Thanks to Peggy Price & crew for making Crosstown trail one of the best in the Newcastle Trail system. Every time I hike here I see evidence of your trail work and improvements. I made a 4.4 mile loop on Crosstown and DeLeo Wall trails. I had the forest mostly to myself with a couple trail runners and dog walkers. My route started at the Crosstown TH opposite the Beit Tikvah chapel went south connecting with the DeLeo Wall loop in a counterclockwise direction. On my return I down the Terrace Trail (completely walkable) even though it says closed at both ends. The rock that was dislodged above the stairs has been repaired by trail improvements. I followed 136th Avenue north and took an unmaintained spur back to Crosstown trail 3/4 the way back.  Another fantastic day out in nature.

This little hike, up the switchbacks of the Terrace Trail, past Boulder Grove, and north over the East CrossTown Trail, and then back up the East CrossTown and down the Terrace is a quick way to escape into the local woodland for some Shinrin-Yoku, forest bathing, to experience the healing power of nature. I usually start and end at the trailhead for the Terrace Trail.

One interesting thing is the active trail-building work on the East Crosstown section of the longer CrossTown Trail. Peggy Price, the Treasurer and Trail Work Coordinator, of the Newcastle Trails Association, is actively engaged in trail improvement work most Wednesdays and Saturdays. I have found it always interesting to see the work of a master trail builder progress as I hike the local trail week after week. I admire her work and regard her as a significantly talented artisan with soil and rock.

This route is about 3.3 miles round trip with 910 feet of overall gain. An appropriate length for right brain drifting and peaceful reflection. This hike is varied and visually interesting and I can recommend it. #WashingtonTrailsDay

I had the opportunity in mid-March to photograph a group of Newcastle Trails volunteers as they hauled rock down to a deposit site on the trail, rockery that would be later used to define and reinforce the edges of the trail cut as it traverses the steep slopes of the Newcastle woodland. I created several spherical panoramas. The links to two of these panoramas are below. Be sure to click the full-screen icon as you roll over the upper right of the photo for the best viewing.

Trail Crew Dumping Rock, CrossTown Trail, Newcastle, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/trail-crew-dumping-rock-crosstown-trail-newcastle-wa

Trail Work in Progress, CrossTown Trail, Newcastle, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/trail-work-in-progress-crosstown-trail-newcastle-wa

Note: Newcastle Trails Association offers a trail map in PDF form: http://newcastletrails.org/downloads/NT220510W_GRK_map.pdf

Also: King County Parks provides a detailed downloadable map with trails in the adjacent Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park in PDF form. https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/gis/web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf

This last Wednesday I hiked an out-and-back combination of seven Newcastle and Cougar Mountain trails to visit Far Country Falls and Doughty Falls. My mission was to create spherical panoramic images at both falls.

I hiked from the Terrace Trail trailhead, located at 144th Place SE and SE 97th Street in Newcastle. The Terrace Trail switchbacks up past a bench at Boulder Grove and connects with the East Cross Town Trail which passes through several Madrone groves to connect with the entrance to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and the De Leo Wall Viewpoint Trail which also passes through several picturesque stands of Madrones. 

The De Leo Wall Trail eventually intersects with the Indian Trail. Turning right, hike about a tenth of a mile to a marked trail to Far Country Falls. There is an earlier unmarked trail to the headwaters of the falls. This magical waterfall gorge could well be in Rivendell, the sanctuary of a magic Elvish otherworld. Far Country Falls is intermittently shrouded by sword ferns and mossy fallen tree branches as it meanders down through a garden of moss-covered boulders.

I took three panoramas and continued to Doughty Falls. Heading south on the Indian Trail, I took the Far Country Trail, the Shy Bear Trail, and finally, the Deceiver Trail down to the Doughty Falls overlook. Doughty Falls was not as dramatic as the Far Country Falls, but I had to see them both. I took one panorama and headed back. This last leg doubled the miles traveled.

One of the benefits of hiking in the Cougar Mountain area is that there are a great many trails that intersect with each other so you can create various routes and loops by combining them. This route, while only-an-out and back, combined seven trails: Terrace, East CrossTown, De Leo Viewpoint, Indian, Far Country, Shy Bear, and Deceiver Trails

The overall hiking distance was 8 miles with 1,760 feet of overall elevation gain. This hike is varied and visually interesting and I can recommend it. The links to the panoramas are below. Be sure to click the full-screen icon as you roll over the upper right of the photo for the best viewing.

King County Parks provides a detailed downloadable map with trails in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park in PDF form. https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/gis/web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf

Headwaters, Far Country Falls, Cougar Mountain, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/headwaters-far-country-falls-cougar-mountain-wa

Mossy Kingdom, Far Country Falls, Cougar Mountain, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/mossy-kingdom-far-country-falls-cougar-mountain-wa

Enchanted Forest, Far Country Falls, Cougar Mountain, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/enchanted-forest-far-country-falls-cougar-mountain-wa

The Overlook, Doughty Falls, Cougar Mountain, WA: https://www.360cities.net/image/the-overlook-doughty-falls-cougar-mountain-wa

I decided to hike through two areas today.  Cougar Mountain and Sqwak.  I took the route 240 from Renton and got off at SE 91st Street, climbed the hill, and took a left, followed the road until the end, and then took a right.  Went around the service gates and through to the Terrace Trail Took that pathway up to the Cross Town trail, and went on to the De Leo Wall viewpoint.  At some point this is going to look like West Tiger 3 (logging)? I hope not. More on this at the end.

Knowing I had a full day, I decided not to mess around.  Once I got to the main trail, I went up the Far Country Trail which connects to the Shy Bear Trail.  Eventually, this trail connects to the Southern edge of Fred's RR grade trail before T-ing up at the Wilderness Loop, which I took downhill. 

As I turned off for the Wilderness Peak exit, there's a wobbly bridge in need of replacing.  Hope you brought your pads and swim trunks!

On exit, be careful crossing SR-900 and walking towards Margaret's Way.  Lamenting the fact that Trailhead Direct will not be returning to this route, but understanding of the reasons.  Margaret's Way was something I wasn't ready for.  Yes I could have handled it if I didn't just do Cougar.  But that's not the case.  It was a struggle, but once up top I just took the Chybinski trail down to the trailhead.  Upon exiting you can see the damage Weyerhauser did to the West Tigers.  Bald.  Yuck.  Then just take the streets to downtown Issaquah, and your ride to where you need to be should await.

Made a loop to Deleo Wall using some unofficial but well established trails. Chocolate Lily's blooming at the Deleo viewpoint. They are subtle and you won't see them unless you are looking carefully.