Is the Sammamish River Trail Expanding? What Woodinville and Redmond Residents Need to Know

Introduction

Imagine being able to walk or bike from more Woodinville neighborhoods into downtown, connect with the Sammamish River Trail, and travel through a broader network of Eastside trails. That is part of the vision behind several projects underway or being planned across Woodinville and Redmond. Here is the important part: some improvements are already open, others are still on the drawing board, and the difference matters if you're choosing a home based on trail access.

I am Cheryl Dillon, a residential realtor in Greater Seattle, the East Side, and Snohomish County, helping people make confident housing and lifestyle decisions. Whether you are thinking about buying, selling, or simply exploring your options, I would love to help you decide what makes sense for your next move.

I love helping people discover the details that can make a community feel like home. For someone who enjoys cycling, walking, or simply spending time outside, a trail connection can affect everyday life in ways a property listing may never explain.

Quick Answer

Yes, the regional trail network connecting Woodinville and Redmond is improving. The existing Sammamish River Trail is already a 10.1 mile paved route. Redmond celebrated completion of the 3.9 mile Redmond Central Connector in September 2025, and King County opened two important Marymoor area trail links that May. Woodinville is designing an approximately 1.9 mile Eastrail corridor through downtown, with public use planned in phases. A separate 2.6 mile widening of the existing Sammamish River Trail in Redmond appears in King County's regional trail planning documents, although that proposed widening is not a completed project.

I am Cheryl Dillon, a residential realtor in Greater Seattle, the East Side, and Snohomish County, helping people make confident housing and lifestyle decisions.

What exactly is the Sammamish River Trail?

The Sammamish River Trail follows the river for 10.1 paved miles between Bothell and Marymoor Park in Redmond, passing through Woodinville along the way. It connects with the Burke Gilman Trail in Bothell and links to the broader regional trail system near Redmond. That means the trail serves more than weekend recreation. People also use it for active transportation.

Here is a lesser known detail for horse lovers: King County identifies a separate soft surface equestrian path along portions between Woodinville and Marymoor Park. The county permits equestrians on the Sammamish River Trail corridor between NE 175th Street in Woodinville and Marymoor Park, subject to posted rules. If you ride horses, that is worth knowing before you choose a neighborhood or plan an outing.

The county also notes that the paved route is not uniformly accessible at every point: two short sections have grades that do not meet accessibility standards. Accessible entry points include Wilmot Park and Redmond City Hall. Always check current trail conditions and the section you plan to use.

Which Redmond trail improvements are already open?

The completed Redmond Central Connector is one of the biggest recent developments. The city celebrated completion of its final 1.6 miles in September 2025, completing a 3.9 mile trail. Redmond became the first city to fully complete its section of the Eastrail. Its paved route connects downtown and the Willows Road area with trails leading toward Kirkland and Woodinville.

The final phase added a paved path with gravel shoulders, signal and crossing improvements, and lighting. It is not simply a strip of pavement. It is designed to help people reach workplaces, neighborhoods, regional trails, and other destinations on foot or by bicycle.

Another change came in May 2025 near Marymoor Village Station. King County opened the Bear Creek Trail Bridge and the Marymoor Station Trail. The bridge links the East Lake Sammamish Trail with the Redmond Central Connector, replacing a former 0.7 mile detour that crossed 11 lanes of traffic near State Route 520. The 230 foot bridge also offers a place to observe Bear Creek, where salmon return to spawn.

The Marymoor Station Trail provides an access route from the light rail station toward Marymoor Park. These connections may make it easier to combine a transit trip with outdoor recreation, depending on your starting point and the route you choose. Check current bike policies and station access when planning a trip.

What is Woodinville planning along its Eastrail corridor?

Woodinville is developing plans to turn approximately 1.9 miles of former railroad right of way into a shared trail and linear park. The route is envisioned from Wilmot Gateway Park north through downtown Woodinville toward the city limits. It is intended to connect with the Sammamish River Trail, the broader Eastrail network, and future regional trail extensions.

The city acquired the former railroad corridor in 2015. In many areas, the right of way is approximately 100 feet wide, giving planners more room to consider gathering areas, natural spaces, and recreation amenities than a narrow path alone would provide. Wetlands, hills, road crossings, and other constraints mean the design will vary along the corridor.

That is what makes this project especially interesting for Woodinville. It could eventually become a public gathering space connecting neighborhoods and downtown destinations, rather than simply a shortcut for cyclists. The city is considering features such as play areas, fitness facilities, gathering spaces, and accessible routes. These are possibilities being studied, not promises that every amenity will be built.

When will the Woodinville trail open?

According to the city's published project FAQs, the framework plan is expected in early 2027, preliminary design and environmental review in summer 2028, and final design and permitting by summer 2029. These are planning milestones, not an opening date for the complete trail.

Woodinville hopes to open usable interim sections of the former rail corridor as work advances, with temporary gravel surfaces possible before final construction. The city describes a longer term process that may take 10 to 20 years for the finished corridor and all its amenities, depending on funding and phasing. No single confirmed date currently applies to the full project.

Funding is another distinction. The city reports a $5 million federal RAISE grant for planning, design, and community engagement. The city will pursue additional construction funding as the project develops. A funded planning phase does not mean the complete project has construction financing.

What about the Woodinville trestle bridge project?

Woodinville lists the State Route 202 widening and trestle replacement among related capital projects. The future trail connection across the old rail alignment is an important part of how pieces of Eastrail may connect. The city says interim trail access associated with the 133rd Avenue roundabout and trestle projects will open after the trestle work is complete. That is a separate construction milestone from completion of the entire downtown linear park.

Is the existing Sammamish River Trail itself being widened?

King County's regional trail needs planning documents identify a proposed approximately 2.6 mile improvement in Redmond, from NE 116th Street toward Marymoor Park. The proposal would widen and improve a portion of the existing paved Sammamish River Trail. It is described as a future regional trail upgrade.

This deserves careful wording. The plan identifies a project need; it does not confirm that this entire widening has been funded, scheduled for immediate construction, or opened. If you have heard that the Sammamish River Trail is expanding, this proposal may be part of the news, alongside the separate Eastrail and connector projects.

Why is Redmond called the Bicycle Capital of the Northwest?

Redmond has used Bicycle Capital of the Northwest as its civic nickname for years. A May 2023 proclamation from the mayor explicitly uses that name and cites more than 40 miles of trails and 76 miles of bike lanes at the time. It is a local identity, not an independently established ranking as the world's or Washington state's number one cycling city.

There is more behind that identity than miles of pathways. Redmond Bike Park includes dirt jumps, a pump track, and riding skills areas. Marymoor Park also has a velodrome, a track designed for organized bicycle racing. These are real destinations that help explain why cycling is part of Redmond's character.

How could the trail projects affect the experience of living in Woodinville or Redmond?

In Redmond, some of the biggest benefits are available today. Residents near useful access points may be able to combine cycling, walking, downtown activities, or light rail with the connected trail network. In Woodinville, the existing Sammamish River Trail is a major amenity now, while the Eastrail corridor is a longer term possibility that could improve downtown connections.

Buyers should pay attention to the actual walking or cycling route from a property to the trail. A home listed as close to a trail may still have hills, crossings, missing sidewalks, or an inconvenient entrance. Ask whether you will use the trail for exercise, errands, transit access, or family outings. Each purpose points to different neighborhoods.

For sellers, nearby established parks and trail access can be worthwhile features to describe accurately in marketing. Planned amenities should always be identified as planned, not presented as already available or guaranteed to increase a home's value.

What mistakes should people avoid when planning around these trails?

The biggest mistake is treating the Sammamish River Trail, Eastrail, Redmond Central Connector, and the various bridge projects as one single construction project. They have different owners, schedules, routes, and completion statuses.

Another is assuming the planned Woodinville linear park will be completed within a year or two. Current city materials describe a much longer phased vision. Also, a flat trail can still require a hilly trip from the nearest neighborhood, and trail crossings may not be comfortable for every cyclist.

Check official route maps, construction notices, surfaces, parking, and accessibility before visiting. If you are evaluating a property, walk or cycle the actual route you expect to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Sammamish River Trail?

King County lists the paved river trail at 10.1 miles from Bothell to Marymoor Park in Redmond.

Can I already use Woodinville's new Eastrail corridor?

The entire planned 1.9 mile Woodinville corridor is not yet a finished public trail. Some interim access is intended as related projects advance. Confirm the exact currently open sections with the City of Woodinville before planning a trip.

Is the Redmond Central Connector finished?

Yes. Redmond celebrated completion of the final section in September 2025, creating a finished 3.9 mile trail.

What changed at Marymoor in 2025?

King County opened the Bear Creek Trail Bridge and the Marymoor Station Trail in May 2025, providing new connections to regional trails and light rail.

Can you ride a horse along the Sammamish River Trail?

King County allows equestrian use along the portion from NE 175th Street in Woodinville toward Marymoor Park and provides a separate soft surface path along portions of that corridor. Check official use rules and access.

Will the new trails make nearby homes more valuable?

There is no guarantee. Buyers may appreciate convenient trail access, although property values depend on many factors, including location, condition, supply, and the broader housing market. A future project should not be treated as a promised return on investment.

Ready to explore neighborhoods near the Eastside trail network?

This is the kind of local information I love sharing. A home is about much more than the number of bedrooms. The places you can reach and the way you want to spend your time matter too. If Woodinville or Redmond is on your shortlist, I'd be happy to help you compare neighborhoods, practical trail access, and homes that fit your life.

Wherever you are in your home journey, you do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out. I also help people connect with trusted, carefully vetted real estate agents across the country when their plans take them beyond my local area. If you have questions, would like to talk through your options, or need an introduction to an agent in another area, I would be glad to connect. We can take it one step at a time. You do not have to do this alone. I am here to help.

I am Cheryl Dillon, a residential realtor in Greater Seattle, the East Side, and Snohomish County, helping people make confident housing and lifestyle decisions.

Call or text: 425.954.5622

Email: Cheryl@CherylDillonRealEstate.com

Website: CherylDillonRealEstate.com

Cheryl Dillon is a licensed REALTOR® in the state of Washington with eXp Realty.