Cave Hole, Coal Creek Falls — Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

Cougar Mountain has many more interesting trails than I thought. Thanks to an article in Washington Trails magazine, I decided to try some of them. First was Coal Creek Park. The trail is signed "primitive" and "at your own risk" for some odd reason. You can roll a toddler's pram down it blindfolded and hardly hit a bump. There are interesting artifacts from coal mining days down there. On the east side of the road we explored the old townsite and mining relics. Lots of good signs with interesting historical information and old photos which add a lot to the visit. In fact, all the trails we found had excellent and frequent signs at every intersection. You still need a map, however, just like on Tiger Mountain, because there are so many trails lacing back and forth. We took a walk on the Wildside Trail up to Far Country Viewpoint. The viewpoint is overgrown, underused, and you can't see anything. From there we hiked the Shy Bear trail and ran into Mike's WTA crew having lunch. They've done some excellent trail refurbishment all along the Shy Bear trail. Long View Peak offered not much view and only a wobbly mossy half log to sit on for lunch. We returned via the Quarry and Coal Creek Falls trails and then down Cave Hole trail back to the car. There's lots more to explore on Cougar Mountain and it makes a great close in destination on which to keep in shape for the summer high country.