hikes in the foothills around seattle that are off leash dog friendly? (Renton: homes, neighborhood)

[tessypooh]

Hi all,

Does anybody know of any more off the beaten path hikes within 45 minutes or so of seattle where I can hike with my dog off leash and not get too many dirty looks about it? I am used to Vermont hiking - letting my dog run in the woods and catch up to me during the hike... I don't want any of the crowded hikes off i90 - have done many of those and they can be a bummer... Thanks - just looking to get the pooch some serious exercise and am tired of the city parks like Lincoln park.

[Hemlock140]

You may run into signs, but few people and I have never seen any enforcement at two great places, Soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish, and the Redmond Watershed Preserve off of Novelty Hill. Hopefully your dog is well behaved in case we run into you there. Stay away from the Sammamish River Trail and Burke-Gilman, too many fast bikes.

[Yakscsd]

Snoqualmie trail between I90 and Rattlesnake Lake. Not officially off leash, but few people even at peak time. I just keep an eye out and sit them down as the occasional biker or horse rider goes by.

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by tessypooh

Hi all,

Does anybody know of any more off the beaten path hikes within 45 minutes or so of seattle where I can hike with my dog off leash and not get too many dirty looks about it? I am used to Vermont hiking - letting my dog run in the woods and catch up to me during the hike... I don't want any of the crowded hikes off i90 - have done many of those and they can be a bummer... Thanks - just looking to get the pooch some serious exercise and am tired of the city parks like Lincoln park.

You get dirty looks because many people let their unbehaved dogs off leash and, quite frankly, one does not know for sure how a dog is going to react when they come upon strangers. It's not unreasonable to ask that dogs be leashed, especially in known high use areas. If you want to let your dog run in the woods, then go off-trail and let it really run in the woods. There's millions of acres of forest land in the area and there's no reason you have to stick to trails, unless you are incapable of off-trail navigation. Find some FS roads, take a drive up, park somewhere, and head out. It's really not as daunting as people seem to think.

[homesinseattle]

I know what you mean, I went to UVM and lived in Vermont for 5 years. That being said, with a little effort, you'll find some great places close by. In town, I love the wooded trails/parks of Seward Park, Discovery Park in Magnolia and Carkeek Park in North Seattle. All 3 are big enough to get lost with pooch. They have a pretty chilled out vibe, too. Out the 90 east of Issaquah, you might try the Cougar mtn trail. Happy hiking!

[Ira500]

Cougar mountain is a good choice. There are hundreds(thousands?) of miles of trails there, so it's very easy to find a less used trail there with an off leash dog.

Echo Mountain between Renton and Maple Valley is often completely empty, except for a few people and their dogs.

[tessypooh]

Thanks for all of the responses. I am actually going to go out to Soaring Eagle Park today. I get the response about dogs on trails and the issues that it poses for other walkers,hikers... I consider myself to be a responsible and considerate person - I would never want to impede on the right of others to enjoy their space. I typically hike with my dog in the mountains, but living out here, that is not always doable with any regularity because of time constraints (plus, I have found that the closer in mountain hikes can get so crowded). I live near Lincoln Park, but don't take my dog off leash there - I want to respect the local ways and most dogs remains on leash there, as does mine. Hence, that is why I am looking for someplace close in, but where there is more of a culture of well behaved dogs off leash and away from most of the foot/bike traffic. I love for my dog to have the chance to run around unencumbered, at least once in a while. It just seems like a natural thing to do, and she doesn't seem to run at all at the dog parks (which have always seemed kind of depressing to me anyway, no matter where I have lived). I have been to Discovery once, but need to go back (especially to the part near the Native Culture Center - that seemed to be more off the beaten path) to check out some of the trails there... Thanks again!

[homesinseattle]

Discovery Park is amazing, a real gem. Park in the far south entrance parking lot, walk to the bluff, you guys will love it. Did you know that many of the Seattle Parks were designed very early (quite visionary for a new city) in the city's history by The Olmsted Brothers, the same people who brought you Central Park in NYC?

[Kayela]

Have you been to Marymoor? The off leash area is huge - not just a sad pen with a bunch of fencing around it and no real room to run (which is what the few in my neighborhood consist of).

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Discovery Park is amazing, a real gem. Park in the far south entrance parking lot, walk to the bluff, you guys will love it. Did you know that many of the Seattle Parks were designed very early (quite visionary for a new city) in the city's history by The Olmsted Brothers, the same people who brought you Central Park in NYC?

Same genes, anyway. Central Park in NYC was a Frederick Law Olmstead design, the Seattle parks were designed by the Olmstead Brothers, who took over the firm when dad Freddie retired.
But they must have inherited something good, Seattle's Olmstead parks are pretty awesome( and there are more of them than many people realize.)
How this relates to dogs? It does. When Seattle was first starting off leash dog areas about 15 years ago, the "Friends of the Olmstead Parks" were vehemently against having any off leash dog usage in any Olmstead Park.
They felt that the parks were historic, and not intended for off leash dogs. The supporters of off leash areas felt that parks in cities were intended to serve the people who lived there, and that the "friends" of the Olmsteads couldn't really speak for the Olmstead brothers, because off leash dog areas didn't exist at the time the parks were designed.