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The main segment of the Interurban Trail (South) follows a former trolley line 16.1 miles on a mostly straight and flat trajectory through several towns south of Seattle, providing a route for commuting and recreation east of the I-5 corridor. In addition, two shorter trail segments that total 3.7 miles allow space for outdoor pursuits on a ridge near Tacoma.
The Interurban Trail South follows the route of the Puget Sound Electric Railway, which ran between Seattle and Tacoma from 1902 until 1928 when it was shut down due to competition from cars and trucks. With links to several trails in King and Pierce Counties, the trail plays a role in the Leafline Trail Network, which will connect more than 900 miles of trail in the central Puget Sound region. Public restrooms and drinking fountains are scarce along the route, and shade is mostly nonexistent under the power lines.
Segment 1
Starting in the north, plenty of parking is available at a soccer facility next to Fort Dent Park in Tukwila, an area inhabited for centuries by the Duwamish Tribe, Indigenous people related to the Coast Salish of the Pacific Northwest.
At the south end of the parking lot, follow a sign marked River Trail to cross a small bridge; then find the Interurban Trail beginning at a junction with the Green River Trail (see page 173) in less than a mile. Take a left, follow the trail around an amusement park, pass under I-405, and then begin an 11-mile stretch of straight trail marked by a line of tall utility towers marching south to the horizon.
While the first few miles pass through congested commercial and light industrial areas, the trail is screened from surrounding warehouses by ditches where wildflowers, bushes, and grasses proliferate. Songbirds are drawn to these marshy areas, and trail users will hear their calls and see them flitting across the trail.
In 7.2 miles, the trail crosses the southern end of the Green River Trail at Foster Park in Kent. Trail users can use it to make a tidy 20-mile loop back to the soccer complex. Continuing south, the Interurban passes through a sprawling rail yard where trains are staged for passage to the Seattle and Tacoma harbors. The trail intersects a couple of rail crossings, which can be blocked by trains. The surroundings then take on a more agricultural nature for a few miles. Three miles past Foster Park, the Emerald Downs thoroughbred racetrack comes into view.
Commercial and residential development borders the trail in another mile. an find a giant outlet mall with fast-food restaurants on the right as the trail heads south through Auburn, and there are two cafés and a small grocer at the First Avenue North Trailhead in Algona. This trail segment ends in 2.2 miles on Stewart Road Southeast in Pacific, after passing three parks with war memorials.
Segments 2 & 3
Two separate Interurban Trail segments follow the old corridor over the ridge toward Tacoma in the west. The Jovita Station Trailhead in Edgewood features a historic railway display, followed by a 0.8-mile segment of trail. Farther west, a 2.9-mile section lying partly in the Puyallup Indian Reservation runs through a forested canyon. Planning is underway to connect these two segments.
Long-range plans call for connecting the Interurban Trail to the Foothills Trail in Pierce County via the Sumner Link Trail and the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail. Another trail project will connect the Interurban to the Tacoma waterfront by 2029.
The Interurban Trail South runs between the Green River Trail (Tukwila) and S 380th St. (Fife):
Parking is available at:
Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
We tried to start the trail where it starts off Stewart Ave but found no place to park without risk of towing. So we hopped on at county line rd where there was a small parking area near a duck pond. Most the trail was pretty smooth and straight but some areas bumpy. We chose to merge onto the green river trail and ran into to some of leash dogs but had no incidents. So no bathrooms along the trail that we could see but some restaurants you could stop at if needed. Would be nice if they could link to the Sumner link trail, close but no safe bridge to ride.
Nice ride, but I probably won’t ride this trail again though. I started at the Showare Center in Kent. There were a lot of homeless camps scattered throughout the trail in Kent, and I got sideways looks from a few people sitting on chairs posted outside of their encampments. None of them seemed like they were gonna start something, just made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
its well maintained, straight, flat and the scenery is interesting. and you actually feel like you’re going somewhere.
I like this trail a lot. Not too congested and kept up fairly well. My only warning is a specific raised railroad crossing that was bumpy enough to knock my bike chain loose. I’ll be returning as the weather keep getting nicer.
As a 72 yr old person, I try to walk 4 or 5 days a week. When the weather is nice part of my walk is on the interurban trail through Pacific. Over the last couple of years, the portion between Ellingson Rd and 3rd Ave NE is falling apart. I have to be very careful and not step in a hole and fall.The southern part past 3rd is being extended and is very nice. I just wish someone could check out the before mentioned section. Also, it must be about time to repaint the circles around the holes. The paint is almost worn off.
I did a nice loop ride from Cecil Moses Park to the south end of the Green River Trail. At the end of the Green River Trail, you can take the Interurban South Trail back to where it intersects the Green River Trail near Fort Dent Park and then back to Cecil Moses Park. This is about a 30 mile loop.
Green River Trail is very scenic 5 stars. Interurban South is just not as interesting as other Washington trails as it runs straight under power lines. It is a nice quick 7 or 8 mile return trip from the end of Green River Trail though.
Interurban North Trail is a 5 star trail also.
We parked at the Porter Way at Park Way parking area below Milton and walked almost 2 miles to the NE where we came out near Meridian and Enchanted Parkway. It's a great trail in good condition that even has a well serviced, CLEAN porta-potty located on the trail just up from where we parked. It's wide and a good portion is in the shade, so on those hot days this is one of the easier shaded trails and so gets a good bit of traffic both pedestrian and bicycles. Our just under 4 mile round trip walk, took about 1 hour and 15 minutes or so...
Everytime I walk a new trail I find myself thinking on how these former railroads or in this case an electric trolley way that ran between Seattle & Tacoma into the late 1920's not only came into existence but on how they were used and went out of business as well. And how fortunate we are as walkers, bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts that these rights-of-way are now in the public domain, are well developed as paved trails and are now so well used. Eventually they will be connected when possible creating something that could never be done today because of the costs and probably environmental...concerns. So the work that the Rails To Trails Conservancy does is certainly worth supporting, especially when you see the results that have become valuable and irreplaceable public assets like the Interurban Trail South near Milton here...
While visiting the Auburn area---I rode this trail on 7/17/10 from Foster Park north until it became the "River Trail" (I would guess it is the Green River Trail) just north of The 405. While the scenery north of Foster Park is industrial with a few major street crossings I thought it was a nice trail. I rode back to Foster Park and headed south and when the trees or buildings did not block the view---there was The Mountain in all it's glory. The sweet peas were in bloom, which made a great pix of both. Very nice. The Trail south of Algona to Pacific needs some TLC. lots of gaps in the asphalt with weeds growing through. Still a nice ride. Disappointingly, the Green River Trail (not a RtT, hence not listed here) from Foster Park is closed with giant sand bags. I knew about this before the ride, and it seems the city of Kent is the only city which has chosen to close the trail by putting the sandbags in the middle of the trail, vs the river side of the trail. Enjoy the Ride.
Well maintained and a great commuter trail with vistas of the Cascade foothills and Mt. Rainer. Mostly follows the utility 'right of way' underneath electrical high tension lines. Also, passes through a railroad switch-yard with 'automated' switching engines, be careful !
You cannot go from Alki to Interurban...you have about a 2 mile split with no direction on which way to go
"This is a great trail for beginners, and the going is nice and flat. Although there are parking areas at various points along this trail, there are frequent car break-ins at some of the less-frequented lots (37th NW in Auburn, for example). Choose a lot that sees more traffic."
Nice commute trail...alternate would be green river trail. What would make this a really great trail is to continue on into Seattle and extent to Puyallup!!
I've started from Pacific and other spots in between and it's a great trail from one end to the other. Even port a potties along the way. Some roads need to be crossed and traffic sometimes doesn't yield but I highly recommend if you like long walks.
Flat most of the time with just one or two inclines over bridges.
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