Issaquah Alps Trails Club

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Issaquah Alps Trails Club

Our mission is conservation, education, and advocacy for the land, wildlife, and trails of the Issaquah Alps for present and future generations

Founded in May, 1979, The Issaquah Alps Trail Club raises awareness around challenges facing our public lands through free guided hikes and community education. We take action to make sure everyone can enjoy the trails, parks, and open spaces of the Issaquah Alps now and into the future. Subscribe to our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gXIut9

06/05/2026

🌎🌲 This World Environment Day, we're celebrating one of Issaquah's greatest treasures: our forests.

Did you know much of the trail system on Tradition Plateau is managed by the City of Issaquah? With a 92% tree canopy and a history shaped by both logging and conservation, these forests are a vital part of the Issaquah Alps.

In a new article, Urban Forest Supervisor Dan Hintz shares how the recently completed Tradition Plateau Forest Management Plan will guide the next 30 years of stewardship, helping keep these forests healthy, resilient, and thriving for future generations.

📖 Read the full article using the link in our bio or visit https://www.issaquahalps.org/articles/2026/06/01/city-of-issaquah-tradition-plateau-forest-management-plan

📸City of Issaquah

06/04/2026

🐾🌿 Join the Issaquah Alps Trails Club this Saturday at Wildlife Coexistence Day! 🌿🐾

We're excited to join fellow conservation, education, and wildlife organizations at Issaquah’s 2nd Annual Wildlife Coexistence Day.

📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave NW, Issaquah

Come learn about the incredible wildlife that shares our region—from salmon and bats to beavers, cougars, and more. Meet local experts, enjoy interactive activities, and discover ways you can help people and wildlife thrive together.

Whether the sun is shining or the rain is falling, the event is happening rain or shine! We hope you'll stop by and say hello.

issaquahwa.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=14532&month=6&year=2026&day=6&calType=0

06/03/2026

🦌🌿 Wildlife Wednesday in the Issaquah Alps

A quiet, beautiful moment from the wildlife cam this week: a deer and her fawn moving gently through the forest, step for step, in total stillness and trust.

There’s something grounding about watching life move at this pace. No rush, no noise, just the forest doing what it’s always done.

🎥 Watch the clip and take a moment to slow down with us.

🌲 The Issaquah Alps are always full of small, peaceful moments like this—if you know where to look.

06/02/2026

🚨 Happening Today! 🚨

The City of Issaquah is hosting a community open house on the potential 2026 Park Bond Renewal. Stop by to learn about proposed parks, trails, and recreation projects, ask questions, and share your feedback.

🕕 6–7 p.m.
📍 Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave NW, Issaquah

This is your chance to help shape the future of Issaquah's parks and open spaces. See you there! 🌲

Learn more at issaquahwa.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=14568&month=6&year=2026&day=2&calType=0

06/01/2026

🌳 The IATC Alpiner - June 2026

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This month's newsletter is packed with Issaquah Alps news and adventures! Explore the new Tradition Plateau Forest Management Plan, discover summer hiking inspiration, meet longtime conservation advocate Larry Franks, and get the latest on the Wildlife Cam Project. Plus, find upcoming hikes, events, and volunteer opportunities. Read the full June 2026 Alpiner using the link in our bio or visit issaquahalps.org/archive.

05/30/2026

“It’s all about prevention.”

Cougar encounters are extremely rare—even in cougar country like the Issaquah Alps and surrounding areas. Most hikers will never see one, but knowing how to reduce the chance of an encounter (and what to do if one happens) helps keep everyone safer outdoors.

When hiking in these areas, a few simple habits go a long way: travel in groups when possible, keep children and pets close, make consistent noise while you hike (talk, clap, or call out), and stay alert in areas with dense vegetation or low visibility. Carrying bear spray as a precaution can also provide added preparedness.

These practices don’t just reduce risk — they help prevent surprise encounters by signaling your presence long before wildlife gets close.

Watch the full interview with WDFW cougar specialist Richard Beausoleil: youtu.be/xYiLZisR_Oc?si=1dS1Dey8IEGK0b3h

Brought to you by the Issaquah Alps Wildlife Cam Project. Learn more using the link in our bio or visit issaquahalps.org/issaquah-alps-trail-cam

05/28/2026

Cougars have always been part of life in the Pacific Northwest—we’re just seeing them more now thanks to Ring cameras, trail cams, and neighborhood video footage.

In this reel, WDFW specialist Richard Beausoleil explains why increased sightings don’t necessarily mean more cougars are moving in. Awareness, education, and preparedness are the keys to safely sharing our trails and communities with wildlife.

Stay alert, hike smart, keep pets close, and know what to do if you encounter a cougar. Being informed helps keep both people and wildlife safe. 🐾

Learn more and watch the full video on the IATC YouTube channel using the link in our bio or visit youtu.be/xYiLZisR_Oc?si=1dS1Dey8IEGK0b3h

Brought to you by the Issaquah Alps Wildlife Cam Project. Visit us via the link in our bio or at issaquahalps.org/issaquah-alps-trail-cam

05/27/2026

Wildlife Wednesday reminder: “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

With recent bear activity this past weekend in Issaquah Highlands, downtown Issaquah, and the usual seasonal movement we see this time of year, this is a good moment to revisit the basics of Leave No Trace and secure all attractants.

In this clip, a local bear heads back into the woods with a “trash bag of treasures”—a reminder that unsecured garbage, pet food, bird seed, and other human food sources can quickly draw wildlife into neighborhoods and trails. Once bears become food-conditioned, it puts both people and the animal at risk.

Preventing access to human food is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can reduce conflict and keep wildlife wild. Secure your trash, bring in bird feeders when possible, and never intentionally or unintentionally feed wildlife.

Watch our full Be Bear Aware video on YouTube for more information on how to safely coexist with bears: youtu.be/uvtmlrZtNuY?si=ZCFKcQtQvyo_OZny

Brought to you by the Issaquah Alps Wildlife Cam Project. Visit our YouTube channel and learn more using the links in our bio or visit issaquahalps.org/issaquah-alps-trail-cam

🎥 Tom Anderson

05/22/2026

🌲 “I'm the most me when I am walking, hiking, or running on a trail in Issaquah.”

This month’s Supporter Spotlight features Lara Allison, a former Issaquah High School runner whose connection to the Issaquah Alps began on cross-country trails in the 1980s—and continues today through her support of conservation and trail protection.

🏃‍♀️ In her powerful reflection, Lara shares memories of running, belonging, loss, and why protecting the Issaquah Alps matters for future generations.

📖 Read the full story using the link in our bio or visit issaquahalps.org/articles/2026/05/01/supporter-spotlight-lara-allison

05/20/2026

🌲🐾 Cougar update from the Issaquah Alps Wildlife Cam Project

Over the past month, our volunteer team has confirmed continued cougar activity in the Issaquah Alps through trail camera footage and field review. Because cameras are checked on a volunteer schedule, there is a short delay between capture and reporting while footage is verified and processed.

Recent footage shows a cougar moving through an established corridor near water, behaving as expected for this region. Cougars are present throughout the landscape, but are rarely seen due to their wide-ranging movement and highly elusive nature.

To learn more, see our recent article and interview featuring Richard Beausoleil of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which provides helpful context on cougar behavior and coexistence in the Issaquah Alps.

📖 Article: issaquahalps.org/articles/2026/05/01/cougars-in-the-issaquah-alps
🎥 Interview: youtu.be/xYiLZisR_Oc?si=KfJTWtDAc6cXXtAr

Cougar Aware reminders:
• Travel in groups when possible
• Make noise in dense or low-visibility areas
• Keep dogs close and under control
• Stay alert at dawn and dusk
• Do not approach wildlife or attempt close photos

Cougars are a normal and important part of this ecosystem. With awareness and simple precautions, we can safely share the landscape with them.

Address

Issaquah, WA
98027

Telephone

+18443924282

Website

http://IssaquahAlps.org/

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