Gateway Trail

Dogs Leashed

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Island Center Forest's routes are mostly flat and smooth. Road or trail shoes work fine on these easy trails. Expect to share them with other hikers, runners, cyclists, and horseback riders. Take note that there are several singletracks branching off the established trail system and leading to local residents' backyards.

Dogs are not permitted in the Mukai or Meadowlake Pond areas but are allowed throughout the rest of the trail. They are required to remain "either leashed or under strict sight and voice control," according to local regulations.

Generally, visitors should elect to use the 188th Street Trailhead, as it has the most parking. Paper maps are available here and at the Mukai and Cemetery Trailheads.

One of the region's newest trails, Gateway Trail differs from the rest of the area's network in that its primary purpose is to connect to other parts of Vashon Island. A piece of what planners envision to be an island-wide trail system, Gateway bridges the 188th Trailhead and 103rd Avenue, leading to one of the island's retail areas.

A small parking area is found at the northern end of the trail, though the trailhead is mainly used by locals and others traveling via non-motorized means. Look for a blue King County sign marking the singletrack entering the woods.

Gateway's dirt path is typical of others found around Island Center: well-maintained and generally free of obstacles. A few portions can get muddy in rainy weather, but the trail was built with the intent of bypassing boggy segments along 103rd, so Gateway was made to shed water quickly. The winding route is also one of the flattest in the area, making for an easy, fast run.

About a quarter of a mile in, Gateway crosses a dirt road. On the other side, parts of the Meadlowlake Pond wetland area will be visible through the thick tree cover to the right.

Gateway Trail ends about a third of a mile ahead at the 188th Trailhead parking lot. For runners beginning the trail on this side, look for a break in the wood rail fence on the north side of the lot. The singletrack isn't hard to find.

Originally a state-owned area logged to provide revenue for Washington's education system, Island Center Forest was passed to King County Parks in 2002 as a model for sustainable forest management. Owing to its history, the area exhibits a mix of both old growth and restoration areas. Many local tree species grow here, including enormous firs and one of the Island's largest areas of quaking aspens.

Animal life includes smaller woodland creatures and deer, but the biggest draw to Island Forest is the wide variety of birds, more than eighty species in all. The wetland areas around Mukai and Meadowlake Ponds draw bird watchers from around the region.