Did a quick later afternoon exercise hike on the east flank of Cougar via Talus Connector, up Bear Ridge, up West Tibbett's Creek with a side trip to the clay pit then back to Cougar Pass, up Harvey Manning to the Million Dollar View, then down all the way back to Talus via Shangri La.
The trails on the whole loop were in great condition. There are some remaining traces of snow on northeast-facing hillsides in the forest, but almost none on trail - the only exceptions are a brief & slightly slippery section right before the bridge just down from the Bear Ridge/West Tibb junction and a bit around the bridge across West Tibbett's creek just before Cougar Pass junction. Both bridges are a bit slippery but not too bad if taken slowly. All the mud on West Tibbetts was frozen today, and apart from that the trails were damp but never muddy.
Comments
trailmama on Bear Ridge, West Tibbett's Creek Trail (#COUGAR-E10) , Cougar Pass, Harvey Manning Trail, Shangri La
What trailhead did you park at to start this loop? I've been studying the map, but couldn't determine for sure. Thanks!
Posted by:
trailmama on Feb 27, 2022 07:38 AM
Cascade Yeti on Bear Ridge, West Tibbett's Creek Trail (#COUGAR-E10) , Cougar Pass, Harvey Manning Trail, Shangri La
I live in the Talus neighborhood so I accessed this without driving. However to arrive by car and access the Shangri La Trail at it's east end or the Talus connector to the Bear Ridge Trail, I think the optimal parking is the parallel parking pullout on the right side of Foothills Drive NW right after the NW Stoney Creek Drive junction or alternatively there's a bunch of street parking on both sides of Shangri-La Way NW immediately south of the NW Talus Drive junction. If doing an in-and-out via just Shangri La there are also some pullouts further up Foothills Drive NW closer to the stairs leading to the Shangri La trail.
If you are feeling like more exercise, there is also a trailhead with parking for about 3 cars down where the Bear Ridge trail meets SR-900, but I would caution that that trailhead seems to be a target for car break-ins - unfortunately that seems to be a growing problem for all the Issaquah-area trailheads lately.
And lastly if you don't mind starting your hike at the high point, there is the large Harvey Manning Trailhead right next to the Million Dollar View spur trail up at Anti-Aircraft Peak.
Posted by:
Grey Cell Green on Feb 27, 2022 08:13 AM
trailmama on Bear Ridge, West Tibbett's Creek Trail (#COUGAR-E10) , Cougar Pass, Harvey Manning Trail, Shangri La
Thanks very much for taking the time to give me all of this detail. I do appreciate it! Sounds like you live in a great neighborhood with trail access! Nice!
Posted by:
trailmama on Feb 27, 2022 07:29 PM