Coal Creek Trail — Monday, Mar. 21, 2011

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

What a treat, after a winter of urban hikes on city sidewalks, the Wednesday Walkie Talkies were out on a good dirt trail among trees and alongside a stream! This area is NOT REALLY PART OF THE ISSAQUAH ALPS. This Coal Creek Trail is in the Coal Creek Natural Area, a City of Bellevue Park with the feel of a real forest. Historically interesting--some signs to explain the coal mining that took place here years ago, and artifacts along the way. The trail had some mud and some steep areas need widening, but someone has been working here--there were sturdy fences at overlooks and bridges across most of the streams, except where we took a side trail to visit the rest rooms at the YMCA (a beautiful facility). That stream was hard to cross! A surprise--we saw a few trillium! Here's a good source for finding the trail: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/coal-creek-natural-area/map We started our hike from the parking lot for Cougar Mountain Park, where there are porta-potties and a picnic table. Crossed the road to get to our trail; other trails start from here also. Drove I-90 to Exit 13, followed Lakemont Blvd SE several miles to parking lot on the left.