Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Salmon still run straight through the middle of Issaquah. Every autumn, chinook and coho fight their way up Issaquah Creek to a hatchery a block from the old downtown, and the whole town turns out to watch. Wrapped by the forested peaks locals call the Issaquah Alps, this former coal-mining and logging settlement sits at the southern tip of Lake Sammamish, about 30 minutes east of Seattle on Interstate 90.
Coal was discovered here in the 1860s, and the town was known as Gilman until 1899. The restored 1889 railroad depot and the old Gilman town hall now hold small museums, while Front Street keeps a walkable mix of brick storefronts, cafes and the Village Theatre, one of the region's busiest musical-theatre companies.
Most visitors come for the outdoors. Trails climb Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains within minutes of town, paragliders launch from Poo Poo Point, and Lake Sammamish State Park offers beaches and paddling. Snoqualmie Falls and the ski slopes of Snoqualmie Pass are easy day trips farther east.
A state hatchery opened in 1937 beside Issaquah Creek in the middle of town. From September to November you can watch chinook and coho climb the fish ladder and peer through underwater viewing windows. Volunteer docents explain the life cycle; entry to the grounds is free.
A large state park at the south end of Lake Sammamish with sandy swimming beaches, picnic shelters, a boat launch and paddleboard and kayak rentals in summer. Issaquah Creek winds through its wetlands to the lake. A Discover Pass is required for parking, and summer weekends fill early.
A grassy clearing on the shoulder of Tiger Mountain where paragliders and hang gliders launch over the valley. The Chirico Trail climbs about 1,700 feet in under two miles to reach it, rewarding hikers with views of Lake Sammamish and Mount Rainier. Tandem flights can be booked with local schools.
The largest of the Issaquah Alps, a working state forest east of town crossed by more than 80 miles of trails. The busy route to West Tiger 3 gains about 2,000 feet to views over Seattle and Lake Sammamish, while quieter paths wander mossy valleys. Park at the High Point trailhead off I-90 with a Discover Pass.
A quieter mountain directly south of downtown Issaquah, covered in second-growth forest with a few old trees and moss-draped ravines. Trails lead to the summit area and the ruins of the Bullitt family fireplace. It is less crowded than nearby Tiger Mountain and a Discover Pass is needed at the main lot.
A small hillside zoo focused on conservation, home to tigers, cougars, reindeer, lemurs, alpacas and macaws. Keepers give daily talks, and in December the reindeer festival draws local families. It is compact enough to see in two hours; check opening days, as the zoo keeps seasonal hours.
A professional regional theatre on Front Street known for staging Broadway musicals and developing new ones, several of which later reached New York. The Francis J. Gaudette Theatre seats about 500, and the smaller First Stage hosts youth shows. Book ahead for weekend evening performances.
The restored 1889 train depot holds exhibits on the railroad that hauled coal and timber out of the valley, with vintage cars and a caboose parked on the tracks outside. Volunteers run the museum, and on some days the rail cars are open to climb aboard. Admission is low and hours are limited.
The modest wooden town hall from the days when Issaquah was called Gilman now displays pioneer tools, mining artifacts and household items. Behind it stands the tiny old town jail, a two-cell concrete lockup kids love to peek into. It is a short walk from the depot, so pair the two.
Held on the first full weekend of October, this free festival celebrates the return of the salmon with a parade, hundreds of art and food booths, live music stages and hatchery tours. It is one of the largest festivals in Washington, so take the shuttle from park-and-ride lots rather than driving downtown.
A large restored dairy barn from the late 1800s, standing in a meadow near Lake Sammamish that once belonged to one of the area's first homesteads. It now hosts a seasonal farmers market and community events, and paved paths around the farm fields connect to the Pickering Trail along Issaquah Creek.
Top-rated local businesses in Issaquah, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Issaquah? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Issaquah? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Senapa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Senapa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mggkitsap, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: ?ellie? from Shoreline and Olympia, WA, U.S. of A., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Narasimhan Govindarajan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Narasimhan Govindarajan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Narasimhan Govindarajan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Peter Stevens from Seattle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Junkyardsparkle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Ronincmc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ronincmc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ronincmc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ronincmc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
