As a family, we have been up Whittaker Wilderness Peak many times starting in 2004.  However as we age some of the family are no longer able to do the hike from the Wilderness Peak Trailhead.  I decided to try it from Sky Country Trailhead.  I knew the elevation would be less and the distance slightly less.

Getting There: From Lakemont Blvd  SE, turn left at a light onto SE Cougar Mountain Way, turn right at 166^th Way SE, follow it to almost the yellow metal gate, turn right just before it into parking lot and the Sky Country Trailhead (1188 ft or 362 m).

Trailhead parking is spacious with room for even vehicles pulling horse trailers. There are two port-a-potties, one ADA accessible. They are located near the entrance (towards NW corner of the lot).  Near the SE corner a wide, well-graveled trail begins and almost immediate there is an information kiosk with a map and warnings about pits and mines.  There is also a short trail from near the NE corner that takes you to the Clay Pit Road.

 I took followed the Clay Pit Road to Fred’s Railroad trail, then the Shy Bear Trail and almost at Shy Bear Pass, I took a left to the new Wilderness Peak trail. Part way up this trail, there are peekaboo views towards the south – in the winter, it is only the stems of the alder and the maple that interfere.  Now leaves and stems interfere, but full leaf-out is several weeks away so there are still 'views.'  I reached the top after weaving in and out of small ridges and valleys and the very nice bench and ‘peak’ register.  When we first came there was no bench, then a memorial bench appeared, aged gracefully, and was recently replaced with a new bench still built out of wood, but it has a greater durability look.  The bench and its memorial message are a fitting end to the ascent of this viewless peak (~1,600 ft). Both the bench and the register are maintained by the Mukai Family.

I retraced my steps, but just before Fred’s trail intersects the Clay Pit Road, I turned left on the Bypass Trail C9, then when it intersects the Cave Hole Trail C3, I went right and shortly ended up on the Clay Pit road and the trailhead parking lot.  Today's weather (hazy sun, some humidity, warm with a gentle breeze) coupled with the forested aspect of this hike provide elements for a forest bath.  There are certain segments that are much more effective (eg., the Bypass Trail and the new Wilderness Peak Trail).  The previous Wilderness Peak trail was rated as intermediate in difficulty; the new one rates highly in the easy category. 

Not many people (or dogs).  Did see one father feeding his infant son by a small stream.  The very young child fixed his eyes on me and followed me as I walked by.  Lots of well-mannered and well controlled dogs.

Flowers were good.  Most abundant were miner's lettuce and bleeding heart, then there was fragrant fringecut (lots) and piggy-back plant (some).  The creeping blackberry was in bloom, lots of possible berries in the future.  Discouraging was the presence of Herb Robert (or stinky bob), even on the relatively new Wilderness Peak Trail, some ivy, and some holly.  Almost no trash and no easily seen evidence of break-ins.

This is a much more gentle and easier (and at time boring) way to reach Whittaker Wilderness Peak.  Driving is also easier also and because the road is a dead-end, no evidence of break-ins.. 

Main lot was full at 8:15 am, but there were still spots in the horse trailer lot and along the road. Slightly muggy but generally nice conditions in the morning for a trail run. All trails were in pretty good shape. Saw many kinds of wildflowers, an almost completely unfazed deer, and a couple of little black snakes (slithered away too fast for a certain ID). Quite a few folks out; love to see it!

Cougar Mountain Regional Park is alive with spring, wild flowers are blooming, frogs are croaking and birds are singing in the trees.  Today I made a 3 waterfalls loop starting from the Redtown trailhead. Only 3 parking spots were left when I pulled in at 11:10 AM.  The 2 Porta Potties were last cleaned on 3/3 and were still stocked with TP and hand sanitizer.  My 7.2 mile loop followed the Redtown, Cave Hole, Coal Creek, Quarry, Fred’s Railroad, Shy Bear, Longview Peak, Deceiver, Shy Bear, Indian and Wildside Trails in a clockwise loop.

                           Coal Creek Falls

Coal Creeks Falls area was over run with a group of moms and 5 young kids out enjoying the day so I kept hiking.  Once I got on the Shy Bear / Deceiver Trails trail traffic really thinned out and was limited to 4 hikers and 2 trail runners. Doughty and Far Country Falls I had all to myself.

                         Doughty Falls

                                   Far Country Falls

The spring wildflower bloom is underway. I saw coltsfoot, Indian plum, yellow violets, trillium and salmon berries in bloom.  Miner’s lettuce and bleeding heart will not be too far behind.

                                  Trillium

                                  Coltsfoot

King County Parks and WTA trail work volunteers have worked hard to improve drainage on several of the trails that I used today.  There were no soggy or muddy areas to walk through. Overgrown areas of blackberry vines have been whacked back on Indian and Cave Hole trails.  Wildlife sightings were limited to a lone chipmunk, juncos, wrens, robins and I heard woodpeckers knocking in 3 different areas.  The Redtown lot was about 1/3 full when I pulled out at 2:20.  Another fantastic day out in nature.

We had a great loop hike from Sky Country Trailhead on Cougar Mtn today.  It was 37  degrees with over cast skies when we started walking just before 10:00AM.   6 cars were in the lot when we pulled in and the 2 Porta Potties were in the process of being cleaned. Our 6.5 mile loop followed the Horse Trail to Cave Hole, then left on Coal Creek Falls Tr, left on Quarry back uphill to Fred’s Railroad Tr where we took another left. At the Clay pit road we crossed over to the Klondike Swamp Tr , took a right on the Cougar Pass Connector Tr and then left on Harvey Manning Tr up to the Million View Pagoda.  After a short lunch rest break in the covered picnic shelter we  headed back to Sky Country TH going north on Shangri La Tr to Coyote Creek and Old Man’s Tr.  All the trails were wet but well drained.  New side drainage channels on Cave Hole Trail are great improvements. Coal Creek Falls are back to their spectacular winter pour off. The weather forecast for the day was rain showers but we managed to miss any precipitation getting back to our vehicles at 1:15.  A King County Parks worker was out with a blower clearing any loose  tree debris on the Klondike Trail.  There was evidence of many recent tree blow downs but all were cleared.  Thanks KC Parks Crews!  Trail traffic was super light less than 10 people the entire time we were out. Many bird species were out flitting in the trees and underbrush today.  We saw chickadees, bush tits, robins, juncos and crows.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.

This WED 08Feb2023 ~08:00, i arrived at the Harvey Manning Trailhead for a ~2 hrs, ~4.6 miles of CW_Loop walk: (M) Million Dollar View > Shangri-La Tr > Tibbetts Marsh Tr > Clay Pit Road > Mine Shaft Tr > East Fork Tr > Fred Railroad Tr > Klondike Swamp Tr > Coyote Creek Tr > Shangri-La Tr > (M)

Saw a family of happy ~10 Mallards in Jerry's Duckpond (beside the Mine Shaft Tr - East Fork Tr) 😄 And 1 chipmunk. Saw no other wildlife ..

The Trails were well-maintained, in good condition and had a few muddy spots - passable though.

Didn't see any one until when i got back to the parking at ~10:00; when a SUV followed by Light-Truck came. And so i had the woods - peace and quiet - all to myself for ~2 hrs .. such sweet solitude 👍😊

Happy Trails Everyone 😄