car-free recreation

View from cliffs above Maury Island Marine Area looking out over western Puget Sound down to the shoreline below

Week Without Driving 2026: Transit Trek with King County Parks

Join me and King County Parks on a Transit Trek to one of my favorite places, Maury Island Natural Area, Marine Park, and Dockton Forest on Thursday, October 1.

The outing takes place on the first day of the 2026 National Week Without Driving.

What: A Transit Trek Trip Audit

Maury Island is one of the best examples of a stunning local hiking and camping destination that is currently transit trekkable. Transit access has improved since we hiked this with Washington Trails Association in 2024 in the form of a more frequent weekday schedule for King County Metro route 119 and Water Taxi service. The water taxi now runs weekends, opening up much of Vashon’s pleasures to transit-reliant people. But the 119 continues to run only on weekdays, and is the only transit route serving Maury Island.

We’ll hike Dockton Forest and Maury Island Natural Area, with the option to extend the hike to Maury Island Marine Park. We’ll spend some time talking about current access to the area for nondrivers and what changes would increase and improve access. I’ll also review some of the other transit-accessible destinations on Vashon Island.

When: October 1, 2026

This is an all- or most-of-the-day outing. Check back for more details and to RSVP, including information for those starting from Tacoma using the Talequah Ferry.

How: Hiking boots on the ground and ORCA cards in hand

Check back to complete the RSVP form and get details about meeting up, preparing for the trip, and, if you want to, volunteering to help with the audit. You can see the audit volunteers helped put together at the Grand Forest hike on Bainbridge a couple years back at this link to get an idea of what we’ll produce.

Who: You

Info to help you decide if this is a trip you feel comfortable joining:

  • Attending is free, but participants are responsible for their own transit fare, lunch, and so on. Please note when RSVPing if you need assistance with fare; I’ll see what I can do.
  • I suggest that folks wear masks when we’re riding the bus together (about 25 minutes each way).
  • We’ll go rain or shine, but extreme weather or poor air quality may cancel.
  • Check back for details on estimated miles we’ll be hiking. There is only very mild elevation gain in the forest with overall elevation changes of 400 to 600 feet. Read a trip report here for more details.
  • Restroom access at Fauntleroy terminal, on the ferry, at Vashon Island Terminal, at Dockton Park, and some portapotty access during the hike.
  • Kiddos are welcome, but note the mileage and short but abrupt elevation changes on this hike. It’s probably best for older kids who can handle the mileage. That said, see the trip report above, which included a 6-year-old.
  • Dogs: Metro allows dogs on board at driver discretion, so most dogs may be able to make this trip. Dockton Forest and the marine area are both dog-friendly; leashes required. Ferry policy is here.
  • Service dogs are always permitted on transit.
  • These paths are generally not wheelchair friendly, though those who use some motorized mobility devices may find the forest trails reasonably navigable. The beach sections of the hike are generally not navigable for mobility devices.
  • For deaf or hard of hearing participants, please note your access needs in the RSVP form. While I don’t have the budget to hire an interpreter, I will do my best to work with you to find a good alternative. 
What to Bring
  • ORCA card or cash for fare
  • Dress for weather. We’ll go rain or shine, but extreme weather may cancel. 
  • A mask to wear on our two bus rides, which will be more crowded than usual
  • Snacks and water (water fountains at both ferry terminals, on the ferry, and at Dockton Park marina)
  • A sack lunch if you plan to eat on our quick lunch break during the hike
Handy Links
A dark brown cat sniffs a promotional pin for Trailhead Direct's Mt. Si route that is sitting on a topographic map of the Mt. Si trailhead. But her head obscures the actual trailhead.

Trailhead Direct and Hurricane Ridge Season is Almost Here

These two seasonal shuttle services start May 24, 2025

The weekend of May 24 kicks off the annual start of at least two seasonal shuttles in the Salish Sea region designed with hikers in mind. Both run through September 1.

Trailhead Direct

Trailhead Direct wooshes citydwellers from a few key light rail stops including (NEW this year) S. Bellevue Station and Eastgate Park & Ride directly to at least seven trailheads in the Issaquah Alps, Cougar, Squak and Tiger Mountain area. If you’re willing to walk short distances, it’s also easy to discover several other trailheads that this weekend & holiday service will open up to car-free hikers. Right now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that earlier routes like Mailbox Peak will finally return after a pandemic-induced driver shortage, which would open up some pretty incredible car-free backpacking opportunities.

Cost

Standard Metro fare ($2.75 ish); use an ORCA card, exact change in cash, or whatever other fare payment options Metro currently offers (there are too many to keep track of these days).

Hurricane Ridge Shuttle

The Hurricane Ridge shuttle makes my heart sing because it offers daily service, not just weekend and holiday service, showing once again that smaller cities and less-resourced counties can and are lapping Seattle and King County — hey, I love them, I live in them, but I also love to see underdogs doing things better. The shuttle runs several times a day from Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge, has capacity for two or three bikes (call the agency to confirm), and puts some epic hiking in Olympic National Park (ONP) into reach for car-free folks.

Pro-tip for bikepackers from the Seattle area: Take the early run of the Clallam Transit Strait Shot from the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal to Gateway Transit Center Ferry Terminal in Port Angeles. From there, hop on the Hurricane Ridge Shuttle to deliver you to your chosen trailhead.

Cost

You must purchase an entrance pass to ONP before boarding, then pay up to $1 in Clallam Transit fare. The Clallam Transit link above helpfully provides more details and links on purchasing ONP passes.

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Header image My cat’s head obscures the Mt. Si Trailhead on my Rattlesnake Mountain region topographic map, next to which I’ve placed a Trailhead Direct pin featuring the Mt. Si route.

View from low rocky conifered cliffs to a rocky section of ocean.

UPDATED – Free Foot Ferry to the San Juan Islands

The Ferry Pilot

UPDATE: The free foot ferry pilot is now over, and the Salish Current reports on prospects for a possible future foot ferry at this link.

Through June 30, 2025 San Juan County is piloting free, twice-daily passenger ferry service from Anacortes to Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. Here’s how to use this pilot service to enjoy the islands! Some essentials:

  • You will need to book ahead using their form, and to do it twice — once in each direction.
  • If you are bringing more luggage than one backpack, or bringing a dog or a bike, you need to let them know in the form.
  • It does look like you can reserve for multiple people using a single form, but remember to complete a form for each direction of travel.
  • Your trip is not confirmed until you get an e-mail saying so.
  • Arrive 20 minutes prior to boarding
  • Info and form for booking is at this link.
  • Schedule and locations are here.
    • The passenger ferry departs from Cap Sante, Anacortes, not the WSDOT terminal.
    • On Lopez Island it uses the dock at Odlin County Park.
    • CORRECTION: On Orcas and San Juan it docks near/at WSDOT terminals.
    • On Orcas, it goes directly to Eastsound.
    • Only On San Juan Island does it dock anywhere near the WSDOT terminal.
    • Excellent background on the pilot from the Salish Current.

To Lopez Island

Via Amtrak – Monday – Saturday

This post outlines a schedule for getting to Lopez, but can be used to get to Eastsound on Orcas or to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

Best for: Cyclists or for travelers who don’t mind doing a bit of walking once you arrive on Lopez Island. But check back — I’m working to confirm if there is currently taxi service available on the island (I’m not optimistic, so best to to assume there is not).

Using Amtrak offers the most direct route with the fewest transfers, but has the least flexibility because of the relative infrequency of the schedules involved. Make Mt. Vernon and Anacortes part of your trip, since you’ll have time to spare. The shortest trip you can do is probably a long weekend, starting on a Friday or Saturday and returning on a Monday.

To Mt. Vernon/Skagit Station

  • From south of Mt. Vernon take Amtrak Cascades to Mt. Vernon/Skagit Station, arriving at 10:04 a.m.
  • From north of Mt. Vernon take the train arriving at Skagit Station at 9:43 a.m.

To Anacortes

  • Transfer to Skagit Transit Route 40X at 10:15 a.m. and take it to the end of the line at March’s Point. Optional: enjoy some time in Mt. Vernon by enjoying the Skagit Riverwalk and hop on a later run of the 40X, which leaves every hour at :15 after. The latest 40X you’ll want to catch is probably the 3:15 p.m. departure.
  • At March Point, transfer to Skagit Transit Route 410, departing hourly at 40 minutes after the hour.
    • You’ll notice the 40x is scheduled to arrive at 40 after the hour, which is when the 410 is scheduled to depart. Don’t worry about it. The 40X usually arrives a few minutes early, making the transfer pretty easy. If you’re concerned, let the driver know you need to transfer to the 410 as if they are running late because of traffic, they may be able to get the 410 to wait.
    • If you do miss your transfer, you can:
      • Grab refreshments at nearby Moka Joe until the next 410 departs.
      • Make the lovely 4.5 miles from March Point transit station into part of your excursion by hiking or biking to Cap Sante, mostly via the Tommy Thompson trail. Goggle directions here. There are no shoulders on March Point Rd from the transit station to the Tommy Thompson trailhead at Fidalgo Bay, so take care along this stretch; or
      • See if ride-hail is available. The web tells me Uber does operate in Anacortes but wait times may be longer than in larger cities.
My partner standing over his bike on on a wooden boardwalk that crossed Fidalgo Bay, part of the Tommy Thompson trail.
My partner with his bike on the Tommy Thompson Trail, en route to San Juan and Lopez Islands a few years ago.

In Anacortes

  • The route 410 bus stop closest to the ferry is Q Ave. and 13th across from Safeway, near the western end of the Tommy Thompson trail. You could enjoy the marina area along the Fidalgo Bay and hike up to Cap Sante park and back before catching the ferry.
  • Or, get off the 410 a bit later and walk over to catch the Guemes Island ferry to explore this small island. In particular, bike friendly, but if you are up for walking a couple of miles to and from the ferry terminal, you can enjoy some shoreline hiking and the Guemes Mountain Trailhead. Return to Anacortes and catch the 410 back to the Cap Sante Marina (10th & Q St is probably your best best for getting off).
  • If you have more time in Anacortes, Pelican Bay Books & Coffeehouse is a personal favorite and the 410 stops nearby at City Hall.
  • This is not an exhaustive list!

To Lopez

  • Whatever you enjoy in Anacortes, leave plenty of time to make your way to the Cap Sante Marina, Slip B-40. The ferry departs from here.
  • On Lopez the ferry stops at Odlin County Park‘s pier, so if you are on foot, planning to camp here is a great plan. See the Fees link on the park’s website for information about the human-powered arrival campsites. If you’ve brought a bike, Spencer Spit State Park is a short ride away, and, of course, there is Lopez Village and many rental options around the island.
  • There is currently no transit service on Lopez so if you aren’t coming by bike, stock up on supplies in Mt. Vernon (the Skagit Coop is great and not far from the transit station) or Anacortes. For those who enjoy long walks, it’s three miles to Lopez Village.

The WSDOT Option

Yes, you could also stay on the 410 bus and get the WSDOT Anacortes ferry. However, for Lopez, you would then have a hike or bike from the WSDOT terminal to Odlin County Park, Spencer Spit State Park, or into town. The foot ferry plops you right at Odlin.

Return Options

  • Depart Odlin/Lopez at 8:35 a.m or 3:20 p.m., arriving at Cap Sante at 9:55 a.m. or 4:55 p.m.
  • Catch Skagit Transit 410 at 10th & Q to March’s Point at 10:20 a.m. or 5:20 p.m. (last run of the day on Saturdays)
  • Transfer to Skagit Transit 40X at 10:40 a.m. or 5:40 p.m. (last run of the day on Saturdays), arriving at Mt. Vernon/Skagit Station at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m.
  • Catch Amtrak Cascades southbound at 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., or 7:13 p.m.. or northbound at 12:30p.m., 4:30 p.m. or 7:34 p.m.

Other Options

It is also possible to piece together a trip to Mt. Vernon by taking the Sound Transit light rail 1 Line + bus route 512 to Everett Station and catching the Skagit-Snohomish Connector 90X to Mt. Vernon Skagit Station, then connecting to the 40X, etc. as noted above. From Bellingham, use the 80X.

These are not the only options but are among the easier ones.

Sundays are for Cycling

The 40X and 410 do not run on Sundays. Sundays, though, cyclists could take Amtrak and ride from Mt. Vernon to the ferry. I haven’t done so, but seems like you could avoid SR-20 by plotting a route through tulip country in the Skagit Valley and connecting to the Tommy Thompson trail.

Thanks to my Bluesky mutual Tarnado for the heads up on the passenger ferry pilot!

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Header image Overlooking Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island. Copyright Roderick Huntress.