Everyone was out on the trails at Cougar Mtn Regional Park today!  What a great day to ring in the new year with time in nature.  We pulled into the Redtown TH at 9:00 and barely found spots to park.  It was a cool 38 degrees with frost on the ground and mostly clearing skies.  The Porta Potties were open with limited supplies.  We made 7.5 mile loop following Redtown Creek, Military Road, Sky Country, Old Man’s Tr, Coyote Creek, Shangrila, Tibbett’s Marsh, Harvey Manning, Cougar Pass and Cave Hole Trails.  All the trails were muddy and fairly clear of branches and tree debris.  Everywhere you saw evidence of recent trail clearing with chainsaw dust and trees sticking out at odd angles.  We did have to step over 4+ logs that have yet to be cleared.  The sun was out and Mt Baker and the snowy Cascades were in perfect view from the Million Dollar Pagoda.  Just before noon we ate a snack at one of the covered picnic shelters at the Harvey Manning Trail Head.  The Porta Potty at this area is now gone and there were signs on the Restroom  building indicated that it was “Out of Order”. Plan to Green Door it you hike in that area.  It felt great to feel the suns warmth for the first time in weeks.  Trail traffic was supper busy on every trail - dog walkers, hikers and runners galore.  Everyone was courteous and stepped aside to let others pass by.  We intentionally avoided the 3  waterfall trails expecting they would be more crowded on a Holiday weekend and fantastic winter weather day.  Arriving back at Redtown TH at 1:00 the lot was jammed with a row of cars parked in the middle and people circling the lot hoping to find parking spaces.  Another fantastic day out in nature making trail memories with friends!

Today I hiked a great 6.8 mile loop on Cougar Mountain from the Redtown trailhead.  Ten cars were in the lot when I pulled in at 1:15.  It was 44 degrees with partially cloudy skies.  In a clockwise loop, I followed Military Road, Sky Country, Nike Horse Tr., Old Man’s Tr, Cave Hole, Coyote Creek, Klondike Swamp, Cougar Pass, Tibbett’s Marsh, East Fork, Fred’s Railroad, Quarry, Coal Creek, Cave Hole and Redtown Creek Trails.  Some trails seemed spotless (leaves blown off and side drainages diversions dug out) and many others were covered with a nice cushion duff of fallen maple and cottonwood trees.  There were several downed dead wood tree

Today I hiked a great 6.8 mile loop on Cougar Mountain from the Redtown trailhead.  Ten cars were in the lot when I pulled in at 1:15.  It was 44 degrees with partially cloudy skies.  In a clockwise loop I followed Military Road, Sky Country, Nike Horse Tr., Old Man’s Tr, Cave Hole, Coyote Creek, Klondike Swamp, Cougar Pass, Tibbett’s Marsh, East Fork, Fred’s Railroad, Quarry, Coal Creek, Cave Hole and Redtown Creek Trails.  Some trails seemed spotless (leaves blown off and side drainages diversions dug out) and many others were covered with a nice cushion duff of fallen maple and cottonwood leaves.  There were several downed dead wood tree trunks / branches to step over on Military Road, Sky Country Tr and the biggest a fir tree on Cave hole trail just past Redtown Creek Trail. I pushed off and cleared smaller branches that were easy to lift  in many places.  The last of the fall foliage color change still looked respectable on the Klondike Swamp Trail.  When I passed Sky Country Th just before 2:00 the lot looked 3/4 Full.  What I love about Cougar Mtn trail system is that there are so many trails it disperses all park users.  On the day I encountered 28 hikers and walkers.  The most being in the last 2 miles on the Coal Creek Trail loop. Wildlife sightings included: a Douglas squirrel, towhee, creeper and a woodpecker was tapping but not seen.  The water level is still extremely low and barely a trickle was flowing down below Coal Creek Falls.  At falls the headwaters on the East Fork Trail above the duckpond there was no standing water anywhere.  Every drop coming from the sky seems to be soaking into the soil.  A very encouraging territorial view at the clay pit. All the Cascade Mountains to the east were snow covered including Tiger Mtn summits. When I arrived back at Redtown at 4:20 22 cars were in the lot.  Another fantastic day to be out in nature. 

This is a nice forested loop on drizzly day.  Lots of Bleeding Heart blooming.  Everything is covered in green. Some mud but much better than Tiger Mtn Tr was a few days ago.

6+mi loop, 1000 ft.

we lost our dog on the coal creek trail, her name is tango she responds better to women than men and is skittish. She's a tricolor corgi please contact me if you find her or have any information thank you.

Clockwise loop starting at the Sky Country trailhead.

Access. Paved road and parking lot, portable toilets.

Conditions. Trails were all in good condition, only the Military Road trail had some mud pits.

Flora. Some salmonberry and skunk cabbage were starting to bloom.

Crowds. The parking lot was overflowing at 9am, incl more than a few trailer-less cars parked in the horse trailer parking area... Steady trickle of people running and/or walking their dogs, and even a WTA work party.