CHS 2 Hike - Wilderness Peak Loop

Since the trailhead parking lot is very small, we will meet at the Tibbetts Valley Park & Ride at 7:00 am, consolidate hikers into carpools and depart for the trailhead no later than 7:15. It’s a 3 mile drive so we plan to arrive at the TH at 7:20.   If you choose to drive straight to the TH meet us there at 7:20. We plan to start the hike, not too long after 7:30. 

Directions to the Tibbetts Valley Park & Ride

Take exit 15 (WA-900 W/17^th Avenue NW off I-90 eastbound. Take a right at the bottom of the ramp. Drive approximately ½ mile and turn left on Newport Way NW. Take the first right into the Tibbetts Valley Park & Ride. (Not the multilevel parking garage on your left.) Drive past the Skate park. We will meet part-way into the parking lot.

Directions to the trailhead

From I-90, take Exit 15 and head south on Highway 900 (aka 17^th Ave NW or later Renton-Issaquah Rd. SE)

In a bit over three miles from I-90, be alert for a blue sign with white letters on the right side of the road, which reads “Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park / Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead.”  Slow down, and just before the sign turn uphill on the asphalt road that leads into a small parking area. There is room for about a dozen cars, and no permit is required. A portable toilet is available.

Leader’s Notes

This is a CHS 2 hike and will be led at an overall pace of 2.0-2.5 mph. This is a very popular trail and we will come across many other hikers/trail runners/people hiking with (leashed) dogs on a Saturday morning. We will hike on several trails and complete two different loops. Trails will include: Whittaker Wilderness Peak trail, Gombu Wilderness Cliffs Trail, Shy Bear trail, etc.

Make sure to bring your rain jacket and the rest of your 10 essentials. To check the weather on the day of the hike:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.5301&lon=-122.0326

Bring a snack/light lunch. We will take breaks, but since this is a short hike, we will not take a traditional longer lunch break.

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/wilderness-peak  Please note we are adding quite a bit of mileage and some elevation to this WTA hike.