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Bridle Trails State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,136 Google reviews · Running trail in Kirkland, Washington · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 10 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Bridle Trails State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Forested 482-acre park with horse-show grounds & many walking & equestrian trails; no bikes allowed.
What runners say about Bridle Trails State Park
“Located in the heart of Kirkland, this 482-acre park offers 28 miles of well-maintained trails, perfect for horseback riding, hiking, and running.”
“Beautiful woods, easy to walk trails and if you want a great medieval forest background just step a few feel on the trail.”
“The whole trail is shaded except for a small part.”
“We hiked the Trillium trail which was great, peaceful even after a large rainfall, no horse "leftovers" but some muddy parts, which were navigatable.”
Great local hiking spot, I love how you can make it as short or as long as you'd like and also perfect for rainy day hikes as majority of the trail is covered by the beautiful trees. Be prepared for horse poop and some big puddles in some areas.
Loved Bridle Trails State Park! Such a great urban forest with tons of trail options to choose from. I really enjoyed encountering horses, I feel like them running in the wind. While there is horse dung on the trails it is not overbearing and easy to walk around.
Great walk in the park for finding some mushrooms. Was there with a guide who knew what to look for and we found many. Some are edible. There is a good maintained toilet at the beginning of the park. Saw many people running along the trails and other who walked the dogs.
Bridle Trails State Park is a lush haven for equestrians, hikers, and nature lovers alike. Located in the heart of Kirkland, this 482-acre park offers 28 miles of well-maintained trails, perfect for horseback riding, hiking, and running.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful woods, easy to walk trails and if you want a great medieval forest background just step a few feel on the trail.”
“Pro tip: there is free parking east of the entrance that only adds a couple minutes to get in the park.”
“It's funny how there is a sign that identifies the differences between horse poop and dog poop lol.”
“Even if you get lost, after walking awhile you will reach the trail markers and can get back on to a trail plus lots of people moving about routinely.”
“Located in the heart of Kirkland, this 482-acre park offers 28 miles of well-maintained trails, perfect for horseback riding, hiking, and running.”
“The whole trail is shaded except for a small part.”
“We hiked the Trillium trail which was great, peaceful even after a large rainfall, no horse "leftovers" but some muddy parts, which were navigatable.”
“We hiked the Trillium trail which was great, peaceful even after a large rainfall, no horse "leftovers" but some muddy parts, which were navigatable.”
“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.”
Plan your run at Bridle Trails State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance10 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteparks.state.wa.us
- Phone+1 425-455-7010
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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