Reflective reading: “To live a spiritual life we must find the courage to enter the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude." -- Thomas Merton
"When real transformation does occur in someone's life, it usually happens through evolution, not revolution" --"Not knowing everything cannot be an excuse for not doing anything" -- "Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance" -- "How many people have put off the necessary, unglamorous work of building habits because they spend their lives waiting for an epiphany that never comes?" -- Eric Greitens
The number TWO (2) in Taoism represents the duality found in life (light/dark, fire/water, good/evil) and considers these complementary forces rather than oppositional, resulting in a synergy where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.
"When real transformation does occur in someone's life, it usually happens through evolution, not revolution" --"Not knowing everything cannot be an excuse for not doing anything" -- "Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance" -- "How many people have put off the necessary, unglamorous work of building habits because they spend their lives waiting for an epiphany that never comes?" -- Eric Greitens
The number TWO (2) in Taoism represents the duality found in life (light/dark, fire/water, good/evil) and considers these complementary forces rather than oppositional, resulting in a synergy where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.
Trail overview: This 10-mile trail winds along gravel and dirt paths through the heavily wooded and serene Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (CMRWP), passing three peaks, two waterfalls and one scenic overlook. Absolute elevation gain is less than a thousand feet (640' to 1430') but cumulative elevation gain/loss is quite a bit more. If you use hiking poles, be sure to bring them along. We recommend that you download or screenshot the trail description and trail map since part of the trail will likely be without cell coverage.
Trail highlights: CMRWP was former logging and coal mining territory, but nature has now had a half century to reclaim and beautify the landscape. Although the hike passes both Anti-Aircraft Peak (named for the AA battery installed there during WWII) and Long View Peak, the views are somewhat obscured due to heavy foliage. The park is very popular on weekends, which is why this hike is scheduled for a weekday. A short optional hike goes to North Fork Falls.
Trail highlights: CMRWP was former logging and coal mining territory, but nature has now had a half century to reclaim and beautify the landscape. Although the hike passes both Anti-Aircraft Peak (named for the AA battery installed there during WWII) and Long View Peak, the views are somewhat obscured due to heavy foliage. The park is very popular on weekends, which is why this hike is scheduled for a weekday. A short optional hike goes to North Fork Falls.
Trailhead location: CMRWP's main trailhead (Red Town) is located on Newcastle Golf Club Road (aka Lakemont Blvd), a quarter mile east of the club's entrance. An alternate parking lot is located just west of the club's entrance at Cinder Mine Trailhead.
Trail description: From the trailhead, head up Red Town Trail (W2), then left onto Cave Hole Trail (C3), then cross Clay Pit Road and join Coyote Creek Trail (N4), then a right onto Klondike Swamp Trail (N5) before taking a quick left onto Lost Beagle Trail (N6). At the summit, take the short spur trail (on left, thru the gap in the wire fence) to Anti-Aircraft Peak where you will find a broadcast tower. Head downhill on the access road to find restrooms and picnic tables. At the far end of the parking lot is a short spur trail to "Billion Dollar View"; that may be a bit of an overstatement, but there is a partially obscured view of Lake Sammamish worth at least $10K.
After a well deserved break, find the Harvey Manning Trail sign and head downhill to join Tibbetts Marsh Trail (N9) which you will now follow for awhile. Before heading uphill, turn right on Cougar Pass Trail (N8), then left on Klondike Swamp Trail (N5). You will then cross Clay Pit Road and join Fred's Railroad Trail (C7). Once you cross the East Fork of Coal Creek, join Shy Bear Trail (C7). When you reach Shy Bear Pass, you will have the option of taking a spur trail to Wilderness Peak, but the views are obscured, so we recommend you continue along on Long View Peak Trail (S4). A short spur trail leads to Long View Peak, but again, the views are obscured.
Continue on twisty Deceiver Trail (S3) and take the short spur down to Doughty Falls, a seasonal waterfall. When you get to Shy Bear Trail (S2), turn left and head west, then take the loop around to Far Country Lookout with a bench and a partially obscured view of West Seattle and the Olympic mountains beyond.
Head downhill and turn right on Indian Trail (W7), take the short spur trail to Far Country Falls (another seasonal waterfall), then continue on W7 until you reach the junction where you will turn right on Red Town Trail (W2) and return to the trailhead parking lot.
A nice optional hike (0.4 miles round trip) once you return to the trailhead is to carefully cross Newcastle Golf Club Road and continue downhill for 5 minutes on Coal Creek Trail until you reach North Fork Falls which is the largest and most consistent waterfall in the park. On the way back, you can take the optional interpretative loop trail before returning to the Red Town trailhead.
After a well deserved break, find the Harvey Manning Trail sign and head downhill to join Tibbetts Marsh Trail (N9) which you will now follow for awhile. Before heading uphill, turn right on Cougar Pass Trail (N8), then left on Klondike Swamp Trail (N5). You will then cross Clay Pit Road and join Fred's Railroad Trail (C7). Once you cross the East Fork of Coal Creek, join Shy Bear Trail (C7). When you reach Shy Bear Pass, you will have the option of taking a spur trail to Wilderness Peak, but the views are obscured, so we recommend you continue along on Long View Peak Trail (S4). A short spur trail leads to Long View Peak, but again, the views are obscured.
Continue on twisty Deceiver Trail (S3) and take the short spur down to Doughty Falls, a seasonal waterfall. When you get to Shy Bear Trail (S2), turn left and head west, then take the loop around to Far Country Lookout with a bench and a partially obscured view of West Seattle and the Olympic mountains beyond.
Head downhill and turn right on Indian Trail (W7), take the short spur trail to Far Country Falls (another seasonal waterfall), then continue on W7 until you reach the junction where you will turn right on Red Town Trail (W2) and return to the trailhead parking lot.
A nice optional hike (0.4 miles round trip) once you return to the trailhead is to carefully cross Newcastle Golf Club Road and continue downhill for 5 minutes on Coal Creek Trail until you reach North Fork Falls which is the largest and most consistent waterfall in the park. On the way back, you can take the optional interpretative loop trail before returning to the Red Town trailhead.
Public transit options: None