Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Highlands Loop - Newcastle, May Creek Trail & CrossTown Trail - Newcastle — Monday, Jan. 30, 2023

My hiking group had a great urban winter hike today starting at Lake Boren Park. The restrooms were open, clean and stocked with supplies. It was a crisp 27 degrees when we started walking at 9:15 with clear blue skies. Our 6.3 mile loop started on the Newcastle trails and on up into Cougar Mtn Regional Park.  We followed the Powerline trail south from Lake Boren and then went left on the May Creek trail.  Once we reached Coal Creek Parkway we crossed over and took the Highland trail and went up past the old DeLeo homestead on an unmarked trail at the base of DeLeo.  After crossing into Cougar Mtn Trail system we followed the lower trail to the DeLeo Wall viewpoint and north to the Crosstown Trail reentering the Newcastle trail system.  We stopped for a mini rest / break at 11:15 near the viewpoint.  All the trails were frozen or with frost heaves but no real slippery areas, we only had to step over two downed trees.  Trail traffic was super light, we saw only one trail runner on our entire route.  At the Beit Tikvah temple we we followed SE 79th Pl back down to Coal Creek Park Way and made our way around the north end of Lake Boren past Aegis Gardens.  We saw many bird species; creepers, juncos and crows and around Lake Boren - red winged blackbirds, grebes, egrets and ducks.  Another fantastic day to be out in nature with friends.