Outdoor adventures · Maple Valley & nearby
Lakes, river trails, and mountain views, most of them minutes from home. Here are the places Jody's family heads when it's time to get outside.
Maple Valley's lakeside park, with about 117 acres of shoreline, forest, and lawns.
A flat 0.7-mile loop through the woods with little gnomes hidden along the way. Easy for small kids.
A 17.4-mile trail along the Cedar River from Renton through Maple Valley to Landsburg. The first 12.3 miles are paved, and the last 5 are soft-surface.
“Our favorite spot is a grassy trailhead park along the river. Perfect for summer picnics and watching kayakers.” · Jody
Tiger Mountain State Forest is a big network of trails just north of Hobart and Issaquah. Hikes range from mellow forest loops to steep summits.
A steep climb on Tiger Mountain with a Mount Rainier view and paragliders launching off the top. Not for little kids or new hikers.
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A gentle trail to a natural granite waterslide, with waterfalls farther up. A family favorite and worth the drive.
Read the guideLake Wilderness Park, the Cedar River Trail, and the Gnome Trail are all in Maple Valley. Tiger Mountain and Poo Poo Point in Issaquah are about 20 minutes away, and Denny Creek near Snoqualmie Pass is about an hour.
The Gnome Trail is a flat 0.7-mile loop that little kids love. The paved Cedar River Trail works well for strollers and bikes, and Lake Wilderness Park has a play area and a summer swim beach. For a longer outing, Denny Creek has a natural waterslide about a mile in.
Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley has a swim beach with lifeguards in summer. The beach can close for weather or water quality, so check with the City of Maple Valley before you go.
Details checked against the City of Maple Valley, King County Parks, and Washington Trails Association. Hours, passes, and conditions change, so check before you go. Drive times are rough estimates from Maple Valley.
Thinking about moving here?
Jody Guerra helps buyers and sellers in Maple Valley, Hobart, Covington, Kent, Auburn, and Issaquah, in English or Spanish.
Jody Guerra, REALTOR®, is a real estate broker with John L. Scott Real Estate, 17115 SE 270th Place, Suite 102, Covington, WA 98042. Both are licensed in Washington.