Looking for more urban trails on the Eastside?
Check out Weowna Park in Bellevue, Coal Creek Falls at Cougar Mountain, or Grand Ridge and Duthie Hill for hiking and biking.
LOCATION
Evans Creek Preserve is located midway between Redmond and Sammamish, Washington off Highway 202.
LENGTH
2 miles to walk most of the open trails, as we did. You can easily do a shorter walk. If all trails are open, longer hikes of three to three and a half miles are possible.
DIFFICULTY
Easy/Moderate — Most trails are well maintained. The paths closest to the lower parking lots are gravel with a few short boardwalk sections. As you go further into the forest, the trails are dirt and can be muddy. Steep uphill switchbacks connect the forest trails with the upper trailhead.
WE HIKED IT
February, 2021, about two and a half hours, including several stops
CURRENT INFO
Trail reports are available on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. A good description of Evans Creek Preserve and a map is included in the book Urban Trails: Eastside by Craig Romano.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Parking is free at Evans Creek Preserve.
- There are two trailheads for Evans Creek Preserve. The lower one, which we used, is located just off Redmond-Fall City Road (Highway 202). The upper one is on Sahalee Way NE.
- Be aware that from the upper trailhead, the trail heads down a series of fairly steep switchbacks into the preserve. If you prefer an easier route, park at the lower trailhead. There is a port-a-porry at the upper trailhead.
- From the lower trailhead, restrooms are available a short distance down the trail in an open meadow with picnic tables.
- Dogs on leash are allowed at Evans Creek Preserve.
- Evans Creek Preserve has excellent signage, and all trail junctions are numbered. There are maps at each intersection, with arrows pointing the way to different junctions.
- When we visited in February, 2021, many of the hillside trail segments were closed due to potential landslide concerns. This meant almost half the trails were off limits. Fortunately, you could still hike from one end of the preserve to the other by a couple of different routes.
HIGHLIGHTS
Evans Creek Preserve is one of the many small urban and suburban parks that provide local communities with easy access to trails. A network of trails makes it easy to customize your route. There are no sweeping views or destinations, just a simple place to enjoy a slice of nature at your own pace.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
The kids took off running down the trail at Evans Creek Preserve without hesitation. Soon, they were running across the meadow and over the boardwalk. If your children have energy to burn, this is a good place to do it! The forest trails offered enough variety in terrain to keep things interesting, and one large old stump became a makeshift fort.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
What could be better after a little hike than soup dumplings? We ordered from nearby Dough Zone in Redmond, then took our dinner to Anderson Park, where the kids happily played on the playground in the dark (I guess their energy reserves were not yet empty). If you bring your own food, you can also use the picnic tables at Evans Creek Preserve. Another option is Marymoore Park. This large park on the north end of Lake Sammamish features trails, playfields, playgrounds, a huge off-leash dog park, and more.
There are many other wonderful forested parks to explore on the Eastside. Head to Weowna Park near Lake Sammamish, or Duthie Hill and Grand Ridge in Issaquah, which has trails for both hikers and mountain bikers.
Our Experience
In search of another local hike, we decided to visit Evans Creek Preserve on a Sunday afternoon. From the way the kids took off down the trail, it was evident that some outdoor time was much needed. The adults began at a more leisurely pace. A short distance down the path, a bridge spanned a bushy creek. Across the creek was a meadow, complete with picnic tables and restrooms. The kids ran around the grass as if just released from a forced hibernation. Where does this energy come from?
My friend and I meanwhile used our mental energy to determine which trail to take. I’ve never seen signage like that of Evans Creek Preserve. At every single trail junction, a sign with a complete trail map indicates your location. How smart!
Smarter than I, as it turns out. At one juncture near the beginning of the hike, I managed to totally turn myself around.
“I think we need to head right,” I said, trying to get the attention of the boys, who immediately took off running once the way forward was clear. Or, maybe it wasn’t so clear. We hadn’t gone far before we again found ourselves at the meadow with the picnic tables — the opposite of where we intended to go. The men went to find T, who had raced ahead of the rest, while my friend and I turned back and reviewed the sign again.
“I get so turned around here! The map just isn’t oriented with how we’re standing,” I explained, trying to justify my confusion. What neither of us realized until that point was that the signs offer more than just a map. They also provide handy green arrows pointing you in the direction of different trail junctions. Since each junction is assigned a number, all you need to do is look at the map to determine where you want to go, then follow the corresponding arrow. Feeling a little foolish, we continued on, this time on the correct trail. Fortunately, navigating the rest of the trails was a piece of cake.
Leaving the meadows and wetlands, the trail led into the woods. Our choices were limited, since the hillside trails were closed due to the risk of landslides from heavy winter rain. The open trails were in good shape, with only a few muddy sections. They wound through moss-covered trees and fern-covered hillsides, crossing low bridges over small, shallow streams.
For the final stretch, the trail steepened, climbing to the upper trailhead. T started to tire from the switchbacks, but I assured him we didn’t have far to go. Just ahead he spied a bench, the perfect spot for a break before we reached the top. Out came the water bottles as we all took the opportunity for a little refreshment. After a pleasant break, we were again on the move. Our destination: the upper trailhead.
It wasn’t long before we arrived. As far as destinations go, another trailhead isn’t exactly exciting. But after all, it’s really about the journey. And other than the sound of traffic from nearby Sahalee Way, it really is a nice trailhead. The recently paved parking lot is surrounded by trees, which keep the main road out of sight. A port-a-potty is available, and a few picnic tables, benches, and rocks provide seating. We took advantage of this with yet another leisurely break, this time breaking out the snacks.
After awhile, we decided it was time to head back, and once again, the boys were off and running. Thankfully, they waited for us at each trail intersection. When possible, we chose new paths to try, one of which took us across a lovely bridge.
As we neared the end, we found ourselves back on familiar ground. I recognized a hollow stump we’d passed on our way out. The boys barely noticed it then, but this time they were ready for a challenge, scaling the slippery trunk in order to lower themselves into the stump’s hidden depths. And in case you are wondering why their faces are blurry, it is because they are never still. That, and the grey skies were beginning to darken as evening drew near.
Soon, we crossed the meadow one last time. Only a few cars remained in the parking lot, where we took some time to chat and make dinner plans. The weekend was almost over, but I felt refreshed, ready for the week. Taking a hike has a way of doing that. This, I reflected, is just one of many reasons parks like Evans Creek Preserve are so vital. Our urban trails are truly places for all.
