Skip to main content
Most King County offices will be closed on Monday, for Memorial Day.  
King County logo

Location: SE 33rd St to Driveway 10 (approximately 500-feet south of SE 8th Street), approximately 1.65 miles.

Project Update:

The ELST South Sammamish B Segment is being constructed in two phases, as two separate projects:
- Phase 1 – SE 33rd Street to Driveway 10 (Pine Lake Creek Community, STA 283+70 to Sta 375+50 on the trail plan sheets) – 1.7 miles. Construction began on July 19, 2021, and is expected to be complete at the end of May 2023.
- Phase 2 - Driveway 10 to Inglewood Hill Road (STA 375+50 to 472+81) – 1.9 miles. Construction began on June 1, 2022, and is expected to be complete in December 2023.

The trail section under construction will be closed to trail users, and construction on the two phases will overlap for approximately 12 months.

The City of Sammamish has approved the Shoreline Substantial Development Permits. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2021.  To view approved permits and plans visit the City of Sammamish webpage.

To view project documents visit the South Sammamish B Segment Phase 1 Project Page. For additional questions, contact the project hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or project email at ELST@kingcounty.gov  

Project Description: Redevelopment of a 1.65-mile East Lake Sammamish Trail segment between SE 33rd Street and Driveway 10. This trail segment will feature a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side, providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities.

When complete, the newly developed trail segment will include the following features:

  • 29 new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents.

  • 10 reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage. Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and along with improved signage, indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  • 5 new rest stops for trail users to sit and enjoy views of Lake Sammamish and the surrounding area.

  • Approximately 700 new native trees and more than 11,000 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 6,000 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 3,500 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and delineate critical natural areas.

  • Over 600 linear feet of guard rail to protect and separate the trail from vehicles. 

  • Almost 1.5 acres of wetland, buffer, and shoreline mitigation area restored to increase fish and wildlife habitat and improve biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles as well as a variety of native plant species that will create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

  • Improved storm water conveyance systems along and across the trail to ensure they can accommodate a 25-year storm event.

Project Funding: Funding for this segment was provided by the voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy and the 2020-2025 Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Levy.

Location: Driveway 10 (approximately 500-feet south of SE 8th Street), to Inglewood Hill Road, approximately 1.85 miles.

Project Update:

The ELST South Sammamish B Segment is being constructed in two phases, as two separate projects:
- Phase 1 – SE 33rd Street to Driveway 10 (Pine Lake Creek Community, STA 283+70 to Sta 375+50 on the trail plan sheets) – 1.7 miles. Construction began on July 19, 2021, and is expected to be complete at the end of May 2023.
- Phase 2 - Driveway 10 to Inglewood Hill Road (STA 375+50 to 472+81) – 1.9 miles. Construction began on June 1, 2022, and is expected to be complete in December 2023.

The trail section under construction will be closed to trail users, and construction on the two phases will overlap for approximately 12 months.

The City of Sammamish has approved the Shoreline Substantial Development Permits. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2021.  To view approved permits and plans visit the City of Sammamish webpage.

To view project documents visit the South Sammamish B Segment Phase 2 Project Page. For additional questions, contact the project hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or project email at ELST@kingcounty.gov  

Project Description: Redevelopment of a 1.85-mile East Lake Sammamish Trail segment between Driveway 10 and Inglewood Hill Road. This trail segment will feature a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side, providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities.

When complete, the newly developed trail segment will include the following features:

  • 18 new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents.

  • 14 reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage. Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and along with improved signage, indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  • 6 new fish-passable culverts which improve water quality, enhance habitat, and increase access to spawning grounds for the Lake Sammamish Kokanee, a fish species of importance.

  • 2 new rest stops for trail users to sit and enjoy views of Lake Sammamish and the surrounding area.

  • Approximately 900 new native trees and more than 11,000 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 7,500 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 3,800 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and delineate critical natural areas.

  • Over 800 linear feet of guard rail to protect and separate the trail from vehicles. 

  • Almost 1.8 acres of wetland, buffer, and shoreline mitigation area restored to increase fish and wildlife habitat and improve biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles as well as a variety of native plant species that will create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

  • Improved storm water conveyance systems along and across the trail to ensure they can accommodate a 25-year storm event.

Project Funding: Funding for this segment was provided by the voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy and the 2020-2025 Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Levy.

Location: Located just north of Inglewood Hill Road, off of East Lake Sammamish Parkway

Project Update: King County Parks will construct the Inglewood Hill Parking Lot and Restroom Facility project in two Phases. The first phase, completing 480 feet of trail and 425 feet of retaining wall supporting the new trail, was incorporated with the South Sammamish B Phase 2 trail construction project. That construction began in June 2022. Phase 2, the parking lot, restroom, and access ramp to the trail will be constructed when funding becomes available.

Project Description: 

Inglewood Hill Parking Lot – Phase 1 – This 450-ft trail segment has been incorporated into South Sammamish B – Phase 2 construction.

Inglewood Hill Parking Lot - Phase 2, Parking Lot and Restroom – Includes parking space for up to 27 vehicles, including ADA accessible spaces, a restroom facility, water treatment facility, landscaping, covered bicycle parking, and an ADA accessible pedestrian / bicycle ramp to access the trail. 

Project Funding: Funding for this segment is provided by the voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy.

 

Location: Located on the north side of SE 33rd St., off of East Lake Sammamish Parkway. This parking lot will provide approximately 30 parking spaces and a restroom.

Project Update: This parking lot is currently holding at 30% design, awaiting availability of future funding.

Project Update: This project was complete in March 2019. Project documents can be viewed below. Click here to view project photos. For additional questions, contact the project hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or project email at ELST@kingcounty.gov  

Project Description:

Replace two obsolete culverts with fish-passable culverts under the ELST and adjacent Shore Lane that impeded upstream salmon migration. The new box culverts are significantly wider and are a contiguous part of the Zackuse Creek bed, allowing unobstructed access to over a mile of upstream spawning habitat for the kokanee salmon and other fish species. 

This newly developed phase includes the following features:

  • Almost 3,000 square feet of riparian mitigation and 5,000 square feet of landscape planting restoration to increase fish and wildlife habitat and improve biological diversity. A variety of native plant species that will create multiple vegetation strata as they mature and habitat logs installed along the creek provide shelter for insects and small animals, and resting areas for migrating fish.  
  • King County collaborated with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to plant over 1000 new trees and shrubs on the creek banks and along over 700 linear feet of adjacent trail. 
  • The project also included installation of approximately 600 linear feet of new sawn-lumber fence to delineate the trail and adjacent wetlands. 
  • Over 100 linear feet of new chain link fence, was installed for safety above culvert crossings and steep slopes

Additionally, in partnership with King County Parks, the City of Sammamish replaced the East Lake Sammamish Parkway culvert with a fish passable culvert and restored 400 linear feet of Zackuse Creek and surrounding banks upstream of their culvert.  For information on this project, please visit the City of Sammamish project website.

Project Funding: Funding for this project was provided by the voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy


Construction Plan (May 2018):

Public Outreach:

Location: SE 43rd Way to SE 33rd St.- approximaely 1.2 miles

​Project Update: Construction on this segment is currently complete, and the trail is open for use. Trail construction began January 2017 and was completed on January 17, 2018.

Project Description: South Sammamish A is a 1.2-mile segment of the ELST between SE 43rd Way (Issaquah/Sammamish city limits) and SE 33rd Street in Sammamish. This trail segment features a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side, providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities. To view project documents visit the South Sammamish A Segment Project Page.

This newly developed trail segment includes the following features:

  • Eight new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents. 

  • Eight reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage.  Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  • Three new rest stops for trail users to enjoy, including a beautiful plaza at 33rd Street surrounded by landscaping with an information kiosk, bike racks and benches.

  • Approximately 750 new native trees and approximately 11,500 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 3100 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 2700 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and provide delineation between trail and critical natural areas.

  • 0.85 acres of wetland mitigation area restored to increase fish and wildlife habitat and improve biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles were installed, as were a variety of native plant species that create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

  • Improved storm water conveyance systems on and across the trail to ensure they can accommodate a 25-year storm event.

Funding for this segment is provided by the voter-approved 2008-2013 Open Space and Trails Levy and voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy.  Other funding included the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant and the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.

Location: 187th Ave NE to Inglewood Hill Rd - 2.6 miles

Project Update: This segment was complete July 2015. See below to view project plans or other project documents. For additional questions, contact the project hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or project email at ELST@kingcounty.gov  

Project Description: North Sammamish is a 2.6-mile segment of the ELST between Inglewood Hill Road and 187th Ave NE (Redmond and Sammamish City limits). This trail segment features a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side, providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities. 

This newly developed trail segment includes the following features:

  • 41 new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents. 

  • 20 reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage.  Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and along with improved signage, indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  • 5 new fish passable culverts which improve water quality, enhance habitat, and increase access to spawning grounds for the Lake Sammamish Kokanee, a fish species of importance.

  • 3 new rest stops for trail users to enjoy views of Lake Sammamish and its surroundings. 

  • Approximately 1,150 new native trees and more than 11,000 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 9,100 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 3,900 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and delineate critical natural areas.

  • Over 2,000 linear feet of guard rail to protect and separate the trail from vehicles.

  • Almost 2 acres of wetland mitigation area restored to increase fish and wildlife habitat and improve biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles were installed, as were a variety of native plant species that create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

  • Improved storm water conveyance systems along and across the trail to ensure they can accommodate a 25-year storm event.

Project Funding: Funding for this project was provided by the voter-approved 2014-2019 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy


Design:

Technical Reports:

Construction:

100% Construction Plan by Section (October 2013) - 

Location: SE 43rd Way to Gilman Blvd - 2.2 miles

Project Update: This segment was complete June 2013. Click here to view project plans or other project documents. For additional questions, contact the project hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or project email at ELST@kingcounty.gov  

Project Description: The East Lake Sammamish Trail's Issaquah Segment is a 1.2-mile segment between SE 43rd Way (Issaquah/Sammamish city limits) to Gilman Blvd in Issaquah. This trail segment features a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side, providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities. This newly developed trail segment includes the following features:

  • 24 new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents. 

  • 11 reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage.  Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  • A new rest stop, surrounded by new landscaping, for trail users to enjoy the view of Lake Sammamish.

  • Approximately 830 new native trees and approximately 51,000 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 3700 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 12,500 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and provide delineation between trail and critical natural areas.

  • Approximately two acres of wetlands restored by connecting the existing wetland areas 4A and 4BD. Restoration increases floodwater storage, retaining important sediments and nutrients, and improved biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles were installed, as were a variety of native plant species that create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

Project Funding: Funding for this segment was provided by the voter-approved 2008-2013 Open Space and Trails Levy. Other funding included the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program and the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.


Construction Plan (November 2011):

Location: NE 70th St to 187th Ave NE - 1.2 miles

Project Update: This 1.2-mile segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail was completed and open to the public November 2011. If you have questions, or want to request specific documents from this segment, contact our hotline: 1-888-668-4886 or email our project team at ELST@kingcounty.gov

Project Description: Redmond is a 1.2-mile segment of the ELST between NE 70th Street in Redmond and 187 Avenue NE (Redmond / Sammamish city limits) and includes a 77-stall parking lot located at NE 70th Street in Redmond. This trail segment features a 12-foot-wide paved surface with two-foot gravel shoulders on each side. , providing the highest degree of accessibility to people of all ages and abilities.

This newly developed trail segment includes the following features:

  • 12 new retaining walls to provide slope stability and reduce the trail footprint, resulting in less impact on environmentally sensitive areas and adjacent residents. 

  • 4 reconstructed intersections with improved sight lines and safety features like concrete warning bands, bollards, striping and consistent signage.  Warning bands provide a visual and textural difference from the paved trail’s surface and indicate an intersection is 75-feet ahead.

  •  Two new rest stops for trail users to stop and enjoy a break.

  • Approximately 400 new native trees and approximately 2900 shrubs providing erosion control, providing increased visual and aural screening of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, and a continuous park like setting along the corridor.

  • Over 4000 linear feet of new chain link fence, installed for safety above steep slopes.

  • Over 2500 linear feet of split rail fence to protect and provide delineation between trail and critical natural areas.

  • Restored approximately 0.85 acres of wetlands to improve Lake Sammamish water quality, increase fish and wildlife habitat, and improve biological diversity. Features like habitat logs and brush piles were installed, as were a variety of native plant species that create multiple vegetation strata as they mature.

  • Construction of a bio-retention facility in the parking lot to treat storm water.

Project Funding: Funding for the Redmond Segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail Redevelopment Project is provided, in part, by the 2008-2013, voter-approved Proposition 2 Parks Expansion Levy.


Construction Plan (January 2011)

Trail Description

The East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) is part of the Locks to Lakes Corridor, a 44-mile long regional trail corridor that connects the Burke-Gilman Trail, Sammamish River Trail, Marymoor Connector Trail, and Issaquah-Preston Trail, linking Seattle to the Eastside and the Cascade Foothills. The ELST and Locks to Lake Corridor are part of the even larger Leafline Trails Network, over 500-miles of paved, non-motorized trails traversing four counties. These trails provides greater access to recreation, employment, and retail, and provides a multi-use path for bicyclists, pedestrians, joggers, walkers, and movers of all ages and abilities.

 


A trail for the community – Trail safety and accessibility are Parks primary goals. The new trail features a 12-foot wide asphalt surface with two-foot gravel shoulders and a one-foot clear zone on each side of the trail. The ELST project provides improved intersections, clear sight lines, consistent signage and improved drainage. Environmental improvements include enhancing wetlands, stabilizing slopes, installing fish passable culverts, and planting native landscaping. The redeveloped trail will benefit people of all ages and abilities – providing safe and healthy activities for families, individuals, and communities to enjoy.


Trail History

The trail a half-century in the making – The East Lake Sammamish rail corridor (ELSRC) has existed since 1889 when the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad connected its rail line from Seattle through what are now Woodinville and Redmond to reach coal mines in Gilman (now Issaquah). By the early twentieth century, rail access to the east shore of Lake Sammamish led to thriving lumber mills, settlements like Monohon and Inglewood, and resorts along its banks.  In time these early settlements and industries faded and were replaced with the dense residential development along the corridor today.  

The rail corridor changed ownership several times before Burlington National Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, the final rail operator on the corridor, acquired it.  Eventually deciding to abandon the line, BNSF sold the corridor and all of the railroad’s property rights in the ELSRC to the Cascade Land Conservancy and King County in 1997.
  
King County, which first identified this rail section in 1971 as a critical future link in its Regional Trails System, petitioned the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) to “railbank” the corridor. The 1983 Railbanking amendment to the 1968 National Trails System Act provides indefinite use of abandoned rail corridors for trails while preserving the right to restore the corridors for freight rail operations. The STB granted railbank status to the ELSRC in 1998, and the Cascade Land Conservancy conveyed its interest in the corridor to King County the same year. 

The King County Council unanimously adopted an ordinance and appropriated funds in 2000 for development of a soft surface trail on the railbanked ELSRC. King County Parks led a region-wide community engagement effort to guide development of the ESLT Master Plan. After overcoming legal challenges, these efforts culminated in the completion of the East Lake Sammamish interim trail, opened to the public in 2006. The first permanent trail segment, Redmond, was completed in 2011. The second, the Issaquah segment, was completed in 2013, and North Sammamish in 2015. The remaining segment, South Sammamish, was split into two and the South Sammamish A Segment was completed in January 2018. Construction on the first phase of the final 3.6-mile segment, South Sammamish Segment B, began in July 2021, and the last phase will begin in spring 2022. Phase 1 construction is expected to finish at the end of 2022, and Phase 2 at the end of 2023.

East Lake Sammamish Trail from Cascade Bicycle Club.


 Want updated design or construction information?

Visit the "Project Information by Segment" section to view the latest design or construction plans, technical reports, public outreach, and more. We'll keep all our ELST neighbors and stakeholders up to date as design and construction progresses on this important Regional Trail.


 Want more information about our entire Regional Trail System?

We have over 300 miles of regional trails in King County. You can get to know this system, see trails near you, plan trips, walks, rides and more, by going to our TrailFinder application. TrailFinder can help you get to know the East Lake Sammamish Trail as well as others in your area. Start exploring your big backyard today!

 Be a part of the trails community!

The East Lake Sammamish Trail, much like all of our Regional Trails System trails, is a work in progress requiring constant management and upkeep. We always welcome constructive suggestion about trail maintenance, or safety from our users. Be sure to let us know if you see something on the trail that you think we can improve.

 New to the trail?

Visit the "Trail History" section to learn more about the history behind the trail. Have general questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.


1712_7033w_trailmap_ELST_segments2



View in King County Trail Finder

Sign up for ELST trail updates to get the news delivered to you!

Questions? Comments?
Read our Frequently Asked Questions
Hotline: 1-888-668-4886
Email: ELST@kingcounty.gov

East Lake Sammamish Trail News Archive

  • "King County to appeal denial of permit for Eastlake Sammamish trail development" Feb 8, 2018 
  • “1.3-mile-long East Lake Sammamish Trail segment closed for construction starting Dec. 19” Dec 16, 2016
  • “King County Parks appeals Sammamish permit conditions for East Lake Sammamish Trail work” July 31, 2015
  • “Construction on North Sammamish stretch of East Lake Sammamish Trail starts April 21” April 15, 2014
  • “King County Parks sets open house series for East Lake Sammamish Trail project update” March 7, 2014
  • “A smoother, safer trail as King County Parks reopens East Lake Sammamish Trail in Issaquah” June 12, 2013