Looking for more fun quick hikes near Bear Ridge and the Issaquah Alps?
Take the trail to Coal Creek Falls or head to Duthie Hill and Grand Ridge for both hiking and mountain biking.
LOCATION
The Bear Ridge Trailhead is located near Issaquah at the edge of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. The small parking area is right off Renton Issaquah Road SE, 1.8 miles south of Exit 15 on I-90.
LENGTH
3.2 miles out-and-back with longer options possible
DIFFICULTY
Easy/Moderate — The Bear Ridge Trail heads gradually uphill on a well-maintained trail. There are a few spots with a steeper grade and some rocks to navigate, and there can be mud. The steep sections are brief, and will only a take a few minutes for most hikers to traverse.
WE HIKED IT
November 2025, about two hours
CURRENT INFO
Find trail reviews and information about the Bear Ridge Trail on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. A trail map is available on the AllTrails website.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Parking is free at the Bear Ridge Trailhead.
- Parking is also extremely limited, with room for three to four vehicles only. Don’t blink, or you might miss it! When full, you may be able to find a parking spot further down the road.
- No toilets or water are available at this trailhead.
- There is a garbage bin and regional trail map at the trailhead. As always, pack out everything that you pack in.
- The Bear Ridge Trail connects to other trails within Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. For a longer hike, continue on the Shangri La Trail instead of turning around like we did.
- Pets on leash are welcome.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Bear Ridge Trail takes you into a peaceful forested oasis only minutes from the suburban sprawl that surrounds Seattle. At first, you may be distracted by the sound of traffic from nearby Renton Issaquah Road, but that soon disappears as you delve deeper into the woods. The fern-covered Fantastic Erratic Rock is a nice diversion, but the real draw is simply enjoying a beautiful woodland walk.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
It was a chilly damp day when we headed out to Bear Ridge, not exactly the kind of day the kids are compelled to go outside. But even when the weather is less than favorable, Bear Ridge is a good place to get out and stretch your legs. It’s close to the Seattle urban area, you can make it as long or short as you like, and cloudy skies lend a mysterious air to the woods.
The terrain offers a modest elevation gain, just enough to make it feel like a true hike. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails; we spotted a small banana slug on the return trip. While there is no big destination on this hike, the kids agreed that the fern-covered Fantastic Erratic Rock was pretty cool. How often do you get the chance to stand atop a boulder with such a well-traveled past? Swept along by ancient glaciers, it traveled to this very spot, where it settled into a quiet life, slowly gathering moss amid the surrounding forest.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
There’s no shortage of trails in the Issaquah Alps. A couple of others we’ve enjoyed include Cedar Butte and Coal Creek Falls. For both hiking and mountain biking, I highly recommend nearby Grand Ridge and Duthie Hill. Other popular hikes include Rattlesnake Ledge, which offers stunning views, and Twin Falls, home to a gorgeous set of waterfalls. These two hikes are very popular, so go on a weekday if possible to avoid crowds. Another great choice is the Palouse to Cascades Trail, an excellent rails-to-trails path for both hikers and bicyclists.
After our hike, we headed to The Well and Table for lunch. It’s one of several cozy places to enjoy a meal in Issaquah’s charming Gilman Village, and is conveniently close to I-90.
Our Experience
The Pacific Northwest is well known for rain. Luckily for us Northwesterners, it’s often the lazy, drippy kind of rain that seems to hang in the clouds as long as possible before dropping reluctantly down to earth with a resigned plop. It’s not the kind of rain to deter one from hiking. At any rate, that was my firm belief as we set out on the Bear Ridge Trail on a wet Saturday morning in November.
My youngest son felt otherwise, but the rest of party was ready to hit the trail. And who knows? Maybe we’d spot a few native slugs or snails, as helpfully identified on a small sign at the trailhead.
The leaf-covered trail led quickly into the woods, and soon the sound of traffic died away. The path led gradually uphill, and we encountered only a handful of other hikers. Perhaps the tiny parking area at the Bear Ridge Trailhead serves as a deterrent for many.
Before long, we came to the one major landmark along the Bear Ridge Trail: Fantastic Erratic Rock. Yes, it’s a giant boulder wedged into the hillside. And yes, it arrived here long, long ago from a place far, far away. Today, it’s a veritable rock garden covered in sword ferns and, in autumn, fallen leaves. The path up to the Fantastic Erratic is briefly steep and rocky, and we took care not to slip on the rain-slicked stones.
We continued up the trail, which grew steeper, then returned to a slow but steady uphill climb. A couple of trail bridges crossed narrow streams, and in a few places we had to step over small ditches of running water. Considering how much rain had fallen recently, it wasn’t bad.
Eventually, we came to the turnaround point, a signpost pointing toward the Shangri La Trail and the continuation of the Bear Ridge Trail. Sure, it’s a bit anticlimactic, but since we didn’t have time for a much longer loop hike, this was a good place to start the return trip. My youngest son definitely agreed.
It was downhill all the way on the return trip, and I felt like we were back at the car in no time (although not before spotting a banana slug on the trail). Sure, we were a little wetter than when we’d started out, but certainly no worse for the wear. The Bear Ridge Trail may not be a destination hike, but often all we really need is a walk in the woods. And when it comes to that, this trail absolutely delivers.
