- The horse Trail - Hubby and I decided to take an afternoon hike here, and we had no clue it's a state park and a discovery pass is required. We parked at the parking lot closer to the entrance, and we bought an annual discovery pass. Other than the starting incline, there is nearly no inclination for this trail. It's rather family friendly if your kids aren't afraid of horses or horse poops as I saw two horses and gazillion poops. It's funny how there is a sign that identifies the differences between horse poop and dog poop lol. The whole trail is shaded except for a small part. There are three recommended routes and the signs are quite obvious, but it's also easy to walk elsewhere as there are so many routes in this park. We were going for the middle length route, but ended up finishing the bigger loop instead and it took a bit more than an hour. There were also tons of salmonberries next to the trail that's perfect for a healthy snack for your "hike" xD! read more

See all

Bridle Trails State Park is a great state park that's perfect for horses and everyone else! Although this state park is used for riding your horse along the trails, I say it's a great park for everyone else who wants a stroll through the forest along the Kirkland-Bellevue border. Because it's a state park, you must pay for a $10 single-day pass unless you have the Discovery Pass. There are two parking lots to the area, one parking lot is closest to the entrance to the trails and the other parking lot is smaller, which is closer to the bathrooms and where community events are held as there's a stage. I've been here a few times and it's always a nice way to enjoy a nature walk. In my most recent visit, I came here on a hot day with my dog as Bridle Trails State Park is mostly shaded from the trees. There are three different trails, and if you're looking to spend more time here, take the Coyote Trail, which is about 3.5 miles long. It's not entirely flat, with some hills here and there, but it's a super easy trail, along with the other trails here. I saw a lot of families and horses here. And speaking of horses, be aware that there will be horse poop on the trails. The reason why it's not picked up right away is because unlike dog poop, it decomposes within a short time. Dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they're on leash. At the area where events are held are where bathrooms and a water fountain is located, along with benches. It's nice to live nearby Bridle Trails State Park and enjoy the trees, green space and well-maintained trails that provide shade for those scorching days we're not used to in the Seattle area. That right there is reason enough to visit Bridle Trails State Park. read more

Bridle Trails State Park - Map - Parks Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

See all

The horse poop. I grew up in Northern California around mini-horses and am used to horse poop in the road from horse drawn carriages. But in this park you can expect to see multiple piles of poop every five to ten feet, easy. There is so much poop in fact, that it's obvious they don't have the budget to ever clear the trail, which makes walking it more like a disgusting obstacle course. All in all, if you're a hiker or runner you should avoid it. Especially since there was recently a bear spotted in the park. Which would have been fabulous to know when we entered it, but I guess they only had enough money for the one sign. read more

Bridle Trails State Park - Parks Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

It's an easily accessible trail (10 mins from downtown Kirkland), and if you go on a weekend afternoon, there will probably be lots of families with kids and babies/strollers walking in there. We usually do the shorter loop which is about 1.5 miles. We go with a stroller and have never had a problem. read more

Bridle Trails State Park has a beautiful trail system and set-up for equestrian events. The signage throughout the park was exquisite. I especially enjoyed the Trillium Trail interpretive sign stops and the informational pavilions by the big ring. Along the Trillium Trail there are 10 interpretive sign stops (a map of the stops is provided along the trail). Each stop has a sign/placard about the forest aspect of the park as well as one or more signs about horses and the park and their joined history. Informational pavilions by the big ring provide park brochures, background information about the history of the park, what events take place here, emergency information, and general park information. Restrooms are also located by the big ring. We found a water trough near the restroom building in case one's horse gets thirsty. On my visit with my mom Friday morning on the 31st of July 2020 we explored the park on foot. In the past my mom and my sister have ridden horses through here. It is a place I hope to bring Forty horse one day, he would so love this place. The trails we walked were dirt and a good width so that plants do not drag along the flanks of horses as they walk. That might not be the case for all of the trails in the park, some looked pretty narrow. It was fairly busy when my mom and I visited we encountered about 20-30 people and at least 4 horses in the two hours we were walking and exploring. I loved getting to admire the beauty of the horses we saw on our visit, not something one can enjoy just anywhere anymore. I could see this place packed on days with events going on. The flora and fauna and well cultivated trail system make Bridle Trails State Park a serene place to explore. Trails were not steep and there were not huge drop-offs along the sides of the trails. In a few places there were wooden rails to protect walkers, runners, and horses from falling in to damp areas below. It would be so fun to ride horses through here, or even walk a horse if too old to be ridden. A beautiful place for humans, dogs, and horses alike to enjoy. read more

See all

I'm mostly shocked that I wasn't aware of this park until recently! A state park nestled into the Kirkland area, I'm glad to finally have discovered it! The longest trail (Coyote) is about 3.5 miles long, so it's definitely not challenging, but a nice trail if you want to do some social distance walks with a friend. There are also smaller length trails too. The park does require Discover pass for parking, but there is also some small roadside parking for free if you don't have one. It was pretty clean (didn't see so much of the horse poop that others seemed to see!). During COVID, anyone we passed had masks which was great. read more

I go jogging with my dog and regularly pass through the park. It's a great escape and there are plenty of trails for being so close to Bellevue and Kirkland. Horses are also on the trail so beware if your dog is not used to them. I have been going to this park for a few years and spend most of my time on the same trails. I would venture out more but there are no maps posted on any of the trails I have been on. Cell phone reception can also be spotty. Regardless, I enjoy the trail and recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to drive too far for a nature escape with trails. read more

Bridle Trails State Park - Ferns - Parks Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

See all

Big beautiful park right off the highway with lovely wide and healthy trails to feel lost in the forest enough to forget Costco is walking distance. Love to see the horses in passing and the flora growing through the seasons. read more

Part of my COVID crew -- you know, those select few who are keeping it clean and safe so we can hang -- lives in Bellevue. And, is carless. So, one day we wanted to hike, and it was raining, so we decided to keep it local and do something "easy" like Bridle Trails. For something that is so close to downtown Bellevue, Bridle Trails is wonderful. Enjoy the lush (and mostly flat) loops through tree-covered trails that are surprisingly dry even on a rainy day. Plus, if you do the outermost trail(s), you can get in a good six miles! Bottom line: This trail is nothing to sneeze at. read more

Woow so beautiful. This park is a real forest just next to 405! You will find poop but is forest and nature, right? You won't hear noise inside. However, the bigger loop is next to streets and to a garbage site with trailers. Pay attention and bring a map with you because there won't be maps in the inside. Nor trail signing if you decide to switch trails. There are lots of trails in the inside loop so take a pic of the map on the main parking lot/entrance board. We got lost even when using an app. I think you can download a pdf from the State website. They should add more info though... Great for a good hike and walking your dog. read more

Nice area to walk around, there are a mix of different trails throughout the park. This is also an area for people to ride horses so watch out for the manure on the trails. You can either map out your train beforehand or wander around. I opted for the latter and had a nice afternoon of enjoying the scenery. Definitely worth checking out if you want some green space on the East Side. read more

Decided to check out the hype of this park. It is wooded so not much sun penetrates the hike trails on a wintery day. Beware of some horse poop. There are multiply entrances. We just parked on the side of the street to walk in. read more

Not a great park for pedestrians or dog walkers. I'm sure it's wonderful for horse riders. Horse poop is literally everywhere, not sure who maintains it or periodically removes it. Funny how dog owners are expected to pick up after their dogs but ask horse owners to do the same or god forbid have their horses wear a rump poop bag they go nuts. Nothing special in the park, just woods. Unless you're a horse rider I'd avoid it. read more

Bridle is probably one of my favorite places in WA to get a trail run in. There is a wonderful dog friendly route (on leash because of horses) that runs about 3.4 miles and only has about 150-200 ft of hills so if you are trying to rack up a long run you can keep looping it. read more

The fact that there's a state park of its size right in an urban environment is fantastic. It's easily accessible and has lots of different entrances and places to park, some which require a discover pass, but many places don't. In many places, you can park in neighborhood streets and walk right in. There are miles of nice trails. The horse poop is a bit annoying for hikers, but it's not bad at all. read more

4 stars for it being the closest thing to a beautiful, dense forest that's only 25 minutes away! The trees are tall and towering, which gives you a great canopy to hike under on hot days (like today!). There are a few trails to choose from, or add onto--choose your own adventures are always fun. It also has that rich, musty forest smell that I LOVE. There are also tons of raspberry bushes lining the sides of the trails... yum! Yes, there is horse poop (a generous sprinkling), but then again it *is* an equestrian park. I would definitely come back in the fall and see how the foliage changes! read more

While I love the outer 5 mile loop, I do wish the park was safer. The amount of times I've been warned to stay away from the park is so discouraging, especially when it's so pretty to hike or trail run there (with a friend). read more

Escape somewhere peaceful and quiet. Trails are marked and easy to maneuver. Plenty of room for everyone to enjoy. Bring the family, let the kids breath some fresh air. Parking is easy. read more

Bridle Trails State Park - Peaceful and quiet year round. - Parks Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

See all

I just read all the other reviews with some amusement. I live right by the park - I walk around the corner and am in the woods, and I take my dog for long walks (or myself) every day. I don't know about making a social trip to come here but living next to it is heavenly. I don't understand the complaints about loudness and kids running around yelling. I'm over there A LOT at all hours, all seasons, and I've never heard such a thing. I have a well trained, large dog and we always say hello, step aside, and wait patiently for equestrians to pass. (I used to ride, long time ago, so I'm fine with that.) I occasionally still get some scowls or wary looks from someone on horseback now & then (who apparently has had a bad experience with people with dogs but I know the rules, so...) HOWEVER, I would say that being aggressively barked at by dogs in residents' yards can be infuriating. (I go through some paths which are right on the edge of people's properties.) But still not enough to ruin my zen. I'd say the most people I've ever passed, in 6 years of living here, during any hour long walk in Bridle Trails is 6 or 7. And that's a LOT. It's usually 2-3 if that. The solitude is lovely. Every time I long to be living in a more urban setting again, that longing disappears once I walk the 1 minute distance to the woods. I feel very lucky, indeed, for having this sanctuary nearby!! read more

Bridle Trails is a real gem of a park. It's great for horse riders, casual walkers, and trail runners. There are three signed trails of varying lengths (including interpretive signs), the powerline gravel trail down the center, and countless unmarked inner trails to explore. The trees are tall and there's a variety of plant life inside, and you can get far enough inside the park that it feels like you're far away from urban life. The horse theme makes this park unique. On sunny days, it's not unusual to see riders on the trails or in the two horse rings inside the park. Sometimes events are held at the main ring, which are fun to watch. Of course, the downside is that horses leave evidence behind on the trail, but those piles are easy enough to avoid and aren't too frequent. The main lot requires a Discover Pass for parking, but there's street parking outside of the lot, and there are also alternate entrances to the park from neighborhoods. I would warn that it's possible to get "lost" in this park due to all of the side trails. Trillium and Raven are pretty straightforward if you go in the direction that the arrows point, but it's harder to follow if you're walking the loops in reverse. I've gotten off the Coyote trail (the longest one) a few times and I think there's an intersection that is not properly signed. Not a big deal, you'll always find your way out, but your walk/run might be a little longer than planned. read more

Bridle trails means you ride horses there and you will find horse poo. The trail system is maintained by volunteer horse riders who also pay for the gravel and trail materials walkers enjoy. This is shared space with horses. I is landed donated to the state dedicated as a horse park from the very beginning read more

Large park with trails on the East side? Count me in! My boyfriend and I came to Bridle Trails feeling particularly antsy and sluggish after work one afternoon. The park is almost completely wooded, so don't be put away by any sun because you'll likely only catch a snatch of the rays. There are multiple trails (of varying lengths and inclines), so you get to choose one according to what you're in the mood for. The one we picked took about 45 minutes (at a leisurely pace) and wasn't very intense at all. In fact, it was the perfect amount of exercise--we were able to stretch our legs and work up an appetite before heading to Redmond for some Chinese food. Do know that horses are allowed to ride these trails as well, so watch out for their excrement as you walk! read more

Wonderful respite minutes away from Laquinta hotel in Kirkland. Watch out for horse droppings... But beauty & serenity it is well worth the hike. read more

See all

Cool park for a 1 hour hike through some pretty trees. Yes, lots of horse poop but you just have to pay attention. Not as challenging as I would like but it did the trick on an active recovery day! Wet leaves galore but pretty unique in a way. read more

Beautiful park with lots of amazing trails. A hidden gem. Set an a horseback riders in there on the trails you got to be careful with but other than that it's a beautiful place. read more

Not worth going again a second time. I live a half hour away and didn't find this park anything special. Not sure why they require a discovery pass, it's just your typical trail in the woods. No creek running through or viewpoints. Once was enough for this place read more

This is one of my favorite parks anywhere! If you love big trees and woods and an occasional horse or two passing by, you will love it too. You can roam on your own or start at the trail head on 116th and take well marked trails--Trillium is my favorite and is only 1.6 miles or you can take Coyote which is more like 3 plus miles. Besides the abundant trees and ferns, you might get lucky and find some edible mushrooms. For being so close to shopping and freeways, this park feels like its miles away. read more

Great park for a run or walk all times of year. It is surprisingly quiet for being between Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond. The trails are well marked and the park has put a lot of work into trail maintenance over the past few years. Ranger Mary is a sweetheart. The bridle trails 50k held every January is a blast. read more

Having a walk right now with my puppy, I have to say it could be better (considering what an nice and expensive neighborhood we have). We saw a nice view for a second and a looooot of horse poop. read more

SO MUCH HORSE POOP. I was constantly looking down at the ground to avoid stepping in equine shit that I developed a headache. Besides that little quibble, the trails are comfortably wide and the woods are lovely. You can enjoy the sun-dappled paths on a nice day without getting too warm. read more

Bridle Trails is a slice of heaven tucked between Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland. The park is easy to get to by car, on foot, or by horse. The trails are peaceful, and the lush interior gives the park a magical feeling. The park is designed for equestrians, but it's also great or walking, jogging, running, and hiking when you don't want to go far. Just watch your step for horse droppings and be sure to yield to equestrians. read more

Bridle Trails State Park - Looking up through the canopy at Bridle Trails - Parks Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I walk the Bridle Crest trail from Marymoor park up to this park just about every day and go into it quite often to extend my walk. Yesterday I saw a total of 4 people in my 7 mile walk, and again today I only saw 3 people, 2 of them on horseback. All of the trees, mostly block the white noise from the roads so that I can forget that I am in the middle of the city. I feel truly blessed to live where I can go out my back door and be in a beautiful trail that leads to this park! read more

Large park, various trail options. Lots of horse poo and live horses to be mindful of! read more

See all

The 3 marked loops are great for running. Well beware of horse shit but it is manageable Nice trails in the shade

I enjoy visiting this hidden gem so much so that I volunteered in 2013 for an Earth Day clean up. It has the aesthetic of the forests in one of the larger state parks, without the hassle of the drive for those living in Eastside suburbs. read more

This large, densely forested park lies at the junction of Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland. The longest loop trail around the perimeter is 4 miles, and there are dozens of criss-crossed side trails leading through the middle. It is easy to get lost if you don't carefully stay on the main trail because of the undergrowth and trees - I would use the east-west powerlines as a way to stay halfway oriented. This is a wonderful jogging park, that is mostly flat, with a few rolling hills. During Monday-Friday, one typically encounters 0-2 people, despite the large metropolitan surroundings. On the weekends there are a few more folks at the equestrian rings on the west side. After visiting the park during several seasons, I developed an objection to the way several neighboring property owners have adopted an attitude that the park is their private backyard estate - which it is in a sense, given its emptiness and solitude. When parking in gravel turn-ins near the Tennis club on the NE side, I was literally chased off by a loud, cranky homeowner who was said that people only park there so they can go smoke dope in the woods and he would call to have me ticketed (to me in my running shoes, on park land rather than adjacent to a house). On the east side, homeowners petitioned to get no parking signs installed all along the neighborhood streets. I think keeping the eastern side of the park so empty with these policies could even create a security risk if anyone were to get lost in the trails near dark (as the reviewer above pointed out), or someone were to get injured on a horse out there. While most of us enjoy watching the equestrians, people should realize that if other user groups were democratically given an opportunity to develop their hobbies in sections of the park, such as mountain biking and off-leash dogs, there would be far more people here. read more

This was a beautiful park that is in the middle of a neighborhood it has easy trails and the feeling of being in the deep woods is present but you feel safe because you can't get lost; any direction you go, you are still in the city! read more

If it's your first time here, take a picture of the map on your way in. It's poorly marked.

I was amazed to hear runners and walkers complaining of "so much horse poop" Get a clue people--does the name "Bridle Trails" suggest anything to you? Yes, it is a beautiful park and was built originally to accommodate horses and riders. Walkers and runners are welcome but appreciate that and abide by the rules. read more

if you don't have time to get a long way away from civilization this park will do in a pinch. actually...it'll go a few steps beyond. this park is a densely wooded area in the middle of kirkland. it has criss crossing trails that run through the middle of a wonderfully beautiful forest. i found it absolutely breathtaking. a fantastic place to put your ipod on and go run until you are lost in the maze of zig zagging trails. then find your way out. if you are more wealthy than i am i suspect this is a great place to horseback ride as i found myself hopping over a bit of horse poop (though not excessive). in fact this was the only aspect that knocked this park back from 5 stars. one thing to keep in mind...if you are running or playing in this park after dark...it gets VERY DARK. you will not find your way out until the sun comes up. my advice is to head for the perimeter which is fairly well lighted before it gets to dark. from there you can finish your run, horseback ride, or drunken hike...ENJOY!!! read more