Nike Missile Site TrailRecent Trip Reports
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1.8 mi one way, +460/-30 ft, Old Man, Cave Hole, By-Pass, Fred's Railroad, Shy Bear, Wilderness Peak
Trailhead 47.53329, -122.11296, 1160...
1.8 mi one way, +460/-30 ft, Old Man, Cave Hole, By-Pass, Fred's Railroad, Shy Bear, Wilderness Peak
Trailhead 47.53329, -122.11296, 1160 feet, Sky Country Trailhead Endpoint 47.52003, -122.09346, 1590 feet, Wilderness Peak This is a good alternative to the Wildnerness Peak Trail as a way to Wilderness Peak. Starting from the Sky Country trailhead next to the former Nike missile site, the trails are wide and on a near-level grade to Shy Bear Pass, 1.4 miles away. The Old Man Trail wanders easily through the woods to its terminus at Cave Hole Trail. A short way down Cave Hole to the right (south), By-Pass Trail takes off to the left (east) and crosses the North Fork Coal Creek watershed. The By-Pass Trail's eastern terminus is at Fred's Railroad Trail, which from the name, one could guess is an old railway. This trail ends at Shy Bear Trail, which climbs on a shallow grade to Shy Bear Pass. From this point, the Wilderness Peak Trail climbs on a moderate grade. This trail is narrower than the ones encountered so far. There are no views from the top, but there is a bench to rest on. From the looks of the weather forecast, this may be my last hike in the Northwest before heading home to Texas.
Cougar Mtn. Nike Missile Site new trailhead
— Jun 04, 2009
— Chuck Gustafson
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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Four of us started hiking at 7:20 a.m. from the new trailhead at the old Nike Missile site. Sunny...
Four of us started hiking at 7:20 a.m. from the new trailhead at the old Nike Missile site. Sunny and humid, but cool in the shade. Predicted to be very hot today (90). Hiked Old Man’s Trail to By Pass to Fred’s RR to Cougar Pass to Clay Pit Rd. Machinery working in the Clay Pit removing an over-layer. Continued on Mine Shaft to East Fork, to Shy Bear to Wilderness Peak. By mistake took an abandoned trail that went down steeply (many downfalls) to intersect the Wilderness Cliffs Trail. Continued loop on Wilderness Creek Trail. Then Long View Peak Trail with side trips to the Long View Peak view point and Doughty Falls (running very weak). Both the Wilderness and Shy Bear loops were very pretty with the foliage lush and the ferns almost fully out. Then hiked Shy Bear to Quarry to Coal Creek Falls Trail stopping for lunch at the Falls. Finished on Coal Creek Falls to Cave Hole to Nike Horse Trail arriving back at a very hot parking lot at 13:40. Trip highlights were fresh bear scat, a deer on the trail and masses of blooming Miner’s Lettuce. This route samples many of the best parts of Cougar Mtn. Totals were: 9.5 miles, 2,000’ gross elev. and 6.25 hours.
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