This was the THREE FALLS loop hike on Cougar Mountain with a group of hikers from the Snoqualmie Valley Trails Club. We began the hike from the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot. Started on the Nike Horse Trail down to the Cave Hole Trail, then to the junction with the Coal Creek Falls Trail. Down at the falls the water was flowing fast with all of the rain we have been having this Spring. After a few photos it was up hill to meet the Quarry Trail. Then back down hill with a couple of switchbacks to the junction with the Indian Trail. We took the short side trail down to see Far Country Falls which is flowing under Vine Maple trees and rocks covered with moss. A little further along the Indian Trail we took the Shy Bear Trail up hill past the Far Country Viewpoint. On this trail we saw the new King County Parks info sign with photos for the old steam donkey logging relic next to the trail. It was about lunch time when we came to the large fallen Cottonwood tree by the trail. With the rain coming down, we took a short lunch break before moving on down the trail to the junction with the Deceiver Trail. Then it was uphill to the junction with the side trail down to view Doughty Falls, the third one on our loop hike. Then back up and down to meet the Wilderness Trail, aka Whittaker Trail. We now were back on the Shy Bear Trail going northwest to meet Fred's Railroad Trail. We hiked Fred's almost out to the Clay Pit Road, then turned left down the C9 Trail to get over to the Old Miner's Trail through the old US Army Nike missile base and back to the parking lot to complete our 7 mile loop with about 1,400' gain. With all the rain we have been having, the trails were wet with mud and puddles along the way. It rained off and on during our hike, but let up once back to the trailhead parking lot. We never saw any other hikers on our trip, only four trail runners. Some flowers were starting to come out. The only animals we saw were some slugs slithering down the trails. Also lots of moss in some areas. All three falls are nice to see this time of year.

Did a quick trail run of these Cougar Mountain Trails this morning. Most important notes: Parking lot at Red Town Trailhead is mostly snow covered but I managed to get in and out fine with my Lancer. There were about five other vehicles there a mix between SUV's and sedans. All trails listed are snow covered (though the rain started around 10 AM). Near the summit of Cougar the trail was nearly knee deep in places. Fortunately there is now a path broken though through all of them. :) All trails have some new blowdowns though most are easy to get around but some will require a little effort to work around in the deeper snow. I did not use any traction devices with my trail runners.

Did some more exploring of the Cougar Mountain Area using these trails to make an 18 mile route. All trails are snow free and have no obstacles to negotiate. There aren't even any significantly muddy portions at this time. I really enjoyed the Coal Creek Trail with it's rich history and abundant signs giving info about the area.

A short walk with Coal Creek Falls as a goal and nice weather. We did the loop in about 2 hours including a lunch break. Trail conditions were excellent, not much mud, no snow or ice. Temperatures were cool but not too cold. Besides Fyio, we met several other groups with a dog. The nice weather had lots of folks out to enjoy the day and a walk.

Began my Cougar Mtn. loop hike from the Sky Country Trailhead by the old Nike missile base. The US Army had radar guided Nike missiles during the Cold War in case Soviet Bear bombers came in to bomb Seattle. There were several other Nike bases around the Puget Sound area during that time. After getting up to Fred's RR Trail I headed on it south to the junction with the East Fork Trail and hike it up to the small pond where the trail makes a horseshoe bend and becomes the Mine Shaft Trail. At the pond I took the short side trail over to the view point at the old Clay Pit where I could see to Tiger Mtn. and other peaks to the east. Further along I came to the grate covered air shaft for one of the Cougar Mtn. coal mines 1,200 feet under ground. When the mine was operating a large fan at the surface sucked out the bad gases, methane, CO and CO2. During the time that coal was mined from 1863 to 1963; 10.1 million tons of coal was taken out of Cougar Mtn. When I got to the Clay Pit Road I headed up it to the east. There were a few vehicles parked on the road at the west end of the pit. Some King County Parks rangers and a crew from AmeriCorp were planting trees at the old clay pit site. Today they were planting 700 trees to rehab the area. From the Clay Pit Road I hiked the Tibbett's Marsh Trail and crossed over Tibbett's Creek on a new foot bridge that was not there two years ago the last time I came through. I then took the Protector Trail over to the Shangri La Trail up to the Harvey Manning Trailhead (formerly the Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead). I stopped for lunch at the Million Dollar View picnic table for lunch. The view today was about a nickle! No Mt. Baker or even Lake Sammamish. After eating I hiked through the old US Army radar site, and went up the old cement concrete steps and the trail over to the junction with the Lost Beagle Trail through a hole in a section of old chain link fence from the Army base days. I went down the Lost Beagle Trail to get over to the Coyote Creek Trail, and took it back to the Clay Pit Road and the trailhead to complete my loop of six miles. The East Fork Trail does have some muddy/wet areas that could use some turnpikes. Only saw four other hikers on my trip and one trail runner, plus one douglas squirrel. No crowds on this hike. George