+ 14
Squak Mountain Linkup
Hiking Trail
Hard
7.89 mi
2,300 ft
A remote-feeling hike just minutes from downtown Seattle.
The highlands rising above the suburb of Issaquah are known locally as “the Issaquah Alps.” They provide the perfect hiking destination when you don’t have time to drive deep into the Cascades. The Issaquah Alps are home to “the popular Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain trail networks, [which] can see a lot of people,” according to Megan Michelson on [Outside Online]( “But Squak Mountain tends to be less trafficked,” she says.
The Squak Mountain trail system provides numerous hiking opportunities, including Margaret’s Way to Debbie's View, or simply summiting Squak Mountain West Peak. But if you’re looking for something a little extra, try connecting all three of the Squak Mountain peaks into one big linkup hike!
The route mapped here does precisely that. The route departs the main Squak Mountain trailhead and begins by ascending to Squak Mountain West Peak, one of the most popular peaks with some of the best views. From there, it traverses over to Squak Mountain Central Peak with minimal elevation loss. Tagging Squak Mountain Southeast Peak requires a bit more effort, by descending into a valley, climbing to the Southeast Peak, then re-tracing your steps back down into the valley. Wrap up the route by descending back to the main trailhead via the Phil’s Creek trail to Phil’s Connector.
Throughout this 8-mile hike, you’ll enjoy incredible solitude beneath a vaulted canopy of mature trees. The trails “[wind] alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines,” says []( You can easily pass an entire day exploring this wilderness, and you might just forget that you’re only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle!
And that’s exactly why Squak Mountain is so special.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
The highlands rising above the suburb of Issaquah are known locally as “the Issaquah Alps.” They provide the perfect hiking destination when you don’t have time to drive deep into the Cascades. The Issaquah Alps are home to “the popular Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain trail networks, [which] can see a lot of people,” according to Megan Michelson on [Outside Online]( “But Squak Mountain tends to be less trafficked,” she says.
The Squak Mountain trail system provides numerous hiking opportunities, including Margaret’s Way to Debbie's View, or simply summiting Squak Mountain West Peak. But if you’re looking for something a little extra, try connecting all three of the Squak Mountain peaks into one big linkup hike!
The route mapped here does precisely that. The route departs the main Squak Mountain trailhead and begins by ascending to Squak Mountain West Peak, one of the most popular peaks with some of the best views. From there, it traverses over to Squak Mountain Central Peak with minimal elevation loss. Tagging Squak Mountain Southeast Peak requires a bit more effort, by descending into a valley, climbing to the Southeast Peak, then re-tracing your steps back down into the valley. Wrap up the route by descending back to the main trailhead via the Phil’s Creek trail to Phil’s Connector.
Throughout this 8-mile hike, you’ll enjoy incredible solitude beneath a vaulted canopy of mature trees. The trails “[wind] alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines,” says []( You can easily pass an entire day exploring this wilderness, and you might just forget that you’re only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle!
And that’s exactly why Squak Mountain is so special.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| May Valley Loop Ascent | 1.13 mi | 548 ft | 9.2% |
| th Pl Se Climb | 0.29 mi | 180 ft | 11.8% |
| Squak Mountain Road Southeast Climb | 0.31 mi | 180 ft | 10.8% |