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Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
Humans have been trekking through this Cougar Mountain forest for ages. Native Americans wandered the slopes for as long as seven thousand years, and after the new Americans moved west, trappers, prospectors, loggers, and traders pushed goods through the wagon traces along the slopes above Coal Creek basin. Today, hikers and horse riders can enjoy the cool forests and gentle trails year-round, even November through May when the high-country Cascades are locked in snow.
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
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Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Ripe berries
Issues:
Blowdowns
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Decided to try another side of Cougar Mountain today and head down the Wildside Trail to take in the...
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
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4.0 mi loop, +550/-550 ft, China Creek, Rainbow Town, Wildside, Marshall Hill, DeLeo Wall, Wildside,...
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
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This was my first time doing this hike. We went there intending to go to De Leo Wall but the web of ...
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.
Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
— Apr 30, 2011
— robyn123
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Mudholes
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Great brisk morning hike to start off the weekend. We found a couple lost pups on the trail and reun...
Great brisk morning hike to start off the weekend. We found a couple lost pups on the trail and reunited them with their owner, it was great to have some furry companions as company! There really isn't much of a view from these trails but there's lots of beautiful trees, moss, and little creeks to take in. Lots of people and dogs out and mudholes and slugs.
Red Town, Indian Trail, Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Marshall's Hill, Wildside
— Feb 07, 2011
— whitebark
Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes
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This time I decided to check out some of the trails on the west side of Cougar Mountain. First I ram...
This time I decided to check out some of the trails on the west side of Cougar Mountain. First I rambled along the wide, easy-strolling Red Town Trail to the ballfield meadow. After relaxing by the rushing waters of Coal Creek for a bit, I continued roaming along the Indian Trail, freshly improved by the WTA and in great condition. A brand-new side trail led me down to an overlook of Far Country Falls, which is quite a lovely sight with its multiple streams of water tumbling down mossy ledges. This spot is destined to become a Cougar Mountain favorite.
I then backtracked on the Indian Trail and headed west on the De Leo Wall Trail. This old school trail is narrower and muddier than many on Cougar Mountain, but pretty nevertheless. The trail rambles on an up-and-down course through open forest along the south hillside of Marshall's Hill, crossing several ravines with little brooks. At a junction, the official De Leo Wall trail takes off uphill to avoid private property. To see the viewpoint, I continued straight ahead, following an unsigned but decent trail. This path soon reached the brink of the cliff and views picturesquely framed by madrona trees, which thrive on this extremely dry site. The trail picked a precarious route along the cliff before arrive at a knot of trails coming together at the far west end of Cougar Mountain. New trails constructed by the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and the city of Newcastle continue west from here. I followed the "Cross Town Trail" for a bit, then ascended a new staircase to a subdivision. A short stroll among some high end homes took me to an access road to a water tower, and led me back into Cougar Mountain Park. At this time, the few gleams of sun I was enjoying abruptly ended and I was assaulted by a sudden storm of hail, rain and thunder. The shelter of the trees in Cougar Mountain Park was quite welcome! The rain never let up until I got back to my car. I Followed the Marshall's Hill trail for a long stretch--more pleasant walking on a good tread with just touches of mud in places. Eventually it joined the Wildside Trail, which I followed back to Red Town Trailhead. The Wildside Trail has some bad mudholes that need work. For pleasant and easy hiking close to Seattle, Cougar Mountain never fails to please. |
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