Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a regional park in King County, Washington, near the towns of Bellevue and Issaquah. The park was established in June 1983 to protect the central core of Cougar Mountain, the park covers with of hiking trails and of equestrian trails.
Access There are four major trailheads within the park. Maps are available at these trailheads, and there are directional signs at major trail intersections. Equestrian access is available at all but the first of these. Bicycles are not allowed on any trails. Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead (SR 900/Renton-Issaquah Road SE 3.3 miles south of I-90): This small parking area provides access to the trail system on the east side of the park via the Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail. It was formerly called the Wilderness Creek Trailhead, but renamed on September 26, 2013, at a ceremony attended by Jim Whittaker and King County Executive Dow Constantine. At the same time, connecting trails were dedicated in Whittaker's name and that of his climbing companion Nawang Gombu. Harvey Manning Trailhead (SE Cougar Mountain Drive): This area is located close to the top of Cougar Mountain and provides wonderful views to the north (sometimes one can catch a glimpse of Mt. Baker). Many of the wildland park's trails are accessed from this trailhead. Sky Country Trailhead (166th Way SE) is located near the former Nike missile site. Red Town Trailhead (Lakemont Blvd. SE/Newcastle Coal Creek Rd.) provides quick access to many historical mining exhibits in the northwest sector of the park, and also provides access to the adjacent Coal Creek Trail.
Among other smaller trailheads which provide on-street parking and access directly or via connecting trails to the park trail system are the following: Newcastle Crosstown Trail Trailhead at SE 85th St near 146th Pl SE in Newcastle Cul de sac at end of 161st Ave SE south of SE Cougar Mountain Way in Bellevue Indian Trail/Licorice Fern Trail crossing of SE Licorice Way above 169th Ave SE on the south side of the park Ring Road Trailhead located in the private area above Wilderness Creek Trail Bear Ridge Trailhead on SR900 1 mile south of Newport Way with overflow area just south of creek culvert. Big Tree Ridge Trailhead on Newport Way NW 1/2 mile NW of SR-900 Renton-Issaquah Road SE (pullover parking). Talus Neighborhood: The Bridges neighborhood in SW corner (Talus Bridge Trail) and Shangri-la Way at center west (Surprise Creek Trail) Harvey Manning Park at Talus. Restrooms, water fountains, play equipment.
Geography
Environs
The park is bordered on the north by the Lakemont neighborhood in the city of Bellevue and on the northeast by the city of Issaquah. The park is bounded on the east by the 260-acre Talus Open Space. State Route 900 forms the southeastern border. Neighboring Squak Mountain looms to the southeast and the farms of May Creek valley lie to the south. To the southwest is the city of Renton. The city of Newcastle, ranging over the Newport Hills occupies the western portion of Cougar Mountain, with several smaller parcels designated the China Creek Open Space abutting the park on the west and housing surrounding the Newcastle Golf Club directly to the west. To the northwest of the Red Town Trailhead is the deep gully of Coal Creek, with its own separate park, the Coal Creek Natural Area managed by the City of Bellevue which divides Newcastle from Bellevue. A -mile trail through the latter continues down to I-405. The park is fully within the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Summits AA Peak - . This peak overlooks Radar Park, a former Cold War military installation. Excellent views to the north of Lake Sammamish and Mount Baker are obtained here. The only summit reachable by car. Claypit Peak - . Separated from Wilderness Peak by a saddle, Claypit Peak looms above a open pit, the one-time source of clay for bricks, leased by Mutual Materials in Newcastle. It is unmarked on maps and is in the wilderness portion of the park designated Habitat Conservation Area with no access. Deceiver Ridge - . A broad plateau bristling with second-growth fir. Long View Peak - . This summit has a horse hitch, a bench, and a view to the south. Marshall's Hill - . Dominating the Renton side of Cougar Mountain, the top of Marshall's Hill is reached by switchbacks from the De Leo Wall. Reichert's Hill - . Also known as Radio Hill or Goat Hill, this is the site of many radio and television station broadcast antennas. Ring Road Peak - . On the shoulder of Long View Peak. The summit is outside the Park, on private property. Wilderness Peak - . There is no view owing to a stand of old growth timber, but Wilderness Peak is the highest elevation in the park. There is a summit register.
Hydrography
Creeks The hilltops of Cougar Mountain form a rough horseshoe-shape around the Klondike Marsh headwaters of Coal Creek, which runs northwest to Lake Washington through Coal Creek Park. Long Marsh Creek, Far Country Creek, Cabbage Creek, and Wilderness Creek are tributaries of May Creek, draining the south side of Cougar Mountain to Lake Washington. Deeply etching the sandstone precipice on the north and east side, Lewis Creek, Kline Creek, AA Creek, West Tibbets Creek, and Claypit Creek carry their water to Lake Sammamish.
Marshes
Blackwater Pond - In the highlands between Wilderness Peak and Claypit Peak, drains east to Tibbets Creek. Jerry's Duck Pond - A quiet wooded man-made pond near the summit of Claypit Peak. Klondike Marsh - A former reservoir providing water for coal-car steam hoists. Long Marsh - Large swamp between the Wildside Trail and Indian Trail. Shy Bear Marsh - The source of Cabbage Creek in the most remote part of the park. Tibbett's Marsh - The source of West Tibbett's Creek, crossed by a massive downed cedar log. Trog Swamp - Wetland along the Far Country Trail. Lake Boren - Outside of the park, in a separate park in Newcastle. Lake Boren is the largest body of water in the highlands of Cougar Mountain.
Waterfalls There are five named waterfalls within or near Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
Coal Creek Falls , seasonal flow. At Coal Creek near the Quarry Trail. Doughty Falls - At Cabbage Creek on the Deceiver Trail. Far Country Falls - At Far Country Creek on the Indian Trail. Sandstone Falls - On the Primrose Trail in Coal Creek Park. North Fork Falls - , year-round flow. Actually on the trail through Bellevue's Coal Creek Natural Area, across the road from the Red Town Trailhead.
Official trails
A notice on the official Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlands Park map cautions "Due to safety hazards from historical mining activities in this park you must stay on the trails identified on this map." Copies of the map are available at the major trailheads.
North side
N1: Coal Creek Trail - Trail formerly identified on maps as N1 is actually in the Bellevue system of open spaces rather than the King County park. It begins where Coal Creek Parkway dips to cross the creek. Scenic Brickyard Creek joins from the south in a steep descent. At a Y the Primrose Trail peels off to tour the creek at its most scenic reach in a canyon where Sandstone Falls is found. The main line tours the relics of an old farm and is joined by the Primrose Trail again further on. Strange hummocks are found in this area which were debris piles created during coal mining operations more than a century ago. A steep road leaves the trail to the site of the Cinder Mine. The last of the trail gently ascends to the Red Town trailhead with North Fork Falls and many coal-mining relics found along the way. N2: Military Road Trail - Trail begins at Red Town trailhead and ascends the old U.S. Army route (originally running to Issaquah) to the gate which marks the beginning of the Clay Pit Road. This is the only part of the Military Road that is accessed by an official trail. The route of the old road runs over Radio Hill and through private land, and it enters the park again above the Precipice Bottom Trail in a section informally called Harvey's Magic Quarter Mile. N3: Radio Peak Trail - Trail forks from the Coyote Creek Trail along the western edge of the Klondike Marsh and steadily ascends a rather narrow ridge populated with a fine stand of Douglas fir. At the summit the trail arrives at a large cluster of radio transmitters and a service road that can take you down to Cougar Mountain Drive, but officially the trail ends here. N4: Coyote Creek Trail - Trail begins where Cougar Mountain Drive changes from blacktop to gravel. Also known as "Bill's Trail" (because Bill Culbert preferred to use this route to transit the area during high rains), the path meanders along the western edge of Klondike Swamp, crosses a clearing, and intersects the Claypit Road directly across from the terminus of the Cave Hole Trail. N5: Klondike Swamp Trail - Trail forks from the Coyote Creek Trail and passes along the base of Anti-Aircraft Peak where it meets the Klondike Swamp. An old woods road, the trail is relatively flat and straight, offering a quick route into the heart of Cougar Mountain. It passes a large vine maple that forms a canopy before ending at the Cougar Pass Trail. N6: Lost Beagle Trail - Trail ascends from the Klondike Swamp Trail through cool forest, switchbacking east to the summit area of Anti-Aircraft Peak. Radar Park has interpretive signs and the concrete foundations of a military installation that has long been abandoned. In World War II this was the site of anti-aircraft gun emplacements for possible Japanese attack. Later, Nike missiles were installed nearby, directed by personnel stationed here. N7: Harvey Manning Trail - Trail begins near the summit of Anti-Aircraft Peak and runs south down the gentle spine of the peak through a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, reaching Cougar Pass which divides the watersheds of Coal Creek and West Tibbetts Creek. N8: Cougar Pass Trail - Trail connects the Klondike Swamp Trail with the Tibbetts Marsh Trail, striking the AA Ridge Trail at the highest point. It provides an alternative to the Clay Pit Road which parallels it just to the south. N9: Tibbett's Marsh Trail - Trail begins at Radar Park and provides the most direct route to the Claypit area, crossing the mile-wide saddle between AA and Claypit Peaks. It spans the marsh on a giant fallen cedar which has been converted into an ad hoc bridge with many axe strokes. N10: Primrose Overlook Trail - Trail descends from Little Creek Trail to a loop above a tributary creek to the North Fork of Coal Creek. N11: Little Creek Trail - Trail starts at small trailhead near the south end of 161st Ave SE and crosses several small drainages to meet Military Road Trail.
East side E1: Shangri-La Trail - Trail begins at the Radar Park trailhead and descends the eastern flanks of Cougar Mountain to the Talus development. Wide and gently sloping, the former logging road parallels the Surprise Creek Trail. The forest has not yet grown again sufficiently to permit this trail to lose its character as a road. E2: Surprise Creek Trail - Trail begins at the Shangri-La Trail and provides a more scenic route down to the Issaquah Reservoir. It accesses the Powerline Trail (now impassable) at two points.