Coal Creek Falls, Cave Hole & Red Town Meadow & Trails — Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

With all the recent snow, I'd figure I'd tromp out to Coal Creek Falls to attempt to get a good picture (the previous 4 tries turned out awful). And with all the recent snow, there was more mud at than you could shake a stick at. Coal Creek is full at the falls now, so while we have clear skies, it's a good destination (though there is...or was still quite a bit of snow around the falls). I originally intented on doing a loop from the Cave Holes trail to the falls and then out via the Red Town trail, but IT WAS GONE!!! There is supposed to be a short connector between the falls and the Quarry Trail, but after walking for 1/4 mile and two switchbacks that I never remembered seeing before, I had to wonder what happened...so I went back the way I came. After I also poked my nose at North Fork Falls just down the S+WW RR trail leading downstream. Nice flow now. Also, had to kill a few frames and some daylight, so I poped over to Weowna Park in between 148th and W LK Sammamish Pkwy. It's a thin park off of NE 166th (I think). I found a small waterfall there on the outlet of Phantom Lake once a while back, so I returned to investigate. And I found a beautifully developed trail system around the canyon, a pair of waterfalls (very small), one even with a viewing deck, connecting trails between W LK Sam Pkwy and 166th. A great park. Check it out if you've got a few hours some day. Good place for kids.