Coal Creek Falls — Sunday, Mar. 4, 2012

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

Snuck out of the house early for a little birthday walk. Weather was supposed to be good but by the time I arrived at the Red Town trail head it was raining pretty good. I had never done any of the hikes from this side of Cougar. I took the Cave Hole trail up to the Coal Creek Falls trail, down along the Quarry trail then back to the trail head via the Red Town trail making a nice little loop, (grab a map at the trail head and just keep turning right.) The falls isn't super huge but still definitely worth seeing, especially when it's big in winter and spring. There is a neat boulder wall along the Quarry trail before it runs into the Red Town trail. A bunch of spring birds are out already - lots of Robins looking for breakfast and a bit annoyed I was following them down the trail. The entire walk is in the area between Cougar and Newcastle proper so it's really quiet - no road or neighborhood noise. Even though it was raining much of the way, the trail was in good condition and easily passable even for little ones. Sorry no pics since it was so wet out.