# Issaquah

Issaquah is a city of 40,000 people (2019) in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Its historic downtown is a popular base for hiking in the foothills of the Cascades.

## Get in
### By car

* From Interstate 90 (I-90), take exit 15 (17th Ave NW) or exit 17 (Front Street).
* From State Route 18, take Issaquah Hobart Road south of Tiger Mountain, which becomes Front St.
* State Route 900 leaves Renton as Sunset Blvd NE, becomes Renton-Issaquah Road, then 17th Ave NW at the junction with I-5.
* East Lake Sammamish Pkwy goes 12 mi (19 km) along the east side of Lake Sammamish from Front St & I-90 at Exit #17, to its intersection with SR-202 just east of downtown Redmond.
* West Lake Sammamish Pkwy goes 10 mi (16 km) along the west side of Lake Sammamish to Exit #13 of I-90 (Lakewood Blvd) just west of Issaquah.

### By bus

Intercity bus services operating beyond the region mostly stop in Seattle.
* Wenatchee Valley Shuttle (Flixbus), (bus stop)Shell Station @ 3670 150th Ave SE, Bellevue (West of Eastgate Plaza at 150th Ave SE & SE 38th St), ☏ +1 509 293-5773. They operate several daily departures to Wenatchee and Peshastin in Eastern Washington from Sea-Tac and Bellevue. From Wenatchee they continue east towards Spokane Airport via Ephrata, Quincy, Moses Lake and Ritzville. They also have another local stop at the North Bend Premium Outlets in North Bend, at the clock tower. No scheduled stops in Issaquah. Check with them regarding local door to door pick-up or drop-off. $62.50 one-way, $125 roundtrip Seattle to Wenatchee. (updated Jan 2018)

### By bicycle

Bike lanes run east-west along W Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE (north of I-90, preferred) and Newport Way NW (south of I-90).
The East Lake Sammamish Trail (along E Lake Sammamish Pkwy) is the best north-south way to downtown, as it bypasses one of Issaquah's busiest retail areas and the high-traffic interstate crossings.

## Get around

The main east-west roads are Gilman Blvd and Newport Way. Front Street runs north-south through downtown.
Issaquah is best accessed by car, although bicycling is a viable option.
Downtown Issaquah is easy to explore on foot. Additionally, there a network of hiking and walking trails which extend through the Gilman Blvd shopping district to Lake Sammamish State Park. It is possible to walk from Issaquah to Redmond on this trail network.

### By public transit

The transportation hub (bus station) in Issaquah is the 47.5422-122.06221 Issaquah Transit Center on NW Maple St & 17th Ave NW. The Issaquah TC offers routes with service to Downtown Seattle (214, 554); UW in the U-District (271,556); Bellevue (214,271,556); Redmond (269,554); North Bend via Snoqualmie (208); and other surrounding cities (208,269,271,545,556).
* King County Metro, ☏ +1 206-553-3000. Operates bus, streetcar, and monorail routes in King County. Communities within the county served by this operator's routes include Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville. (updated Jun 2023)
* Sound Transit, toll-free: +1-888-889-6368. Has regional public transit routes including Sounder trains, Link light rail, and express bus in King County (e.g. Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Seattle), Snohomish County (e.g. Everett, Lynnwood), and Pierce County (e.g. Puyallup, Tacoma). (updated Jun 2023)
** Operating regional bus services on bus routes 554 and 556.

### By bicycle

Bike lanes run east-west on Gilman, though alternative routes (Newport Way, W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy -- see above) have less traffic. If you need to cross I-90, the best route is the pedestrian trail adjacent to 4th Ave NW. Front Street/Issaquah Pine Lake between Gilman and SE 56th street has extremely heavy vehicle traffic.

## See

Olde Town, centered along Front Street, is historic downtown Issaquah. It is known for its mixture of art galleries, shops, unique restaurants and taverns, theaters, historical sites and museums, some dating back to the 1930s or earlier. It's where much of the festivities of Issaquah Salmon Days occur.
* 47.53104-122.035431 Gilman Town Hall Museum, 165 SE Andrews St, ☏ +1 425 392-3500. From the Gilman Town Hall Museum Website- "This exhibit tells the story of Issaquah's past through hundreds of photographs and artifacts and a variety of interactive elements. Come see one of Issaquah's original water pipes, a rare Native American fur trade knife, and graffiti hidden for 75 years inside the walls of the fish hatchery. Set off an imaginary charge with an authentic dynamite blaster, ring a logging camp bell or listen to the music of the Squak Valley Hot Shots." $2 for adults, $1 for children, $5 per family of 3+ $10 family pass gives all-day access to both museums. Friends of the Issaquah History Museums visit for free.
* 47.53104-122.035432 Issaquah Depot Museum, 150 First Avenue NE, ☏ +1 425 392-3500.
* 47.5296-122.038663 Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, 125 W. Sunset Way (take I-90 East to Front Street exit; make a right turn onto Front Street, (after you turn onto Front Street, move into the center lane, otherwise you will be forced to turn onto Gilman Blvd); stay on Front Street for approximately 0.6 miles to West Sunset Way and make a right-hand turn onto Sunset Way; the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is on your left-hand side). 8AM - 4PM. It tells the story of salmon. Free.

### Elsewhere

* 47.553-122.0814 Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 SE 54th St, info@cougarmountainzoo.org. The zoo focuses on endangered species including lemurs from Madagascar, Bengal tigers, and endangered birds from various parts of the world. (updated Feb 2025)

## Do

* Salmon Days. Held the first weekend of October, this large festival celebrates the return of the salmon up Issaquah Creek to the hatchery. Vendors, music and parades, in addition to viewing the salmon.
* 47.5531-122.06771 Lake Sammamish State Park, (main entrance) 2000 NW Sammamish State Park (from I-90: drive east to exit #15, and follow the signs), ☏ +1 425 455-7010. Summer: 6:30AM to dusk. Winter: 6:30AM to dusk for the main park and boat launch.. Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858 feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Native American tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features. The park includes diverse natural wetlands, a large great blue heron rookery and the salmon-bearing Issaquah Creek. The park has one of the largest freshwater beaches in the greater Seattle area. Discover Pass required for vehicles. Pedestrians Free.
* 47.53319-122.036612 Village Theatre, 303 Front St N. Producing entertaining, quality productions since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region’s best-attended venues for musical theatre. (updated Feb 2025)

### Hiking

The Issaquah Alps consist of nearby Cougar, Squak and Tiger Mountains. Each mountain hosts a network of trails for all fitness levels. They are popular for having some of the closest hiking to Seattle, having the closest strenuous hikes to Seattle, and for staying below the snow level for most of the winter.
Squak Mountain is a state park, and Tiger Mountain is mostly run by WA Department of Natural Resources, both of which require a pass to access by vehicle. The Discover Pass is $10 a day, or $30 a year.
* 47.53508-122.12923 Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (from I-90: take Exit 13 and drive south on Lakemont Blvd SE for 3.1 miles; look for the entrance to the Red Town Trailhead on the left side of the road). A 3000-acre park with 36 miles of hiking trails (12 miles suitable for equestrian use). It showcases a variety of natural features from forests and waterfalls to meadows and cliffs. There are four primary trailheads, each offering a different experience. Free.
* 47.49639-122.038334 Squak Mountain State Park (from I-90, take exit 17; head south on Front Street, which turns into Issaquah-Hobart Road; drive 4.5 miles, then turn right on S.E. May Valley Road; drive 1.5 miles, and turn right into the park). 6:30PM to dusk. The second most westerly mountain of the Issaquah Alps. There are 13 miles of hiking trails, 6 miles of which are suitable for equestrian use. Discover Pass required for vehicles.
* 47.48806-121.946945 Tiger Mountain State Forest (drive east on I-90 past Bellevue; just past Issaquah, take exit 20; turn right on 270th Ave SE; turn right on SE 79th Street; drive through the gate, onto the gravel road and into the parking lot). The easternmost of the Issaquah Alps. The NCRCA encompasses 4,430 acres that range in elevation from 470 feet above sea level at Tradition Plateau to 2,948 feet at the summit of West Tiger Peak 1, the highest of three peaks within the natural area. The City of Issaquah owns most of the Tradition Plateau that is adjacent to the NRCA. The city co-manages the land with the Natural Areas Program at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Discover Pass required for vehicles.
* 47.50058-122.022176 Poo Poo Point, Chirico Trail @ 11400 Issaquah Hobart Rd (Landing Field/Chirico trailhead — from Interstate-90, take the Front Street exit (#17). Drive south on Front Street; follow Front Street until it turns into Issaquah-Hobart Road; the trailhead and parking lot is on the left side of the road, across from the blue Squak Mountain-Tiger Mountain Corridor sign; Issaquah High trailhead — from Interstate-90, take the Front Street exit; drive south on Front Street to Sunset Way and turn left; then right onto Second Avenue; the trailhead is located on the right, after you pass Issaquah High, just shy of the Second Avenue’s junction with Front Street; the small lot has room for about four cars). A viewpoint on Tiger Mountain at 2021 feet, accessible by hike. This is the take off point for parasailing operations in the area. Free.

## Buy

* 47.540084-122.04131 Gilman Village, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd (from I-90, take exit 17, turn south on Front St, then right onto NW Gilman Blvd, second or thid left turn into the parking lots.), ☏ +1 425-392-6802, info@gilmanvillage.com. 10AM-7PM. An Issaquah landmark for almost half a century, Gilman Village is a mixed use center featuring shops, restaurants, personal services, even a preschool, all residing in houses, buildings and other structures preserved from Issaquah's historic past. Good for a casual walk with a variety of unique stores and restaurants to visit, from Greek, Mexican, Indian, and American food, The Black Duck cask and bottle house, plus craft art galleries, antique stores, home decor, clothing, home goods, all independently owned and locally charming. (updated Dec 2021)
* 47.53955-122.042 Experience Tea, 195 Front St N (between Bush St & Andrews St), ☏ +1 206 406-9838. W-Sa noon - 5PM; Su Noon - 4PM. A creative Tea Studio where you can experience different types of teas and tea related culture.
* 47.53486-122.032323 Boehms Candies, 255 NE Gilman Blvd,, ☏ +1 425 392-6652. Authentic Austrian chocolatier in a quaint Alpine-style building offering confectionaries as well as a self-guided tour. (updated Oct 2020)

## Drink

* 47.549653-122.0666311 Formula Brewing, 1875 NW Poplar Way (from I-90, take exit 15, turn south on 17th Ave NW, then right onto NW Gilman Blvd past Burger King, then next right onto 18th Ave NW, follow around past the dealership, last storefront on the end of strip mall), ☏ +1 425-961-0854, info@formulabrewing.com. noon-9PM. Local microbrewery with pizza kitchen and large outdoor space. The roomy, modern atmosphere of this Issaquah brewery combines artisan pizza varieties with equally high quality beers for diverse palates, from citrus-forward IPAs, to lagers from Latin to German styles, to write-home-about stouts, sours, and fruit beers. A friendly, casual sports and outdoorsy vibe coupled with good food, beer, and even a few mixed drinks. (updated Dec 2021)

## Sleep

* 47.54662-122.064791 Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, ☏ +1 425 837-3600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
* 47.55129-122.060592 Motel 6 Seattle East - Issaquah, 1885 15th Place NW, ☏ +1 425 392-8405, fax: +1 425 557-6465. Dogs are permitted.

## Go next

* Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest
* Nearby Eastside cities: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and North Bend
* The Mountains to Sound Greenway into the beautiful Cascade Mountains, with numerous recreational opportunities.