Coal Creek Falls, Cave Hole & Fred's Railroad — Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

Coal Creek Falls is one of the highlights of Cougar Mt. Park. I have often hiked from AA Peak and Red Town trail heads in loops that include these falls. The opening of the Sky Country trail head offers new opportunities to loop through the falls area as well as using a paved parking area as part of the trail head. The loop I chose on this day went from Sky Country via the Old Man Trail to the Cave Hole Trail then via the By Pass Trail to Fred’s Railroad and from Fred’s RR to the Quarry Trail and then via the Coal Creek Falls Trail back the the Cave Holes Trail with the final leg of the trip on the Nike Horse Trail. The trails were all in good shape with no mud holes but with recent horse activity and the normal deposits from said activity on the By Pass and Nike Horse trails in particular. I did not see the horse or horses but the signs of passing were fresh. Other than this there were no problems on the trail and the weather was superb! Sun and mild temperatures. I did not see people on the trails from Fred’s Railroad until I came to the falls were a young family was eating lunch. Trip length about 3 miles with about 400 feet elevation gain.