Another pack-training hike today, this time along the Coal Creek Trail. We started at the Red Cedar/western trailhead on Coal Creek Parkway SE and took the Coal Creek Trail to the Red Town trailhead, though we took the Primrose Trail on the way back where the trail splits. 

THE ROAD / PARKING

We got to the trailhead around 9:30. It was a gloomy Saturday, and we got one of the last few spots, though there were several open spots when we returned around 12:15. 

There are 2 port-a-potties at the trailhead. The one I used was in pretty good shape, with plenty of toilet paper, though the hand sanitizer dispenser is out of service. 

THE TRAIL

The trails were overall in alright shape, though incredibly muddy today. It rained on and off today on our hike, and it was noticeably more muddy on our hike back to the car, so I was really glad to have my poles. The box steps we came across were waterlogged, and some of the steeper trails were pretty slippery. 

Other than the mud, there isn't a whole lot to say about the trail. With the rain upcoming, I'd bring poles if you're clumsy like me, and keep an extra pair of socks and dry shoes in the car. 

MISC.

All of the falls we passed were rushing today! The ones at the top of the Primrose Trail were literally shooting out like a firehose a couple of feet out. It was very cool, though difficult to capture in a photo (got a nice video though). 

We took our time today (why not get used to carrying the 35+ pounds, right?) so read all of the interpretive signs and looked around at the cool stuff there was to see. Unfortunately, some of the wind storms seem to have taken down a few trees that have affected a couple of the features (the train turntable and the log flume in particular). The signs were all still there though, and super interesting to read about the vegetation, ecosystem, and history of the mining in the area. 

It was pretty quiet, though we did run into a number of folks. For the most part, we had the trail to ourselves. This is really a great hike for a rainy day. 

Lovely! Rich history, and we saw a mama bear and babe up a Douglas fir!

Hiked Red Town Trailhead to Coal Creek Pkwy and back. The main trail is completely clear (no obstacles). The Primrose segment has two trees down, both about 8-10" in diameter. One is flat on the trail and you can step over it. The other (not in the same spot) is above the trail with enough room to either stoop/crawl under it or swing a leg over. I'm five feet tall and I could swing a leg, sit on it, then swing the other leg. Children and dogs will be able to go under comfortably. There's also one segment of the informational/learning trail near Red Town that has some thin branches down across the trail, but they can be walked around.

Fairly little mud, nothing thick, and no other issues.

Trail is overall in great condition except for some muddy spots and two spots where there were trees across the trail due to the latest storms.

Our group of senior hikers met at Redtown in Cougar Mountain Park for a hike on the Coal Creek and Primrose Trails. We crossed over Lakemont Blvd. SE to begin our hike. There is a kiosk nearby that shows some photos of the area during the coal mining days with some maps of the area. We passed by the site of the former 65 room Coal Creek Hotel (later changed to the Newcastle Hotel). Further along we came to North Fork Falls on the north fork of Coal Creek. The Coal Creek Trail goes up hill as it stays on the old railroad grade used by the coal trains. The are interpretive signs along the trail with the history of the area. At the first main junction we turned right and headed down the Primrose Trail which came back down to Coal Creek. The trail follows along the creek and crosses over it two times on heavy duty foot bridges.

When we got back to the Coal Creek Trail, we hiked it passed another big bridge over a side creek that has a waterfall. We turned around and hiked back to the junction with the Primrose Trail and turned right and headed up hill through some switchbacks. The Coal Creek Trail comes out below some apartment houses before getting to a side trail going the local YMCA. Further along we found some fallen trees for a lunch time seat. The sun had come out with the temp at 55F. After eating we headed back to Redtown to complete our hike. We met a few other hikers and one couple whose dog went for a swim in Coal Creek at North Fork Falls. Made for a nice hike between rainstorms.

For old-time photos, maps and history of the area, see the book, "The Coals of Newcastle, A Hundred Years of Hidden History", by Richard K. McDonald and Lucille McDonald. This book gives the history of coal mining on and under Cougar Mtn. where coal was mined for 100 years from 1863 to 1963. Eleven million tons of coal was taking out of Cougar Mtn. George