Nike Horse Trail, Cave Hole, Coal Creek Falls, Quarry, Indian Trail, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Fred's Railroad & Old Miners Trail — Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2017

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

This was the THREE FALLS loop hike on Cougar Mountain with a group of hikers from the Snoqualmie Valley Trails Club. We began the hike from the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot. Started on the Nike Horse Trail down to the Cave Hole Trail, then to the junction with the Coal Creek Falls Trail. Down at the falls the water was flowing fast with all of the rain we have been having this Spring. After a few photos it was up hill to meet the Quarry Trail. Then back down hill with a couple of switchbacks to the junction with the Indian Trail. We took the short side trail down to see Far Country Falls which is flowing under Vine Maple trees and rocks covered with moss. A little further along the Indian Trail we took the Shy Bear Trail up hill past the Far Country Viewpoint. On this trail we saw the new King County Parks info sign with photos for the old steam donkey logging relic next to the trail. It was about lunch time when we came to the large fallen Cottonwood tree by the trail. With the rain coming down, we took a short lunch break before moving on down the trail to the junction with the Deceiver Trail. Then it was uphill to the junction with the side trail down to view Doughty Falls, the third one on our loop hike. Then back up and down to meet the Wilderness Trail, aka Whittaker Trail. We now were back on the Shy Bear Trail going northwest to meet Fred's Railroad Trail. We hiked Fred's almost out to the Clay Pit Road, then turned left down the C9 Trail to get over to the Old Miner's Trail through the old US Army Nike missile base and back to the parking lot to complete our 7 mile loop with about 1,400' gain. With all the rain we have been having, the trails were wet with mud and puddles along the way. It rained off and on during our hike, but let up once back to the trailhead parking lot. We never saw any other hikers on our trip, only four trail runners. Some flowers were starting to come out. The only animals we saw were some slugs slithering down the trails. Also lots of moss in some areas. All three falls are nice to see this time of year.