Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park


Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a regional park in King County, Washington, near the towns of Bellevue and Issaquah. The park was established in June 1983 to protect the central core of Cougar Mountain, the park covers with of hiking trails and of equestrian trails.

Access

There are four major trailheads within the park. Maps are available at these trailheads, and there are directional signs at major trail intersections. Equestrian access is available at all but the first of these. Bicycles are not allowed on any trails.
  1. Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead : This small parking area provides access to the trail system on the east side of the park via the Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail. It was formerly called the Wilderness Creek Trailhead, but renamed on September 26, 2013 at a ceremony attended by Jim Whittaker and King County Executive Dow Constantine. At the same time, connecting trails were dedicated in Whittaker's name and that of his climbing companion Nawang Gombu.
  2. Harvey Manning Trailhead : This area is located close to the top of Cougar Mountain and provides wonderful views to the north. Many of the wildland park's trails are accessed from this trailhead.
  3. Sky Country Trailhead is located near the former Nike missile site.
  4. Red Town Trailhead provides quick access to many historical mining exhibits in the northwest sector of the park, and also provides access to the adjacent Coal Creek Trail.
Among other smaller trailheads which provide on-street parking and access directly or via connecting trails to the park trail system are the following:
  1. Newcastle Crosstown Trail Trailhead at SE 85th St near 146th Pl SE in Newcastle
  2. Cul de sac at end of 161st Ave SE south of SE Cougar Mountain Way in Bellevue
  3. Indian Trail/Licorice Fern Trail crossing of SE Licorice Way above 169th Ave SE on the south side of the park
  4. Ring Road Trailhead located in the private area above Wilderness Creek Trail
  5. Bear Ridge Trailhead on SR900 1 mile south of Newport Way with overflow area just south of creek culvert.
  6. Big Tree Ridge Trailhead on Newport Way NW 1/2 mile NW of SR-900 Renton-Issaquah Road SE.
  7. Talus Neighborhood: The Bridges neighborhood in SW corner and Shangri-la Way at center west
  8. Harvey Manning Park at Talus. Restrooms, water fountains, play equipment.

    Geography

Environs

The park is bordered on the north by the Lakemont neighborhood in the city of Bellevue and on the northeast by the city of Issaquah. The park is bounded on the east by the 260-acre Talus Open Space. State Route 900 forms the southeastern border. Neighboring Squak Mountain looms to the southeast and the farms of May Creek valley lie to the south. To the southwest is the city of Renton. The city of Newcastle, ranging over the Newport Hills occupies the western portion of Cougar Mountain, with several smaller parcels designated the China Creek Open Space abutting the park on the west and housing surrounding the Newcastle Golf Club directly to the west. To the northwest of the Red Town Trailhead is the deep gully of Coal Creek, with its own separate park, the Coal Creek Natural Area managed by the City of Bellevue which divides Newcastle from Bellevue. A 4-1/2 mile trail through the latter continues down to I-405. The park is fully within the Mountains to Sound Greenway.

Summits

Creeks

The hilltops of Cougar Mountain form a rough horseshoe-shape around the Klondike Marsh headwaters of Coal Creek, which runs northwest to Lake Washington through Coal Creek Park. Long Marsh Creek, Far Country Creek, Cabbage Creek, and Wilderness Creek are tributaries of May Creek, draining the south side of Cougar Mountain to Lake Washington. Deeply etching the sandstone precipice on the north and east side, Lewis Creek, Kline Creek, AA Creek, West Tibbets Creek, and Claypit Creek carry their water to Lake Sammamish.

Marshes

There are five named waterfalls within or near Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
A notice on the official Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlands Park map cautions "Due to safety hazards from historical mining activities in this park you must stay on the trails identified on this map." Copies of the map are available at the major trailheads.

North side

There are a few trails between the "official" ones in the park and the developed properties adjacent. Some of these trails are on non-county public property or private property unlikely to be developed due to wetness or access issues.

WWII anti-aircraft gun site

Cold War Nike missile site

Now an open field near the Sky Country Trailhead, this was an anti-aircraft Nike missile installation during the Cold War used to protect the region from nuclear attack by Soviet long range strategic bombers. All that is left from that era are a few concrete pads, landscaping features, a deteriorating chain-link fence, and an interpretive sign. Current amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, a playfield, wildlife interpretive signs, and access to the great trail system. The radar site supporting these missiles was located on Anti-Aircraft Peak one mile to the northeast where another interpretive sign provides more history of the site.

Newcastle mining town second location