Coyote Creek, Old Man's Trail, Nike Horse Trail, Cave Hole, Coal Creek Falls, Quarry, Fred's Railroad, Klondike Swamp, Harvey Manning Trail & Shangri La — Monday, Feb. 13, 2023

We had a great loop hike from Sky Country Trailhead on Cougar Mtn today.  It was 37  degrees with over cast skies when we started walking just before 10:00AM.   6 cars were in the lot when we pulled in and the 2 Porta Potties were in the process of being cleaned. Our 6.5 mile loop followed the Horse Trail to Cave Hole, then left on Coal Creek Falls Tr, left on Quarry back uphill to Fred’s Railroad Tr where we took another left. At the Clay pit road we crossed over to the Klondike Swamp Tr , took a right on the Cougar Pass Connector Tr and then left on Harvey Manning Tr up to the Million View Pagoda.  After a short lunch rest break in the covered picnic shelter we  headed back to Sky Country TH going north on Shangri La Tr to Coyote Creek and Old Man’s Tr.  All the trails were wet but well drained.  New side drainage channels on Cave Hole Trail are great improvements. Coal Creek Falls are back to their spectacular winter pour off. The weather forecast for the day was rain showers but we managed to miss any precipitation getting back to our vehicles at 1:15.  A King County Parks worker was out with a blower clearing any loose  tree debris on the Klondike Trail.  There was evidence of many recent tree blow downs but all were cleared.  Thanks KC Parks Crews!  Trail traffic was super light less than 10 people the entire time we were out. Many bird species were out flitting in the trees and underbrush today.  We saw chickadees, bush tits, robins, juncos and crows.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.