CHS 2 Hike - Cougar Mountain: Red Town Trailhead

Field trip: Conditioning Hiking Series

CHS 2 Hike - Cougar Mountain: Red Town Trailhead

THIS IS A GO-GETTER-HIKE! Let’s go hiking and explore the gushing waterfalls, cool marshes, scenic lookouts, fantastic boulders, and the highest point on Cougar Mountain. And if we are really lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of Mount Rainer along the Gombu Wilderness Cliffs Trail. CHS hike led at a CHS 2 pace (2.0-3.0 mph)

  • Moderate/Strenuous
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 11.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,500 ft
  • Pace: 2.0-3.0 mph

Location:  Red Town Trailhead (Lakemont Blvd. SE/Newcastle Coal Creek Rd.)

 Meeting Time:  8:00am   Boots on the Trail:  8:15am

 Directions:

From I-90: Take Exit 13 and drive south on Lakemont Boulevard SE for 3.1 miles. Look for the entrance to the Red Town Trailhead on the left side of the road.

 From I-405: Take Exit 10 and follow Coal Creek Parkway SE 2.4 miles to the shopping center. Turn left at the light onto SE 72nd Place and then left again at Newcastle Golf Club Road. Follow that for 1.9 miles. The entrance to the Red Town Trailhead is on the right side of the road just after the big bend.

 Parking Pass:  None  

 Route: https://www.gaiagps.com/public/rMcmFpeZgUJOauJ4wNPG7DK6 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/cougar-mt-thru-hike-loop-74db120

 If the trail conditions and or the weather is unfavorable, the hike will be canceled or reschedule for a different location.

A GO-GETTER-HIKE is designed for hiking fans who are ready to move beyond moderate hikes and for those enthusiasts who already hike at a sustained pace of 2.2-2.5+mph. Beauty breaks are less frequent and shorter, but we will have breaks as determined by the needs of the group. Please do not sign up for this go-getter-hike if you have not practiced sustaining a pace of 2.2+mph walks with hills for at least 60+ minutes several times a week.

 We will begin our hike at Red Town Trailhead and hike to Wilderness Peak, the highest point on Cougar Mountain, where Douglas Fir trees rise at least another 100 feet (30 m) and block any view. After taking a snack break, we will continue our trek down to The Jim Whittaker Wilderness Trailhead. We will not linger at this second trailhead, but we will hydrate before beginning our trek back up the trail to Boulders Junction and wind our way back to Red Town Trailhead along the southern side of the park.

Route/Place

Cougar Mountain: Red Town Trailhead


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Ten Essential Systems

  1. Navigation (map & compass)
  2. Sun protection (sunglasses & sunscreen)
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
  5. First-aid supplies
  6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candle)
  7. Repair kit and tools
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter (tent/plastic tube tent/garbage bag)
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