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Bridle Trails State Park in Bellevue, Washington — 489-acre forested park with horse and hiking trails.
Parks & TrailsEditor's pick

Bridle Trails State Park

489-acre forested park with horse and hiking trails.

4.7$ Bridle TrailsUpdated July 2026
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Quick facts

At a glance

Neighborhood
Bridle Trails

About

About Bridle Trails State Park

Bridle Trails State Park is a 489-acre working equestrian forest wedged between Bellevue and Kirkland — a rare urban horse park with 28 miles of soft-surface trails threading through second-growth Douglas fir and hemlock. Riders share the woods amicably with hikers and trail runners, and the result is one of the Eastside's quietest, most atmospheric forests to walk in.

Highlights

What makes it special

  • 28 miles of soft-surface trails through mature second-growth forest
  • Rare urban equestrian park — horses share the trails
  • Cool, shaded routes that stay comfortable in July heat
  • Doable short loops for young kids plus long runs for adults
  • Discover Pass–only parking keeps trails uncrowded

What you'll experience

The visit, in detail

You'll trade pavement for wide, spongy horse-bark trails that muffle sound and turn every walk into a forest bath. Expect to meet horses — step off-trail on the downhill side and let them pass. The trail network is a spiderweb; short 1–2 mile loops are easy from the main lot, and the mainline "116th Trail" cuts a long north-south spine through the park. Bring a downloaded map.

Nearby

What's around you

Practical

Know before you go

A Washington State Discover Pass is required to park; day passes are available at the entrance kiosk. Trails are mud country from November through April — waterproof shoes are non-negotiable. Yield to horses at all times: step off-trail, downhill side, quiet voice. Dogs must be on leash. No bikes allowed. Trail signage is limited — download the state park map before you arrive.

Tags

#hiking#horses#forest#quiet

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