3 ways to make the trip to the trailhead more affordable

Feeling those gas prices? One of the great things about hiking in Washington is that we have trails within reach of many towns and transit. Here are three ways to keep up a summer hiking habit and save on fuel costs. 

Transit, carpooling and some creativity keeps big views in reach, without the giant gas bill. Sometimes, the corgi may need to stay home. Photo by Patty Tang

1. Take a designated trailhead shuttle

Along the Gorge, the CAT bus to Dog Mountain Shuttle runs through June 7. As a bonus, those taking transit will not need a permit for the trail, meaning you can skip both the parking pass and the Dog Mountain permit and head straight to the trail. (Looking for an alternative to Dog Mountain? Try these.)

King County Metro's Trailhead Direct service will run every weekend through Aug. 30, as well as Memorial Day (May 25) and the Fourth of July. Fares are $3 one-way, free for youth 18 and under. 

There are two routes this year:

• One route will start in Downtown Seattle and travel to Little Si, Mount Si and Mount Teneriffe trailheads.
• The other route will start at the Mount Baker Link Light Rail station and travel to the Issaquah Alps, ending at the Squak Mountain May Valley trailhead. 

2. Take public transit

Check out these transit-accessible hikes. Depending on where you live, you might also have a trail within reach by walking or bicycle.

Don't overlook regional buses, ferries or trains if you want to make something farther afield work. Looking for inspiration from some big car-free adventurers? 

• In 2024, rllcat managed an incredible 5-day trip in the high Olympics using Amtrak and the regional Dungeness line (operated by Greyhound). 

• Last year, HeathB managed a weekend backpacking trip on the coast via ferry and bus. 
• And of course there was Jan Miksovsky who went for a walk outside his front door in Seattle. Three days later, he arrived at the Pacific Crest Trail in Snoqualmie Pass.

3. Carpool (or hitch)

Coordinating with friends or fellow volunteers takes a bit more work, but spending time in community on the way to or from a trailhead can be a blast. Here our tips to make the most of the ride together.

Thumbs up! A lot of hikers also rely on hitchhiking to piece together a hike, which is a special kind of carpool.