Cougar Mountain Grand Traverse

Hike Up Coal Creek Canyon and over the top of Cougar Mountain to Issaquah

Hike Length: 9 Miles

Elevation Gain: 1300 feet

Hike Difficulty: Strenuous

Map: Green Trails-Cougar Mountain #203S (available at REI and other outdoor goods stores), or free map available at park trailheads

Updated 9/22/2021

This hike is one of my favorite car-free getaways in the Seattle area. The route takes you along the full length of Coal Creek Canyon, all the way to its headwaters at Klondike Marsh in King County’s vast Cougar Mountain Regional Park. Along the way, you will see lush vegetation, creeks and waterfalls, and numerous relics of the extensive coal mining operations that occurred here nearly a century ago. After passing over the summit of Cougar Mountain, the route descends the steep east flanks of the mountain to Issaquah, where bus connections are good.

The route described here is the shortest one, but given more time and energy a hiker could make many side trips in the dense network of trails in the Cougar Mountain wilderness. But you will need a good map to sort out the Cougar Mountain maze. Having an up-to-date version of the Green Trails or IATC map is a requirement to do this hike successfully. These days, maps on smart phone apps (such as Gaia GPS) show the trail networks, too. However, the old-fashioned paper maps give you the best overview of the area.

Fern-covered Fantastic Erratic on Cougar Mountain

Getting There & Back

From Seattle, ride Sound Transit 550 to the downtown Bellevue Transit Center. There, catch Metro 240, which slowly winds its way past Eastgate Transit Center and Factoria Mall. Get off the bus when it turns off Coal Creek Parkway onto 119th Ave.

Use TOTAGO to get round-trip transit directions, plus offline trail maps if you download the app:
Cougar Mountain Grand Traverse on Totago

The Hike

The start of the Coal Creek Trail is conveniently located on the opposite side of 119th Ave. Look for a gate in the metal fence bordering the road; the gate is marked by a wooden sign. Open the gate and walk down stairs to the floor of the ravine. The start of the Lower Coal Creek Trail can be found a few feet to the right of the stream.

The trail immediately enters a forest with a lush understory of ferns. The City of Bellevue has spent a lot of money on this trail recently, and it is in much better condition than it used to be. Despite the proximity of houses and parkway, the valley of Coal Creek feels pleasantly remote from civilization. After a short climb up a ridge on a stairway, the trail reaches a junction with a spur to a subdivision; stay left. The trail contours high above the creek for some distance, then dips down to a major junction near the creek; take the right branch and continue hiking up the valley to Coal Creek Parkway, which now features a nifty underpass for hikers, as well as a fish ladder for spawning salmon . On the other side of the tunnel, you arrive at a trailhead parking area.

The next stretch of the Coal Creek Trail is an absolute delight as it wends its way up the lushly vegetated canyon. The sparkling waters of Coal Creek are close by, with gravel beaches providing perfect stopping points for a rest . The canyon grows deeper and more remote with every step, and noises of civilization are quickly left behind. A mile from Coal Creek Parkway, the trail crosses the creek, climbs a bit up the south wall of the canyon, then reaches a junction with the Primrose Trail. You can go either way; the Primrose Trail is slightly longer but more scenic. The other trail continues climbing past this junction, on a steep and sometimes muddy section , before leveling off on an old railroad grade, where the junction with the other end of the Primrose trail is encountered.

Waterfall, Coal Creek Park

The next mile of trail follows the nearly level railroad grade, an exceptionally pleasant stretch of walking. Signs point out relics left over from the Newcastle coal mining days. Eventually the trail reaches the pretty North Fork Waterfall, where nearby benches invite a rest break.

Beyond the falls, the trail climbs out of the creek’s valley, passes the spooky mouth of an abandoned coal mine, then ends at the side of Lakemont Boulevard. Cross the road and enter the signed Red Town Trailhead parking lot , a major entry point for the Cougar Mountain Regional Park. A reader board at the far end of the lot provides information and free maps. If you don’t have a map, now is the time to get one; the network of trails on Cougar Mountain is amazingly complex and it’s easy to get lost..

Continue the hike on the Red Town Trail ( actually a road), which begins at the reader board. Turn left onto Cave Hole Trail (actually another road ) 0.2 miles from the trailhead. The road/trail climbs steeply through second growth forest: maple, alder and a scattering of fir and cedar. After a half mile, a junction with the Coal Creek Falls trail is reached ; the falls is a worthwhile side trip especially in winter when runoff is high. Past this junction, the Cave Hole trail soon levels out on the gently rolling summit plateau of Cougar Mountain. The plateau is a quiet land of second-growth forest, small creeks, and peaceful wetlands. Views in this area are few, except at the Clay Pit, a worthwhile detour offering a vista east toward the Cascade Mountains if you are getting claustrophobic in all of the greenery.

Now study your map and then traverse the maze of trails on the summit plateau of Cougar Mountain. You want to exit the park via the Big Tree Ridge Trail, which descends steeply down to Newport Way. Head east a half mile on the road to get to Issaquah Transit Center and its frequent bus connections

Getting Back

At Issaquah Transit Center, Ride Sound Transit 554 to get back to Seattle

Typical City of Bellevue trail marker, upper end of Coal Creek Park