Redmond now has the only forest-therapy trails in Washington certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. They are the Treefrog Loop at Redmond Watershed Preserve and the Lowland to Upland Loop at Farrel-McWhirter Park, according to 425 Magazine's report on the OneRedmond announcement. The City of Redmond shared the story on October 15, 2026. Both loops use the same slow, sensory format. The parks around them have different rules, so who's coming with you settles which one to drive to.
The certification changes how you walk, not where
You won't find a new trailhead. Both parks were already part of Redmond's park system. The certification adds a way of walking them. OneRedmond's forest therapy page describes a walk where you follow the route, stop at numbered "invitations," and spend a few minutes or longer at each. An invitation is an optional prompt, and the page says you can change it or skip it. The page puts a typical self-guided walk at 60 to 90 minutes. It also says even 20 minutes in nature has been shown to have benefits.
On the trail, the prompts match markers you can see. The Lowland to Upland brochure says numbered pinecone icons on the trail signs line up with the invitations printed in the brochure. Both self-guided brochures are free on OneRedmond's site. The program is paid for through Redmond's tourism promotion area.
The 425 Magazine piece explains that these trails aren't about mileage, elevation gain or reaching a destination. OneRedmond CEO Kristina Hudson told the magazine:
"These certified trails give residents a new way to enjoy places they already know, while giving visitors another meaningful way to explore Redmond beyond the traditional activities."
Since distance doesn't matter on these walks, the practical details of each park matter more. That's where the two loops differ.
Treefrog Loop: paved, short and pet-free
The Treefrog Loop starts at the Watershed Preserve's south support facility off Novelty Hill Road. The City lists parking, restrooms and an ADA-accessible boardwalk there. The Washington Trails Association puts the paved lot at 218th Avenue NE and Novelty Hill Road. It lists the loop at 0.7 mile, paved and ADA-accessible. The lot has about 40 spaces, restrooms, and no entry fee.
At a forest-therapy pace, 0.7 mile can take more than an hour. That makes the Treefrog Loop the easy pick for a wheelchair, a stroller, a walker or an older guest who wants solid footing. The paved surface also helps in November, when soft trails turn to mud.
The catch is pets. The Washington Trails Association's preserve page lists no pets among the preserve's rules and marks dogs as not allowed. The recurring Sunday nature walk at the preserve also lists dogs as prohibited. If the dog is coming, pick the other loop.
Bikes are allowed elsewhere in the preserve. The City lists the Powerline and Gasline Trails as multi-use, Trillium Trail for horses and hikers, and Siler Mill Trail for hikers only. If part of your group wants a longer outing, they can ride or hike those trails while someone else walks the Treefrog Loop slowly.
Lowland to Upland: leashed dogs welcome, barnyard next door
Farrel-McWhirter Park is at 19545 NE Redmond Road. The park is open 8 a.m. to dusk, according to the City's park and trail map. The same map says dogs must be leashed and aren't allowed in the barnyard. That makes this the certified loop to choose if your dog walks with you.
The rest of the park adds options. The City's Farrel-McWhirter page lists an animal farm, a horse arena, natural areas and trails, and its trail map shows Mackey Creek. The barnyard is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A few ways to plan a visit:
- With a leashed dog: walk the loop. Leave the barnyard off the route, since dogs aren't allowed in it.
- With kids: walk the loop, then visit the barnyard before 4 p.m.
- Solo on a weekday: go after work while it's still light. The park closes at dusk, and in November dusk comes early.
The Lowland to Upland brochure mentions a bridge and water along the way. A 2026 trip report on the WTA's Farrel-McWhirter page says the park has two free parking lots with plenty of room. The hours and dog rules come from a City map PDF with no date, so check the City's page before you go.
The two parks also connect. The City notes that the Watershed Preserve's west entrance is open to horses and hikers, and its parking is at Farrel-McWhirter Park. The pet rule still applies once you cross into the preserve.
Bring the brochure, and know who to call for a guide
Both brochures are made for walking on your own. OneRedmond's page points locals who want a guided session to Cascadia Forest Therapy. The page also lists a contact email for questions. For guided-session dates and prices, go straight to the guide.
One brochure detail is worth knowing ahead of time. The Tree Frog Loop brochure is titled for Redmond Watershed Preserve, but its opening text calls itself a guide to the Lowland to Upland Loop. On the Treefrog Loop, follow the pinecone markers on the trail and use the brochure's prompts as general ideas.
Adding salmon to the same afternoon
Fall is salmon season, and you don't have to drive far to see them. Hoodline reported on September 16, 2026 that salmon were returning to the Sammamish River, Lake Sammamish and Redmond's smaller streams. It named the Redmond Trestle and the Redmond Way bridge over the Sammamish River as popular viewing spots. Hoodline's tips were to use polarized glasses or shade, stay out of the water, and look during or after rain. Rain is easy to come by in November. King County's 2026 Salmon SEEson map lists the Redmond Trestle as a viewing site and describes viewing as a late-summer and fall activity.
Set your expectations for early November. One October 10 trip report on the WTA site says its author saw no salmon at the Bear Creek access point in Juel Park. A companion had seen fish farther upstream the week before. Plan the trail walk as the main stop and treat salmon as a bonus.
Here's how the stops line up:
- Walk the Lowland to Upland Loop at Farrel-McWhirter Park in the morning, with the dog on leash.
- Visit the barnyard before it closes at 4 p.m. if kids are along, and keep the dog outside it.
- On the way back toward downtown, stop at the Redmond Trestle or the Redmond Way bridge after a rain to look for fish.
Sunday mornings with company
Some people would rather walk with a group. A family-friendly wildlife and habitat walk meets at the Watershed Preserve on the first and third Sundays of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Eastside Audubon calendar listing says Councilmember Sayna Parsi's office organizes it, not Eastside Audubon, and dogs aren't allowed. The listing shows a walk on Sunday, November 1. If the schedule holds, the walks after that fall on November 15, December 6 and December 20. The group walk and the Treefrog Loop share a parking lot, so you can do the loop on your own afterward.
If you'd like to talk through which Redmond parks and trails are close to the places you're considering, Y Yang can help. Call or email Y Yang for a free local market consultation.
