Coal Creek Trail — Friday, May. 9, 2003

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

This is a great hike in Spring with the creek flowing, birds singing and the sun flowing through the trees. The total distance is about 6 miles round trip which can be easily done in 2 to 2.5 hours with breaks to see the two falls in route. Coal Creek was running ""high"" on Saturday, at least with as much water as I have seen in the creek. Kids and dogs were splashing in the lower part of the creek. Low land flowers are nearing their peak so it was a good time to see much of the flora while walking. The falls Sandstone and North Fork are well worth seeing. There were some good sized mud holes on the Primrose trail but in general the trail was in excellent shape considering the rain we have had this spring. Only cautions are to be careful crossing Coal Creek Parkway - more like a ""speedway"" than a Parkway. The trail continues toward Lake Washington but caution needs to be taken to cross Coal Creek Parkway.