East Lake Sammamish Trail

Great family trail, good to bring kids of all ages or any one that is brand new to biking.

Recently rode this trail after a long hiatus from biking, which this trail is excellent for. While it is fresh in my memory, I wanted to share just a few details of it with you. This was not the first thing I noticed about the trail, but this is something some, especially those with families may want to know about -- the availability of restrooms. Rest assured, you will find portable restrooms along this trail. During what must have been a five mile portion of the ride, I believe I saw two. I didn't use either one, but from the outside they looked rather clean. The other thing you should be aware of is that this trail runs through a city and along the way you have options that can take you away from the trail. If you decide to take a left turn instead of a right, pay attention to where you took that left turn or you may find that your return trip is not all that efficient. Sometimes that can be a fun thing to do, but if you're out with young kids, you might want to avoid such missteps on the return. Along the trail itself, you'll find plenty of reasons to stop and take a photo, so if you want to capture some memories, be sure to take a camera. Along the way, I saw vibrant fuchsia thistles, tall fuzzy reeds, and the long green needles of several pine trees. As close to nature as you may feel while on this trail, I should remind you that this trail runs through a city. This is good to know, especially if you want to turn your trip into a more encompassing excursion. For food and drink, you'll find a Tully's and a PCC close by. I think you'll also find an IHOP, in case you need a good carb load before a morning ride. If your bike breaks down or you get a flat (unlikely since the trail is pretty clean and free of debris) you can take it into Gerk's Issaquah Cycle. And if you want to do more than just fuel your ride, you can visit Cougar Mountain Zoo or do some shopping at Redmond Square (which has several more eateries). Before ending this review, I would be remiss if I didn't add that it will cost you money to park your car at Lake Sammamish State Park. You'll have to buy a Discover Pass, either a day pass ($10) or annual ($30). (You can read more about the pass at this link: http://discoverpass.wa.gov/31/About-the-Pass.) If those prices are a bit too steep for you, don't worry. I am certain you can find plenty of free, safe parking nearby. And if you prefer not to search for parking, you can always visit Washington State Parks on its free days. Many of them are federal holidays, but not all. The next one coming up is the National Park Service Birthday, August 25, 2015. (You can see the others at this link: http://discoverpass.wa.gov/136/State-Parks-Free-Days) Hope this review helped any of you reading it. Enjoy your rides!

Nice easy ride along the east side of Lake Sammamish. Some parts paved on the south end, but mostly hard packed gravel. Trail is closed for a mile or so where approximately E Lake Sammamish Parkway meets NE Inglewood Hill Rd on the south to almost Marymoor Park on the north. Possibly opening again in Spring 2015 (according to another rider).

Love this trail! Great for a recreational ride to take in the scenery.

East Lake Sammamish is basically a hard-packed/gravel trail. It is wide enough to drive a car, but of course cars aren't allowed. The trail is in excellent condition and is very flat. It is super easy to ride, so I don't know if I'd even call it a mountain bike trail. But it is a great ride. There are beautiful homes along the trail and it is very relaxing. This would be a good ride for a family of all skill levels. The northern end of the trail connects to Marymoor Park and it's a quick pedal to Redmond Town Center if you want to get lunch.