Most people know this as a popular jogging, rollerskating, and bicycling trail, but there is a separate soft-surface trail running alongside specifically for horse use. The trail runs from Marymoor Park in Redmond north to Bothell to become the Burke Gilman Trail and continue into the city of Seattle. The soft-surface equestrian trail ends around NE 171st in Woodinville, though, so riders will want to turn around there, or before. And while the trail technically runs all the way to Marymoor Park, recent construction in Redmond and policy changes in the Park itself mean that the separate soft-surface trail really starts to disappear south of NE 90th St in Redmond. Hopefully with future trail work, the trail will once again connect to Marymoor Park, Bridlecrest Trail, and Bridle Trails State Park.
Access points that provide enough space for trailer parking (provided all parking is not taken up with ballfield users and other trail users) are 60-Acre Park at NE 116th and at the Northshore Athletic Fields on NE 145th Street.
To 60-Acre Park: from 405, take exit 20 (20B from the south) for NE 124th Street and follow the signs to go east on NE 124th. After 1.2 miles, turn right onto Willows Road, then left onto NE 116th. Parking is just after you cross over the Sammamish River; the lot on the left (north) side of the street has more space than the south one.
To Northshore Athletic Fields: take the exit for NE 124th Street as above, but continue on 124th for 2.3 miles and turn left onto 202 (Redmond-Woodinville Rd). After 1.6 miles turn left onto NE 145th St. Parking is on the right just before crossing Sammamish River.
Open
Length: ~6 miles
Surface: separate trail is soft-surface: gravel and dirt
Share with: paved trail will have walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, bicycles, dogs
Parking for: 10+ trailers at
either access point, but highly dependent on other park users; on a
busy game day, parking lots become crowded
King County Parks:
KC Parks - Sammamish River page
Maps:
The trail is features on the King Cty
Regional Trails map.