might be told to take Link #2 or a bus to the South Bellevue Station, and catch the Trailhead Direct bus that is scheduled to be there at 9:41am. If you're in Seattle, you might be told to go to the Mount Baker Transit Center, to catch the Trailhead Direct bus that leaves from bay 2 at 9:30am. If you're in north Seattle, you might be told to take Link #2, or a bus, to South Bellevue Station, and catch the Trailhead Direct bus at bay 2 at 9:41am, or to catch the #271 to Issaquah Transit Center, and catch the Trailhead Direct bus at bay 5 at 9:55. Or any of many other options.

Just for folks getting the bus at South Bellevue Station: The bus heading out to the trailheads is supposed to stop at bay 2. But both bay 1 and bay 2 have Trailhead Direct signs -- the bus uses bay 1 on the return trip. Drivers have been known to arbitrarily pick one stop, so be prepared to wave your arms around and run to the bus if it doesn't stop where you are.

Just for folks getting on the bus at the Issaquah Transit Center: The Trailhead Direct bus stops at bay 5. It uses the same stop for both directions -- out to the trailhead, or back toward Bellevue and Seattle. The bus we want is scheduled to leave that stop at 9:55am. The very first bus returning to Bellevue / Seattle stops there at 9:58am, so almost the same time! Ask the driver if they are heading out to the trailhead, to be sure it's the right bus.
Here is bay 5 -- it is on the same side of the passenger platform as the parking structure, and buses will be heading south on this side:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5889135959#map=18/47.542041/-122.061625

Drivers: Due to the change in plans, it is now feasible to drive to the trailhead. But if you want to just drive partway, you could park at either South Bellevue Station, or the Issaquah Transit Center. See the "Bus Riders" instructions for when the bus will be there, and which bus "bay" it will stop at -- I recommend being at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the bus arrival time.