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Coal Creek Trail

Last modified Dec 23, 2009 11:43 AM
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There are 14 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.
Coal Creek Trail — Mar 14, 2010 — Eric Jain
Day hike
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Arrived at the Coal Creek Pkwy trailhead after lunch, and was lucky to find one free parking spot. The trail...
Arrived at the Coal Creek Pkwy trailhead after lunch, and was lucky to find one free parking spot. The trail wasn't very busy though: Encountered perhaps a dozen parties.

The trail was in good condition (with several new-looking bridges), but slightly muddy in a few places (and very muddy in one place). The Primrose side trail was closed.

Had no trouble following the trail, except in two places: 1. after climbing out of the canyon, the trail forked and we had to keep left to avoid ending up at a brand new YMCA; 2. a bit further along we hit a wide gravel road at a switchback and had to continue straight rather than follow the road downhill.
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Coal Creek — Jan 18, 2009 — felix.pageau
Day hike
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The trail is closed for damages caused by a storm. Please check with the local authorities before heading there. Since I...
The trail is closed for damages caused by a storm. Please check with the local authorities before heading there.

Since I was in the mood for hiking, I ended up doing Licorice Fern Trail which was quite nice (about 15 min drive from Coal Creek Falls' trailhead).
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Wildside #COUGAR-W1,Marshall's Hill #COUGAR-W6,De Leo Wall #COUGAR-W9,Wildside #COUGAR-W1,Quarry #COUGAR-C6,Coal Creek #COUGAR-N1,Cave Hole #COUGAR-C3 — Oct 27, 2007 — viggo
Day hike
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Second hike of the day.Also loop De Leo Wall.TH was Red Town.Followed Wildside,Marshall Hill, De Leo Wall (the new one),...

Second hike of the day.Also loop De Leo Wall.TH was Red Town.Followed Wildside,Marshall Hill, De Leo Wall (the new one), Wildside. Quarry, Coal Creek, and Cave Hole trails back to car.Trails wide and in perfect shape.

Met 40 some walkers, 15 dogs, 2 hikers.All walkers in running shoes.Trails called for that.Typically..Wienerdogs would be on leach.

Jack London's White Fang was running free.

John Zilly's book was as accurate as an European train schedule.Every turn and intersection were correctly posted.I brought a Green Trail map,but opted to use John Zilly's directions only.The Best.This book is the perfect guide for people stating up with hiking.Highly recommended.

5 miles and 1100 feet

Total for the day 12miles and 2900 feet.

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Coal Creek #COUGAR-N1,Coal Mine #SQUAK-N3 — Mar 25, 2007 — Alpine Art
Day hike
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I hiked this trail loop in November after the rain storms and noted several spots on the Primrose trail that...

I hiked this trail loop in November after the rain storms and noted several spots on the Primrose trail that were marginal.

On Sunday I had a chance to return to the area. Coal Creek was running high with lots of water coming over North Fork and Sandstone Falls.

The main trail was muddy in places and had a pool of standing water between the two connections to Primrose.

The Primrose trail is in good shape with the exception of two sections, one on a cliff prior to the first crossing (on a bridge) of Coal Creek. This section has been marked by the county as requiring caution but is only about 3 feet in length and needs to be re-routed to avoid the steep drop off to the creek (about a 25 to 50 foot cliff). The re-route may require some serious thought since the bluff/cliff on which the trail is located is very steep in places. My sense would be to start the trail heading west near the pond and over the ""hill"" prior to dropping to the Creek.

The second section that needs repair - rerouting is after the second crossing of the creek and near the junction with the main Coal Creek trail. The trail is next to the creek and in danger of being washed away. My thought would be to place the trail on the other side of a small hill (bump) to protect it from high water levels in Coal Creek.

The Primrose trail is marked as ""primitive"" at the west entrance but this area is between homes on either side of the creek valley with lots of kids, dogs and families using the area. The trail should be upgraded (there are only two sections that need a serious upgrade) to make it safer for users.

I hiked this trail loop in November after the rain storms and noted several spots on the Primrose trail that were marginal.

On Sunday I had a chance to return to the area. Coal Creek was running high with lots of water coming over North Fork and Sandstone Falls.

The main trail was muddy in places and had a pool of standing water between the two connections to Primrose.

The Primrose trail is in good shape with the exception of two sections, one on a cliff prior to the first crossing (on a bridge) of Coal Creek. This section has been marked by the county as requiring caution but is only about 3 feet in length. This section of trail needs to be re-routed to avoid the steep drop off to the creek (about a 25 to 50 foot cliff).

The second section that needs repair - rerouting is after the second crossing of the creek and near the junction with the main Coal Creek trail. The trail is next to the creek and in danger of being washed away. My thought would be to place the trail on the other side of a small hill (bump) to protect it from high water levels in Coal Creek.

The Primrose trail is marked as ""primitive"" at the west entrance but this area is between homes on either side of the creek valley with lots of kids, dogs and families using the area. The trail should be upgraded (there are only two sections that need a serious upgrade) to make it safer for users.

The views of Sandstone and North Fork falls make this a great trip during high water periods. Trip length about 3.7 miles, with approximately 400 feet of elevation gain and loss.

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Coal Creek #COUGAR-N1,Primrose Trail — Nov 05, 2006 — Alpine Art
Day hike
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This is a short but great waterfalls hike on the west section of the Coal Creek trail. The first falls...

This is a short but great waterfalls hike on the west section of the Coal Creek trail.

The first falls (North Fork) was very lively with the recent heavy rains (this falls is about 0.3 miles from the parking lot) and well worth the walk most of the winter.

The Coal Creek trail is in excellent shape despite the rain at least on the sections I walked. The trail had very little mud and generally and good footing despite the heavy leaf coverage of the trail.

The Primrose trail however, has several sections which may ""slough"" in the current weather. One section, heading west near Sandstone Falls is on a steep cut over the creek. It was stable when I walked it but it appears that the right conditions could wash the trail out at this or some other points in the area.

Sandstone falls was pulsing when I went by and I was not sure why.

I got back to my vehicle about the time the Monsoon returned happy to have hiked during a dry spell on the weekend.

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Location
Coal Creek (#COUGAR-N1)
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
2.33 out of 5
Based on 3 votes
Guidebooks & Maps
Day Hiking Snoqualmie Region (Nelson & Bauer - Mountaineers Books)

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