ISSAQUAH, WA — King County’s “Trailhead Direct” transit service will return for the summer season on May 28, providing an easy route for people to get outdoors and explore some of the region’s most popular trails on the weekends.

According to King County, this year will focus service on the program’s most popular route, with buses leaving Seattle every 30 minutes with additional stops at Bellevue’s Eastgate Freeway Station and the North Bend Park & Ride, en route to the Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe and Little Si trailheads.

“Summer hiking season is returning, and we look forward to helping people reach the rails,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Trailhead Direct lets you venture to the mountains in a convenient and environmentally friendly way, ensuring the only footprint you leave behind is from your boots or shoes, and not your car.”

Officials said passengers have used the service to travel to more than 33,000 hikes since it launched in 2019. This year, Trailhead Direct will run most weekends through the summer, including on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

Each trip is serviced by a coach with 14 to 32 seats, equipped with a rack that can carry two or three bikes. Passengers can pay fares with an ORCA Card, Transit Go Mobile ticket, or exact cash and trips range from $2.75 for adults to free for children up to 5.