Day Hike - Cougar Mountain Loop

Meet at 9:30 AM at Sky Country trailhead parking lot, reached by taking either Exit 10 (Coal Creek Parkway) from I-405 or Exit 13 (Lakemont Blvd) from I-90.  From Exit 10, go east on Coal Creek Parkway, turn left at Forest Dr, left at Lakemont Blvd SE, right at SE Cougar Mountain Drive, right at 166th Way SE and then right into the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot.  From Exit 13, drive south on Lakemont Blvd SE, left at SE Cougar Mountain Drive, right at 166th Way SE and then right into the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot. 

This hike starts at Sky Country Trailhead, where parking is more available on weekends than at the over-crowded Red Town parking lot.  We will do a counter-clockwise loop that will take us by the best waterfall, the most fascinating coal mining cave, the unique former clay pit (now landscaped) and the best view in the Park at Anti-Aircraft Peak, where we have our lunch at a covered picnic table near restrooms.  On the return hike, we will pass the former Nike Missile Launch Site.  No parking pass is required.  Portapotties are available at the trailhead parking lot and the lunch spot.