Saw a garter snake! At first it freaked me out but was able to collect myself and take a photo of the little guy! Trail was in perfect condition, mostly dry, and not muddy. Got there around noon and there were a few cars parked. Saw a few friendly people and had a great time. Took the wilderness cliffs trail up and did a counter clockwise loop back down by the wilderness creek trail. Took me about 2 hours total with all my stops to enjoy the scenery. Very cool boulders and a nice little cave if you need to hide from the rain for a bit! Beautiful ferns as well. Some pops of purple flowers (wildflowers?). There was one mosquito that followed me the entire trip and his buzzing really erked me so next time I will bring bug spray! Happy hiking!

I did the extended loop plus an extension out-and-back to Coal Creek Falls (adding 1.5 miles), for a total of 9 miles and 1800' elevation gain.  Even without Coal Creek Falls, the extended loop adds 400' down and 500' up as you descend to Shy Bear Marsh and then go over Long View Peak. Although a few muddy spots, it's easy to step to the side of them. The many boardwalks at the marsh and Whittaker/E4 trail were scenic and fun. All the intersections are well signed. Take the King County map (linked below) with you (or take a picture of map at trailhead).

I recommend the counterclockwise direction as described by WTA. The Whittaker/E4 trail below Shy Bear Pass is steep and rough compared to the better shape Gombu/E5 trail. Someone with clippers could clear some shrubs and branches near the E4 trail. Doughty Falls is smaller than Coal Creek Falls but easily worth the short side path. Trees block the view from the Long View Peak bench. Shy Bear Marsh is mostly unseen, except where the trail crosses it on the west end.

The parking lot had only 3 cars at 8:20 am on Friday.  By 1 pm it had 10 with a few spaces still open. There's one porta potty.

Bugs were absent much of the hike although a few times a non-touch nuisance. A couple flies landed on skin near the peak and along the Shy Bear Marsh. No stings, just annoying.

Flowers are plentiful. White and purple trillium, bleeding heart, false Solomon's seal. Even the salal and Oregon grape sported flowers. At the marsh were skunk cabbage beginning to bloom (and smell for better or worse).

Beware the stinging nettles along the first half mile of trail. At the top are huge devil's club but those are obviously no-touch.

Lots of pretty moss and ferns on trees and big boulders (licorice fern) plus sword and bracken throughout the forest floor. The vine maples have half-opened leaves. Soon the forest will feel more "full" with the leaves.

Lots of bird sounds. Saw a pileated woodpecker (red head) flying near the marsh, and heard one at a distance. Junkos hopped along the trail in front of me partway up the peak.  Other than that only slugs and a caterpillar and occassionally a human or two (some with quiet dogs).

No berries yet but in a month you'll have Salmonberries galore followed by red huckleberries.

We had a fantastic spring hike to Wilderness Peak today from the Whittaker Trailhead off Hwy 900. One car was in the TH lot when we pulled in just before 9:00.  It was 49 degree with sunny skies.  The Th porta potty was smelly but had TP.  This is a great hike because you get a great workout from the outset as you head straight up hill on short zigzag switchback sections.  We followed the Wilderness Creek & Whittaker Wilderness Peak trails to Shy Bear Pass.  Continuing on we wound up to Wilderness Peak 1621’.  We took a short snack break on the Kuwai Family bench and filled out the peak trail log.  The entire trail was hard packed wet well drained soil, descending on the Wilderness Cliffs Trail it was steeper and a few more exposed rocks and roots.  Spring foliage and blooms were bursting out everywhere.  We saw fringe cup, miner’s lettuce, salmonberry,  yellow violets, Oregon grape, trillium, bleeding heart and stinky bob at peak bloom.  Trail traffic was super light we passed 2 solo trail runners and 2 other small groups and 2 dogs our entire time out.  When we pulled out of the TH lot at 12:25 only 2 cars parked there.  A great hike to avoid crowds.  Another great day out in nature with friends.

Not sure why this trail receives such mid ratings— perhaps everyone’s just a sl*t for a clear sweeping view. Can’t blame y’all! The bar is high for us spoiled Washingtonians BUT ~listen~ … this trail is just a half hour outside of the city, has some fantastic stands of old growth, you’re next to running creeks most of the time. It rambles and climbs with just enough strain to keep you engaged, but not wheezing for air. There’s giant boulders with epic mohawks of bright green fern. The trail crews have done some beautiful work helping you zig zag over creeks and marshes with cool raised platforms that make you feel like you’re doing something mischievous as you traverse them.

It’s a perfect jaunt for a sleepy Sunday when you’re not sure if you realllly have the energy to get out. Just go. Mope somewhere prettier and maybe even allow your mind to be changed a little.

And ~yes~ I know my photos are ‘shopped to heck! If you want realism you’ll have to— you guessed it— go on the hikeee 🎶🎵

The trail is in excellent condition except for one pesky windfall on the Wilderness Creek trail.  I spent 30 min clearing it up and now it's in pretty good shape.  Lots of trillium blooming now.  Maples are just in the early stages of getting their leaves so the forest is still bright and sunny.

5.3 mi, 1300 ft