June Hikes: 3.5 to 6 miles, 400 to 1,500 feet gain

Field trip: GoHike: Beginner Hiking Course

June Hikes: 3.5 to 6 miles, 400 to 1,500 feet gain - Cougar Mountain Loop

Hike by the former Nike missile launch site, a coal mine ventilation shaft and the former Clay Pit, now landscaped, with lunch at the best viewpoint on Cougar Mountain overlooking Lake Sammamish in the foreground and Mt. Baker in the background. At the end of the hike we go by two cave holes where the ground collapsed into former coal mine shafts. This hike can apply toward your GoHike Series graduation!

  • Easy
  • For Beginners (Getting Started Series)
  • Mileage: 6.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 300 ft
  • Pace: 1.5mph

Meet at Sky Country Trailhead at 10:00 am.  It is reached either from Exit 10 from I-405 or Exit 13 from I-90.  From Exit 10, go east on Coal Creek Parkway, left at Forest Drive, left at Lakemont Blvd, right at SE Cougar Mountain Way, right at 166th Way SE and right at the end of the road into the Sky Country trailhead parking  lot.  If the car parking section is full, park in the horse trailer lot.  If it is also full, you will need to park along the entry road.  From Exit 13, head south on Lakemont Blvd, left at SE Cougar Mountain Way, right at 166th Ave SE and right at the end of the road into the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot.  

We will hike a counter clockwise loop with gentle elevation gain that will take us by a former Nike missile launch site, a coal mine ventilation shaft, the former clay pit, which is now landscaped, and a viewpoint overlooking Lake Sammamish and Mt. Baker, where we have our lunch, and two collapsed coal mine pits near the end of the hike.

Route/Place

Cougar Mountain: Sky Country Trailhead


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

TBD

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