This was my first time in years hiking on Cougar Mountain, and my first time ever in this section. I parked at the Newport Way Big Tree Ridge trail head where there was room for perhaps 3 more cars if they blocked the gate. Not sure if that would be permissible, but there were no signs indicating that it wasn't allowed. There was a large information sign with a map, and a covered tray containing maps of the park and its trails for the taking.

Started hiking at 11 AM. The well shaded trail starts off wide with a gentle slope upwards, and soon gets into dusty switchbacks as it climbs up the mountain. The trail surface ranges from dusty dirt to gravel, to dirt with gravel or small rocks. Overall, throughout the park the trails were in good to excellent condition - our tax dollars at work! In fact, with the exception of only three intersections, all of the trails were signed with distances to other connecting trails in the park.

Upon reaching Shangri-La Trail, the trail switched from hiker only to one where horses are permitted. The trail was as wide and as smooth as a gravel road, and was still very pleasant. No evidence of horses having been there in the past couple of weeks was found.

My lunch stop was at "Million Dollar View", aka The Pergola. Besides the picnic table in the pergola there are two other tables nearby. This area is also reachable by car, with a sizable parking lot nearby, and a Port-a-potty as well as a restroom in the nearby field.

When I arrived at the Pergola a bicyclist was using that table, so I used one of the others. He left soon afterwards, and I had the place to myself for about 20 minutes before a family walked over for their picnic.

Continuing onward to the west portion of Shangri-La Trail I found that this section was much more like a hiking trail than a road. Just before it reached the park border it intersected with Coyote Creek Trail, which is a wider trail at this point. Again, this trail is mostly shaded as it heads southward.

The cave holes along Cave Hole Trail are just a short distance from the intersection with Bypass Trail, so I went to see what it was all about. Imagine some deep depressions covered with foliage with fences and signs telling people to keep out and that's pretty much it.

Fred's Railroad Trail was another pleasant road-width and road-smooth trail. About midway down its length on the south side I saw the skeleton of an old multi-story tower off in the forest. I'm not sure what it had been used for, but it was probably left over from the WWII days.

The East Fork Trail was the first place I encountered some bugs as well as a small fallen tree across the trail. It also looks like this trail could get muddy in other seasons. Otherwise, the hike to the mine shaft was pretty uneventful. The mine shaft (formerly used as an air shaft for the coal mine) was covered by an immense rebar grate. A sturdy wooden bench put there by an Eagle Scout makes this a great place to stop and have a snack. An information board next to the trail described the coal mining activities as well as the purpose of the shaft.

Heading to Tibbetts Marsh Trail one is on the Clay Pit Road for a short distance. That road ends at the clay pit, where one can find another informational sign describing how the clay from the pit was used and why. The area is being reclaimed as parkland and nature is gradually taking it over.

Tibbetts Creek Trail travels along the edge of the steep ravine in which the creek runs. I didn't actually see or hear the creek; perhaps it has dried up at this time.

Returning to Shangri-La Trail I then headed over to No Name Trail, Surprise Creek Trail and, just for a change of pace, decided to try to take the Precipice Trail as it appeared on the map to rejoin Big Tree Ridge Trail. Well, the map is wrong. Instead, the trail ended up at the Harvey Manning Trail at Talus by a small park with some very nice playground equipment.

Looking at the County Park map revealed no way other than retracing my steps back up the mountain to take the other trail. Google Maps, however, showed a Precipice Bottom Trail that would take me where I wanted to go. So, off I went on the unsigned trail.

This trail was in quite good condition, with a number of small bridges and generally followed the contour line. However, the western section climbed up and up and up, finally reaching the Big Tree Ridge Trail at an unsigned intersection. The rest of the way down was anticlimactic, but I was happy to have brought a pair of walking sticks for the more slippery sections.

With all the stops for pictures, lunch and snacks I ended up at the car at 4 PM, having walked 9.8 miles with a little over 2000 feet elevation gain.

So far as traffic is concerned, I encountered about a dozen folks on the way up Big Tree Ridge Trail, including a couple walking their leashed cats and another couple shortly afterwards walking their unleashed dog. Other trails were either entirely devoid of people or had two or three other encounters. In general, it was pretty quiet considering this was a weekend in an urban area.

This is a wonderful short conditioning hike/trail run close to town. Please note that some of the trails mentioned here will be destroyed if a large new development (Windward) on the Bergsma Property progresses. See www.savecougarmountain.org to help save this corner of Cougar Mountain for future generations to love! 

The forest is very green right now. Beautiful with all the spring beauty (claytonia sibrica) blooming everywhere you look. I think this is one of the nicest parts of Cougar and this is a great time to visit! There are many connecting options once you enter Cougar Mountain Park (near the top of the ridge) so if you like a longer hike it is there for you. But, if you have a short time and want a good training hike without a long drive, this is a fabulous option. 

Starting at the Big Tree Ridge TH (white gate on Newport Way) the steepest way is to head directly up the Big Tree Ridge trail.  Just under 1/2 mile up, you'll see an unsigned trail on your left, it leads to Harvey Manning Park in the Talus neighborhood. After about 1 mile of nice tread (and 700+ gain!) through beautiful green forest and flowers you'll meet another junction. Turn left here on Military Road for a shorter hike, or right on the Red Cedars continuation for an extra 1/2+ mile and 200+ elevation gain. If you are done with the uphill, turn left here, meeting the Precipice Top trail in a few steps. 

If you went for the extra gain, you'll continue switching back uphill, with some flatter respites until the Surprise Creek Trail 1/3 mile later. Turn left here, then travel a short distance and turn left on the Precipice Top Trail. You could continue straight downhill on a very rocky and rough Surprise Creek trail to the top of the Talus neighborhood instead of turning left here but it's not as pleasant a trip. Follow the Precipice Top trail for about 1/4 mile. Once at the Precipice/Military Road junction turn right to head downhill, meeting the other route. 

At this point continue downhill on a narrowed old roadbed. The one stream crossing has no water right now. If you love Devil's Club, the trail passes a really nice stand of it! 

You'll soon see Harvey Manning Park on your right. Here you have another choice!  You can turn left on the unsigned Precipice Bottom Trail (the other end mentioned previously as your first junction 1/2 mile up the Surprise Creek Trail) and wander up and down through several stream ravines of very old forest on very pleasant trail back to Big Tree Ridge trail (where you can turn right and go back to your car)- this is about 3 miles and 1000 elevation gain total because there is a short uphill section before reaching the Big Tree Ridge trail. You can go straight downhill to a Y junction. Turn left here for the Skid Road trail. This is also another old roadbed interspersed with areas of trail where the old road bed is not pleasant, or has been marred by large vehicles investigating the potential Bergsma/Windward development that may destroy this trail. The trail itself is very pleasant, meandering above a stream in an area with lots of birds and small mammals. Towards the end there are two blowdowns to climb around but nothing too difficult. You end at a row of old mossy boulders about 100 yards east of your car at Big Tree Ridge. This loop is under 2.5 miles and about 850 elevation gain. 

If you prefer a less steep uphill journey or don't have much time, I recommend simply going up and down the Skid Road trail. If you have smaller children, you could consider Harvey Manning Park your destination. The hike would be just 1/2 mile to the park and retains the loop option for descent via Precipice Bottom and Big Tree Ridge. 

Cougar Mountain is a nice choice when you have time/energy for a hike, but only a small one. I particularly like the Big Tree Ridge/Red Cedars ascent-- you get in just under 900 gain in ~1.2miles. The trail is smooth and well maintained, perfect for running, or getting back into hiking shape after the winter. 

Bonus, there's a way to make a loop out of this trail, using unmaintained/semi-secret trails! You can either turn left (downhill) on the Military Road trail right at the top of Big Tree Ridge, or if you continue up the Red Cedars for another 1/4 mile to get a little more elevation gain, turn left on Surprise Creek Trail and then left again 1/4 mile later onto Precipice Top.

Either way, you end up descending towards Harvey Manning Park at the north end of the Talus development along the Military Road trail. Once you reach the park at Talus, you can turn left onto the Precipice Bottom Trail (it meets the Big Tree Ridge about .4 mile from the TH) or--- you can continue downhill just past the park and turn left at an unsigned junction onto the "unmaintained" Skid Row Trail. You'll see a tree with a piece of wood nailed to it just to the right of this trail, sometimes there is paper signage here, but currently there isn't.

Continue on Skid Row Trail along trail through pleasant forest and occasionally along old road. This trail is currently slated to be destroyed for a potential new development (Bergsma/Windward). A helpful person or party has repaired an area where the trail had been destroyed  There are a couple of blowdowns to climb over at the end.  The trail ends just over 100 yards east of your car at the Big Tree Ridge parking pullout. Makes a lovely loop of about 1000 gain 3 miles if you take the Big Tree Ridge--Red Cedars--Surprise Creek--Precipice Top--Military Road--Skid Row trail route loop. 

Should you be interested in helping save this portion of Cougar Mountain from development, please join us! www.savecougarmountain.or better yet, sign the petition! https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-cougar-mountain 

Left the car at the Harvey Manning Park around noon. Found the Precipice Bottom Trail behind some bushes, no signs. Headed up to the "Million Dollar View" via the Big Tree Ridge Trail, Red Cedars Trail, Surprise Creek Trail, and the Shangri La Trail. Stuck to the Shangri La Trail on the way down, but it appeared to end in a construction area, so we backtracked a bit, and returned via the No Name Trail, Precipice Top Trail, and Military Ridge Trail (see the linked tracklog). The trails were all in good condition, just a little bit of mud and slippery leafs. Encountered a couple of people on the trails, but no crowds.

Just a quick report to say that some of the open areas where you cross under the powerlines on the NE corner of Cougar are getting brushy! Trails are otherwise in good condition other than some typical mud here and there. Just need a machete and a few minutes and the plant life will not be so prickly on your legs :) The Skid Row Trail, which follows an old road from the Park in Talus to Newport Way just east of the Big Tree TH has been logged out (thanks!) but you can see development encroaching- surveying flags abound and some sort of big vehicle has driven part of the way down, obliterating some of the trail. Sad to see this lovely part of the woods will be houses :( Hopefully Precipice Bottom trail won't get destroyed too, it's one of the prettiest trails on Cougar.