Red Town Meadow & Trails — Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

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.