Military Ridge E14Recent Trip Reports
Hiked here recently?
Submit a trip report!
There are
1
trip reports for this hike.
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
This is the second time I have tried this hike after first seeing it on the King County Map of...
This is the second time I have tried this hike after first seeing it on the King County Map of Cougar Mountain. The hike is a challenge to route finding skills as much of the hike lies outside the park boundaries. Since my last trip to this area, the park has put up signs and done trail work on the Red Cedars and Military Ridge Trails, however, once outside the Park directions to other trails in the loop become non-existent or sketchy.
Having said all this, it was worth exploration of the area. The "Precipice" from Big Tree Trail is impressive and this trail is how I finally solved the puzzle of the route. My first attempt was to take Military Ridge down, this trail appears to end in a park - playground in the Talus development and I could not find the Precipice Bottom trail - it turns out to be there but hidden by a construction berm. So back up to the Big Tree Trail and down it, about 0.6 miles down this trail I came to a small sign noting Talus 0.5 miles Rough Trail. I took a chance that this was the correct trail and started on what proved to be the Precipice Bottom Trail (no sign noting it as such). The Precipice Bottom Trail is very rough in places, with short steep pitches, a section that is angled on hard pan (clay) which would likely be very nasty in wet weather. The trail ends just after the third drainage/creek crossing on a small bridge and back at the park - playground area. These trails are not hiked frequently and are in the noise zone of I-90 but offer solace and challenge. My guess is that I covered about 6 miles and 1200 feet of elevation gain/loss in the trek. Many thanks to King County for the additional trail work and signage. These trails need some upgrading, but are not overly difficult once you find the route and the weather is not too wet. |
|
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
