After viewing the North Fork falls a few days earlier I decided to walk to Coal Creek Falls. These falls and the creek were running high with lots of water coming down. The trails are in good shape with some mud but not as much as one might expect after 6 to 7 days of rain. The attached photo gives a good idea of water levels in Cougar Mt. Park. I noted creeks running in places I had never seen or heard them.

This is a short loop to the Far Country view point that involved a series of short and medium length trails. Conditions in this part of Cougar Mt. Wildland Park were frozen trails with some sections of ""thin"" mud that could be slick under the right conditions. The Wildside Trail goes along the west edge of the Park and is in ear shot and view of some of the new ""Mac-Mansions"" of the area. This being said, the Wildside Trail was also invaded by trail runners on this frosty day. We took the Wildside all the way to the junction with the De Leo Wall trail and then over to the Indian Trail to Far Country Falls. The Falls were running but had only a moderate amount of water going down them. From Indian Trail we went east to the Far Country Look Out taking advantage of the loop opportunity to see a bit more of this area. Next we went back to Indian and then North to the junction of the Marshall Hill trail and back to Wildside and the car. KT and Alpine Art also took a side trip on the Steam Hoist trail to see this area (one we had not been on previously). All in all it was a great day with Sun. Trails were in good condition but with some blow down that is normal for this time of year. The cold temperatures have made the trails icy, but we did not have any problems with traction.

The Three Waterfalls Loop on Cougar Mountain is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. The loop hike covers about 6 miles and passes three waterfalls and two viewpoints, along with giving you a healthy dose of just plain old Cougar Mountain forest goodness. To do the loop, park at the Red Town Trailhead (elev. 650') and start hiking on the Red Town Trail, which is actually a gated dirt road. In a quarter mile, turn left(east) onto the Cave Hole Trail. After a brisk half mile climb up the hill, go right onto the Coal Creek Falls trail, which leads you to the first of the three waterfalls. Coal Creek Falls is the largest of the Cougar Mountain waterfalls, with a drop of about 20 feet. This falls is a pretty spot, although popularity has caused the surroundings to look a bit trampled. The heavy spring rains had really got the waterfall going in mid-May. However, I was amazed to see how much the flow has diminished in the past few weeks. Better go soon before Coal Creek Falls is reduced to its usual summertime trickle. To continue the hike, follow the trail as it climbs uphill out of the Coal Creek Valley to a junction with the Quarry Trail (some smashed-down drain dips need repair here). Go left (east) on the Quarry Trail, a gradually climbing path in shady forest. WTA members will appreciate the heavy drainage work which was turned an eroded old road into a smooth walking experience (some drain dips have been washed out at the upper end of the trail--I did some quick repairs but more needs to be done). Go right (south) onto Fred's Railroad Trail, then onto the Shy Bear Trail, and later the Long View Trail. Few people wander about on this quiet upland part of Cougar Mountain; the main users seem to be trail runners. A final little climb brings you to the high point of the hike (1400') at somewhat misnamed Long View Peak. Heavy forest blocks most of the view from here these days. There's a bit of a vista to the south. From Long View Peak, follow the Deceiver Trail as it descends from the peak to a crossing of Cabbage Creek near a lovely pool. This spot is especially nice in fall when golden maple leaves carpet the forest and float in the calm waters of the creek. Just beyond the crossing, a side trail leads to the second waterfall, Doughty Falls, where Cabbage Creek drops over a ten-foot high mossy ledge. The quiet, peaceful setting of the falls invites one to stay for a bit and relax. The Deceiver trail climbs over another summit before descending to a junction with the Shy Bear Trail. Go left (west) and follow Shy Bear as it rolls along the crest of a forested ridge to Far Country Viewpoint, reached by an overgrown side trail (some lopping needed here, trail crews). At the vista point there's a log bench and a pretty decent view by Cougar Mountain standards. Beyond the viewpoint, the Shy Bear Trail drops down the hillside to a junction with the Indian Trail, an old road. Go right (north) here and follow the Indian Trail a short distance to waterfall number 3, Far Country Falls. Hidden in the brushy valley below the trail, you'll hear the falls before you see it. An short, unmarked side trail leads to the top of the falls. Far Country Falls is more of a cascade then a vertical plunge; multiple streams of water tumble ten or twenty feet down a broken andesite outcrop. Return to Red Town Trailhead via the Indian Trail, which becomes the Red Town Trail at the newly restored Ball Field Meadow. Of course a glance at your Green Trails Map (you brought one didn't you?) will show you a multitude of other hiking options if you've go the energy. King County has been pretty diligent in maintaining trails in this park, so they are in great shape for the most part.

This was supposed to be a very brief outing to test some recent footwear updates, but we got carried away, and zigged around for almost seven miles. First time I have been here. This trail system is reminiscent of an ikea floor plan, but fortunately much less peopled on Sundays in February, and with much better signage. The leaves are starting to come out on deciduous huckleberries, and there are a lot of them, here. What I think is Oemleria cerasiformis (Indian-plum, Osoberry) is leaving out on southern slopes, and we even saw one flower. The sun peaked out occasionally, and not a drop of rain, but it still looks very much like winter. There were a few very small blow-downs, but not worrisome enough to check as a 'problem'.

On a bright, cold, morning my friend Joy and I went for a long walk in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wilderness Park. This was my first time there, so I was especially pleased that they had a supply of good maps, at the trail head. To get there, from I-90 take exit #13, drive south 3.1 miles on Lakemont Bouleevard S.E. The Red Town trail head will be on your left. This park is 3,000 acres and offers more then 35 miles of hiking trails. A glance at the map displays a whole ""net work"" of trails! Pleanty of snow free walking for a very pleasant day. We chose the Red Town trail #w-2, the Indian trail #w-7 to the Far Country lookout where we sat on a log bench for lunch as we looked out over the valley. Lunch was brief, as it was in the shade. The ground was still frozen solid, and the bench itself had a sheen of ice on it. I was glad for my little closed cell foam mat I carry, just for this purpose. After lunch we back tracked slightly on the Indian trail to the De Leo Wall trail #w-9, and on to the Marshall's Hill trail #w-6 which reconnected us to the Red Town trail and back to the trail head. These trails were in great condition and range from wide level gravel paths to narrower trails winding up and down hillsides in forest duff. There seemed to be signs at almost every trail junction. With out them, and the map, we may have still been there looking for the way out! There are scenic vista's of the valley plotted out in roads and houses; creeks and streams with bridges and foot logs, along with beautiful vegetation. Lots of waist high ferns, under a canapy of tall fir trees with sunlight filtering through. It made for a very pleasant day, I hope to return and do further exploring.