I used to think driving to the mountains was just part of the deal. Weekend hikes meant leaving early, hoping to beat the crowds, and then, more often than not, spending half the morning circling a gravel lot because I didn’t leave early enough. And that’s after dealing with narrow mountain roads and the stress of the freeway.

Then I took a cute little shuttle from Capitol Hill over to Mount Si.

It’s called Trailhead Direct, and it’s one of those things I wish I’d known about sooner. The shuttle picked us up at East John Street and Broadway, and got us to the trailhead a little over an hour later. No parking battle. No stressful driving. My daughter and I played cards and looked at photos on the way up. I also found myself watching the other hikers — checking how big or small their daypacks were and taking notes on their clothing. The ride’s quiet, more like a road trip than a city bus, and it made the whole day feel more relaxed.

The program runs weekends and a few holidays through Sept. 1. Two main routes run every 30 minutes. One goes from Capitol Hill to North Bend, Little Si, Mount Si, and Mount Teneriffe with stops downtown and in Bellevue. The other starts at Mount Baker Transit Center and connects to Margaret’s Way, Squak Mountain, Poo Poo Point, Issaquah Alps, and more. New this year: both routes now link to the South Bellevue light rail station, making it easier for Eastside hikers to catch a ride too.

Standard Metro fares apply (it’s $2.75 each way), with riders under 18 riding free. ORCA cards work too. The shuttles are minibuses, not city buses — seating 22 to 27 passengers — and they’re ADA accessible, with space for two bikes, backpacks, muddy boots, and leashed dogs. You can plan your route using Metro’s Trip Planner.

Trailhead Direct started in 2017 to help ease overcrowded parking lots and reduce the environmental impact of so many cars heading to the same few trails. Fewer cars means less congestion, less pollution at trailheads, and a lower carbon footprint — a small but important step toward keeping these places beautiful.

Since launch, riders have used Trailhead Direct for more than 88,000 hikes, including nearly 10,000 last year. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell calls it “a powerful example of our One Seattle vision in action — connecting people to opportunity, to nature, and to each other.” I agree. It’s a simple but thoughtful way for a city to support both public health and the environment, and to remind us we’re all part of the same system.

Mt. Si: Washington’s most popular hike, and a total stunner just 45 minutes from Seattle.

Photo courtesy of Trailhead Direct

The program is run by King County Metro, in partnership with King County Parks, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Amazon.

Even if, like me, you have a car, it’s worth considering. You can skip the parking stress, zone out on the ride, and plan your post-hike meal while someone else does the driving. If you’ve been meaning to try it, now’s the time. The trails are easier to reach than you think.