I was introduced to a for me new hiking guide : John Zilly's Beyond Mount Si. The best hikes within 85 miles of Seattle.Looked really interesting and wanted to find out how accurate it was.Picked the 2 first hikes in the guide for this sunny Saturday.Close by Cougar Mnt was the choice.Both hikes was loop hikes.First hike started from Hw 900 Wilderness Creek TH,Hike followed Wilderness Creek Deceiver Shy Bear, Wilderness Peak, Wilderness Cliffs trails.Trail condion :Excellent.No views7 miles exploring included. Met 3 hikers, 8 runners and 3 dogs ,no leaches. These trails must be heaven for runners. Total elevation 1800 feet.Book evaluation, see next hike.

Starting at the Connector (very muddy parking) I joined the Wilderness Cliffs trail in about 15 minutes. Then took the short route to Wilderness Peak. Down a little know trail to the East Fork and then to the Claypit. From there took the Black Water back to Wilderness to complete the loop. I ran into a couple with a dog who did not understand the leash law concept and attempted to call their dog with no success whatever. This was pretty annoying as the large dog tried repeatedly to jump at me and I did a lot of yelling. They tried to follow me down ""my"" trail but eventually I lost them. Why are the dog owners so clueless and feel they are above the rules?? yuk Nice loop about 3 hours round trip

The last report on this trail was in early 2006 and the last time I was on it was in April 2006 so just a brief update. It was a very foggy day so things were damp but there was very little mud. I should know who does the work on this trail but the work certainly shows. I will include one photo of that work but the list goes from clearing blow-downs to shaved logs placed beside the trail for sitting on. I offer my sincere thank you to those responsible for all of the hard work. For me, this remains a favorite ""training trail"" along with snow sports to keep me in shape for spring through fall hiking. I expected a mess but instead had a nice trip and only one other hiker offered me much needed solitude.

Climbed up beside a lively and chattering Wildeness Creek -- saw just enough snow to make one sno-cone. Blue skies! Sunshine! Pileated woodpecker! Machine noise from the gravel pit across the highway -- yuck. Turned left at Long View Peak trail and continued on for lunch at Doughty Falls -- the best part of the hike-- pretty, quiet, peaceful. Crews have been busy here -- dozens of blowdowns all neatly sliced away, but the layer of twigs left on the trail is thick enough to make the footing slippery in places. Çontined west on Deceiver and then circled back east on Shy Bear trail. Encountered no serious blow-downs until starting up the Wilderness Peak Trail. They could all be scrambled over, under, or around with moderate effort. An angelic-looking Mt. Ranier was just visible through the trees coming down Wilderness Cliffs trail. Returned to the Wilderness Creek trailhead around 3 pm-- found cars lined up, waiting for a parking space. Gorgeous day. AS#1 Girl Scouts

Bill W and I started from the Wilderness Creek TH off Hwy 900 and ascended the trail through cool vibrant green forest, layered with blooming shrubs and myriads of tiny wildflowers. We climbed to the junction with Shy Bear and then hiked to Long View Peak (which doesn't have a view!). Then followed through quiet forest on the Deceiver Ridge to Far Country. Had lunch at Far Country, with a hazy view out towards Lake Washington and distant Cascade peaks. Descended towards Indian Trail and then turned back uphill on Quarry Trail. We took another break at Coal Creek Falls and then climbed back to Shy Bear Pass. We completed our long skinny loop as we climbed the Wilderness Peak Trail and then dropped down the steepish Wilderness Cliffs back to Wilderness Creek, pretty much encompassing the entire southern end of Cougar, with the exception of the De Leo Wall area. The trails are in great shape and the forest was quite magical in its delicate spring beauty. The people we met were pleasant; a variety of trailrunners and hikers, young and old. There were some interesting pooches, including a very furry malamute and some labradoodles, black and white. This area is a great resource and treasure, thanks to the work of Harvey Manning, the Mountaineers and numerous volunteer trail maintenance individuals, as well as the K.C. Parks Department. My friend and I were able to get in a good work out, with 9 miles, 2000+ gain, without driving miles and miles. It's a great place for beginning hikers and folks with children. I especially love this more ""wild"" side of Cougar. It's sometimes hard to visualize that you're just within a mile or so of some big tract home neighborhoods and the Pugetopolis. Quiet sounds, running streams, bird calls and the gentle breeze through trees. Nice place. Some early bugs showing up, but no bites yet. Trails are dampish in spots but not swampy. Lots of western bleeding heart, miner's lettuce, elderberry, salmonberry, solomon's seal, serviceberry, wild strawberry, Oregon grape, herb Robert, and red huckleberry (trillium and currants are over blooming).