Time of year to start hiking the Issaquah Alps more...this is one the loops I enjoy from Sky Country trailhead. This time we did it counterclockwise, starting with the downhill along the Cave Hole trail, past Coal Creek Falls (almost dry), up to Quarry trail, down to Indian Trail, up Shy Bear with lunch on the bench at Far Country Lookout, and return via Fred's Railroad and By Pass. All trails in good condition with no blowdowns and no mud either. Rained almost the whole time but that sort of made the fall colors glow more. Except for a couple trail runners at the very start we saw only 2 other people the whole way.
On the Shy Bear "boardwalk" portion we spotted what was apparently a mountain beaver, a furry thing about a foot long but never got a complete end to end look (or a photo) as it was scurrying under ferns and logs.
Total stats for this loop: 6.5 miles and 900 feet of elevation.
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