Sky Country, Military Road, Cave Hole, Coyote Creek, Fred's Railroad, East Fork, Tibbett's Marsh, Harvey Manning Trail & Lost Beagle — Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

My 3rd hike of the fall season to Cougar Mtn was a great one. After weeks of mostly gray skies and rain it felt great to have blue skies overhead all day.  We started from the Redtown trailhead at 9:00.  The lot was half full and the 2 porta potties had recently been serviced when we pulled in.  We made a 7.5 mile route following Military Rd, Sky Country, Old Man’s, Cave Hole, By Pass, Freed’s RR, East Fork, Tibbett’s Marsh, Cougar Pass, Harvey Manning, Lost Beagle, Klondike Swamp, Coyote Creek, and Cave Hole Trails back to the Redtown TH.  All the trails are saturated well drained soil.  KC Parks were out working on several trails.  They had service trucks and other equipment parked on the Cave Hole and Redtown trails.  We passed several larger groups from dog walking groups to organized cancer survivor hiking groups.  For the most part the trails seemed uncrowded.  I like this time of year when most of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves and skies views are more prevalent. A few fun fall mushrooms and fungi are sprouting up.  Wildlife sightings were limited to bush tits, wrens, juncos and robins.  Folks were pulling when we drove out at 1:35.  Another amazing day out in nature with friends.