Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region,
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. Red Town. Coal Creek Town. Rainbow Town. There's a lot of American history here, going back nearly 150 years. Of course, the Native American history goes back much farther. Local tribes hunted these woods, gathered foodstuffs in the meadows, and harvested cedar for various uses. As you hike the Wildside Trail (W1) you'll cross the clear waters of Coal Creek in a deep gorge, striding past an old homesite (the Wash House). Stay left at the junction with the Rainbow Town Trail to continue a scenic woodland walk to a high old mine site, where you'll find a massive concrete piling. Once, a massive cable nearly a half mile long was used to haul ore-laden containers up the steep slope below--this section of trail, dubbed the Steam Hoist Trail, is named for the massive coal-fired engines that powered that ore-hauling cable system. The trail continues past this bit of Americana to Curious Valley--a U-shaped gorge carved by glaciers at the tail end of the last ice age--before it loops around the upper flank of Marshall Hill. An old millpond still sits, cool and dark, in the woods on Marshall Hill. Its waters once rushed down an old closed flume system to power lumber mills down in Coal Creek valley. Past the pond, the trail leads across the spine of De Leo Wall. Here you'll find views from the open madrona forest atop the wall. Leave the spine of De Leo Wall by descending gradually toward Newcastle Hills to rejoin the Wildside Trail in the Coal Creek valley near Redtown Meadow.
Driving Directions:
From I-90 take exit 13 onto Lakemont Boulevard. Drive south on Lakemont Boulevard, which becomes Newcastle-Coal Creek Road. After crossing "The Pass" and starting down, cross Coal Creek and find the trailhead on the east side of the road at a sharp bend in Newcastle-Coal Creek Road. Recent Trip Reports
Hiked here recently?
Submit a trip report!
There are
26
trip reports for this hike.
See all trip reports for this hike.
Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
— Dec 10, 2011
— JakeC
Day hike
Issues:
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
My wife wanted to take a shorter hike with our two dogs. The trails are all very well marked...
My wife wanted to take a shorter hike with our two dogs. The trails are all very well marked and in great condition. The viewpoints... we found two .... are a bit overgrown but provide a nice view to the southwest. You can download a copy of the trail map for the area at Issaquahalps.org website.
Nike Horse Trail, Cave Hole, Coal Creek Falls, Quarry, Marshall's Hill, Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Far Country, Shy Bear, Fred's Railroad, By Pass Trial, Old Man Trail
— Aug 28, 2011
— Alpine Art
Day hike
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
This is a loop series of trails about 7 miles long with about 1300 to 1500 feet of elevation gain/loss...
This is a loop series of trails about 7 miles long with about 1300 to 1500 feet of elevation gain/loss over a series of ups and downs.
My first destination was Coal Creek Falls from the Sky Country Trail Head. The route to the falls had lots of folks with dogs and is a nice down hill walk for the most part. Not much water in Coal Creek and the falls were silent to my ears. Trees are leafy and grass is very high after a cool wet summer so not much in the way of views on any of the trails. From the falls I headed to De Leo Wall via the Marshall Hill trail, on parts of the trail you could see a sharp drop off but no real views due to foliage. All the trails are in good shape with no mud. As most of my hiking in the area has been in fall/winter/spring this was a welcome change. I passed Far Country falls but again could not see or hear the falls from the trail. The rest of the walk was a nice amble through a shady green forest. Weather the last two Sunday's has been muggy and warm so I am glad I took extra water with me. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Ripe berries
Issues:
Blowdowns
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
Decided to try another side of Cougar Mountain today and head down the Wildside Trail to take in the views...
Decided to try another side of Cougar Mountain today and head down the Wildside Trail to take in the views from the De Leo Wall and Far Country Lookout. It ended up being about a 5 mile long loop along the Wilderness Trail, De Leo Wall trail, and Far Country Trail. All of the trails are well maintained with some moderate ups and downs. There are no obstacles to report other than a tree over the De Leo Wall trail that only required me to bend over to get underneath it. After Far Country Lookout, I returned to the trailhead via the Indian and Red Town Trails.
Both of the viewpoints are fairly obstructed by trees and other brush, but provide good places to stop, gaze, and have a snack along the trail. I also noticed some wildflowers along the Far Country Trail and some salal berries at the De Leo Wall viewpoint. The seasonal Far Country Falls has been reduced to a trickle at this time. Despite the number of cars at the trailhead at 9:30 AM, I mostly had the trails to myself today with the exception of a few trail runners. Day hike
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
4.0 mi loop, +550/-550 ft, China Creek, Rainbow Town, Wildside, Marshall Hill, DeLeo Wall, Wildside, Rainbow Town, China Creek (anticlockwise)
Trailhead...
4.0 mi loop, +550/-550 ft, China Creek, Rainbow Town, Wildside, Marshall Hill, DeLeo Wall, Wildside, Rainbow Town, China Creek (anticlockwise)
Trailhead and Endpoint 47.53494, -122.12851, 650 feet, Red Town Trailhead Since the China Creek trails were overrun by housing developments in the late 20th century, the far western part of the park seems to be mostly ignored. The old China Creek Trail made the trip to DeLeo Wall about a half-mile shorter. There were a bunch (three busloads) of school kids amassed around the trailhead, so decided to use the greatly-shortened China Creek Trail and Rainbow Town Trail to pick up Wildside Trail further down. This added about five hundred feet and a whole lot more peace. Wildside is a pleasant trail on a fairly level grade. The Marshall Hill Trail heads west on a moderate grade and then levels off along a shallow climbing grade to a crossing at a utility road. This road is used to service a water tank further up. On the other side of the road, the trail becomes the DeLeo Wall Trail, which continues the steady shallow climb to a high point at 1119 elevation. From here, there are two choices: a new trail that follows the ridge down towards the east, or the original trail down to the viewpoint. The 1998 map does not show the newer ridgeline trail. The original trail is steep and narrow and should be avoided by those with weak ankles - the viewpoint can be reached by an alternate route. The view at the viewpoint is probably one of the better in the park. From the viewpoint there is a narrow trail to the east which meets the newer trail; or there is the steep climb back up the original trail. From the previously-mentioned upper junction, the ridgeline trail is wide and descends on a moderate grade and after 0.4 miles from the junction with the original trail, it meets said trail again. From this point the original trail can be taken to the viewpoint. This alternative is also narrow, but on a mostly shallow grade. From this lower juncton, the DeLeo Wall Trail continues down and then follows the south end of Long Marsh, meeting the Wildside Trail which can be followed back to the trailhead. As the trailhead was neared, the din was loud enough to justify taking the detour out via Rainbow Town and China Creek. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
This was my first time doing this hike. We went there intending to go to De Leo Wall but the...
This was my first time doing this hike. We went there intending to go to De Leo Wall but the web of trails was just too confusing for us. So i grabbed the map and decided i wanted to Coal Creek Falls. When we decided on our route we made our way. It was raining for the most the day but in let up for me and my fellow hikers. Coal Creek falls was a sight to see and it made the trip worth it. I plan to do this hike again on a nicer day.
|
|
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
