Cougar Mountain: Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead

Hike to the summit of Wilderness Peak in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park in the Snoqualmie foothills near Issaquah. Enjoy a second growth forest with ferns, creeks and moss-covered glacial erratic boulders.

getting there

From I-90,  take Exit 15 and head south on Highway 900. In ~3 miles, look for a sign that reads "Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park/Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead." Turn uphill just before the sign and proceed to the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead (395 ft). This trailhead is often "Wilderness Creek Trailhead" on maps and in guidebooks.

ON THE TRAIL

 The many interconnected trails in the Cougar Mountain area provide many out-and-back and loop day hikes of varying mileage, elevation gain, and difficulty. Choose your own adventure!

Wilderness Peak (1,595 ft)

3.7-mile loop, 1,200 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: moderate

Hike 0.5 mile to "The Boulders." From here, go left or right for an out-and-back or loop trip to top of the peak.

  • Difficulty: *Varies*
Map
  • Green Trails Cougar Mtn No. 203S
  • see Land Manager
Activities

Upcoming Activities

Day Hike - Wilderness Peak Loop

Day Hiking Trip
After Hours Conditioning Hike at a Moderate Pace
Difficulty: Moderate
Wed, Mar 22, 2023
No Prerequisites
0 participants 0 leaders
Registration closed Mar 20
Foothills Branch

Day Hike - Cougar Mountain: Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead

Day Hiking Trip
A nice loop hike in Cougar Mountain, visiting 3 Falls with opportunity for a Forest
Difficulty: *Varies*
Fri, Mar 31, 2023
No Prerequisites
4 participants on waitlist
Registration closes Mar 29
Foothills Branch

CHS 2 Hike - Wilderness Peak Loop

Day Hiking Field trip: Conditioning Hiking Series
Come start the CHS hiking season on a hike that features bridges over creeks/streams, boardwalks
Sat, Apr 1, 2023
No Prerequisites
8 participants
Registration opens Mar 22
Seattle Branch
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Wilderness Peak
  • Wilderness Peak Trail
  • Wilderness Peak Loop
  • Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail
  • Cougar Mountain Loop
Resources

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.