Deceiver

Wildside, Far Country, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Long View Peak, Quarry, Coal Creek Falls, Cave Hole, Red Town, Indian Trail, Fred's Railroad — Feb 28, 2009 — Alpine Art

Day hike

Issues: Mudholes

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Another hike with the Issaquah Alps Club, moderate in length and elevation gain but a good tune up hike for...

Another hike with the Issaquah Alps Club, moderate in length and elevation gain but a good tune up hike for the upcoming season. Denis Harney was our leader on a hike I have done before, looping past all three water falls in Cougar Mt. Park.

The hike started on the Wildside Trail which has a series of undulations, some of which are moderately steep providing a good warm up quickly. Once off the Wildside Trail, the first falls (Far Country Falls) can be seen just off the Indian Trail, and from here to the Far Country Look Out is a short hike up hill. The trails to this point were in good shape considering the recent snow and rain. Snow was evident on the sides of the trails, but no snow on the trails.

From the Far Country Look Out, view has been obscured a bit by tree growth over the last 10 years, we walked Shy Bear and Deceiver Trails to Doughty Falls (not impressive for the water flow over the rocks but worth the short side trail to the falls). The Deceiver Trail did have some mud holes as did the Long View Peak Trail and other trails that followed.

Off the Long View Peak Trail, we then followed Shy Bear to Fred's Railroad and then via the Quarry Trail to the Coal Creek Falls Trail. Coal Creek Falls was impressive with lots of water from recent rains and snow melt coming over the falls. After the falls, the trails were in good shape, with the Cave Hole and Red Town Trails being dry and hard packed (old road or railroad beds).

Weather was great, mild with just a bit of a rain shower near the end of the hike.

Statistics, 6.5 miles of walking, 1200 to 1500 feet of elevation gain and loss.

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Old Mans Trail Cougar - C11 #,By Pass Trail Cougar - C9 #,Fred's Railroad #COUGAR-C7,Long View Peak #COUGAR-S4,Deceiver #COUGAR-S3,Shy Bear #COUGAR-S2,Quarry #COUGAR-C6,Coal Creek Falls #COUGAR-C4,Cave Hole #COUGAR-C3,Nike Horse Trail COUGAR-C12 — Apr 26, 2008 — Alpine Art

Day hike

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I took this 7.5 to 8.0 mile loop in Cougar Mt. Park as a tune up hike for several planned...

I took this 7.5 to 8.0 mile loop in Cougar Mt. Park as a tune up hike for several planned summer hikes including a traverse of Rattlesnake Ridge.

Saturday turned out warm and pleasant and a great day to be out. My allergies which had been bothering me did not affect the hike which took about 3.5 hours with two breaks at Longs Peak and Far Country Look Out.

Lots of people were out with pets, trail running, or their children. The most notable parts of the hike were low land flowers and a deer family on the Cave Hole trail. The attached photos are of Skunk Cabbage near Doughty Falls and Phlox on the Coal Creek Falls Trail. Coal Creek Falls were as stunning as I have ever seen them.

All an all a great trip, with about 1200 to 1400 feet of elevation gain and loss. Trails were generally dry with some mud holes particularly on the horse use trails.

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Wilderness Creek #COUGAR-E6,Deceiver #COUGAR-S3,Shy Bear #COUGAR-S2,Wilderness Peak #COUGAR-E4,Wilderness Cliffs #COUGAR-E5 — Oct 27, 2007 — viggo

Day hike

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I was introduced to a for me new hiking guide : John Zilly's Beyond Mount Si. The best hikes within...

I was introduced to a for me new hiking guide : John Zilly's Beyond Mount Si. The best hikes within 85 miles of Seattle.Looked really interesting and wanted to find out how accurate it was.Picked the 2 first hikes in the guide for this sunny Saturday.Close by Cougar Mnt was the choice.Both hikes was loop hikes.First hike started from Hw 900 Wilderness Creek TH,Hike followed Wilderness Creek Deceiver Shy Bear, Wilderness Peak, Wilderness Cliffs trails.Trail condion :Excellent.No views7 miles exploring included.

Met 3 hikers, 8 runners and 3 dogs ,no leaches.

These trails must be heaven for runners.

Total elevation 1800 feet.Book evaluation, see next hike.

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Long View Peak #COUGAR-S4,Deceiver #COUGAR-S3,Shy Bear #COUGAR-S2,Wilderness Peak #COUGAR-E4,Wilderness Cliffs #COUGAR-E5 — Jan 27, 2007 — AS#1Girl Scouts

Day hike

Issues: Blowdowns

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Climbed up beside a lively and chattering Wildeness Creek -- saw just enough snow to make one sno-cone. Blue skies!...

Climbed up beside a lively and chattering Wildeness Creek -- saw just enough snow to make one sno-cone. Blue skies! Sunshine! Pileated woodpecker! Machine noise from the gravel pit across the highway -- yuck. Turned left at Long View Peak trail and continued on for lunch at Doughty Falls -- the best part of the hike-- pretty, quiet, peaceful. Crews have been busy here -- dozens of blowdowns all neatly sliced away, but the layer of twigs left on the trail is thick enough to make the footing slippery in places.

Çontined west on Deceiver and then circled back east on Shy Bear trail. Encountered no serious blow-downs until starting up the Wilderness Peak Trail. They could all be scrambled over, under, or around with moderate effort. An angelic-looking Mt. Ranier was just visible through the trees coming down Wilderness Cliffs trail. Returned to the Wilderness Creek trailhead around 3 pm-- found cars lined up, waiting for a parking space. Gorgeous day.

AS#1 Girl Scouts

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Wilderness Creek #COUGAR-E6,Wilderness Cliffs #COUGAR-E5,Shy Bear #COUGAR-S2,Deceiver #COUGAR-S3,Quarry #COUGAR-C6 — May 13, 2006 — Flora

Day hike

Issues: Bugs

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Bill W and I started from the Wilderness Creek TH off Hwy 900 and ascended the trail through cool vibrant...

Bill W and I started from the Wilderness Creek TH off Hwy 900 and ascended the trail through cool vibrant green forest, layered with blooming shrubs and myriads of tiny wildflowers. We climbed to the junction with Shy Bear and then hiked to Long View Peak (which doesn't have a view!). Then followed through quiet forest on the Deceiver Ridge to Far Country. Had lunch at Far Country, with a hazy view out towards Lake Washington and distant Cascade peaks. Descended towards Indian Trail and then turned back uphill on Quarry Trail. We took another break at Coal Creek Falls and then climbed back to Shy Bear Pass. We completed our long skinny loop as we climbed the Wilderness Peak Trail and then dropped down the steepish Wilderness Cliffs back to Wilderness Creek, pretty much encompassing the entire southern end of Cougar, with the exception of the De Leo Wall area.

The trails are in great shape and the forest was quite magical in its delicate spring beauty. The people we met were pleasant; a variety of trailrunners and hikers, young and old. There were some interesting pooches, including a very furry malamute and some labradoodles, black and white.

This area is a great resource and treasure, thanks to the work of Harvey Manning, the Mountaineers and numerous volunteer trail maintenance individuals, as well as the K.C. Parks Department. My friend and I were able to get in a good work out, with 9 miles, 2000+ gain, without driving miles and miles. It's a great place for beginning hikers and folks with children. I especially love this more ""wild"" side of Cougar. It's sometimes hard to visualize that you're just within a mile or so of some big tract home neighborhoods and the Pugetopolis. Quiet sounds, running streams, bird calls and the gentle breeze through trees. Nice place.

Some early bugs showing up, but no bites yet. Trails are dampish in spots but not swampy. Lots of western bleeding heart, miner's lettuce, elderberry, salmonberry, solomon's seal, serviceberry, wild strawberry, Oregon grape, herb Robert, and red huckleberry (trillium and currants are over blooming).

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