cougar mountain regional wildland park

mariabQ1156DD

I'm a bit biased because my house practically backs onto the park, but I spend so much time in here running and hiking the trails. They are very well maintained, trees get moved very quickly if they come down in a storm, trails get graded when they start to get too steep an angle on the sides, etc. They're also very good with maintaining signs and having maps at the trailheads. There is lots of parking at Sky Country trail head, also quite a lot at Red Town, but sometimes limited at Anti-Aircraft especially on nice days. Some things to do if you bring kids is geocaching (there are quite a few geocache locations in the park) and going to the clay pit which is an easy walk straight down Clay Pit road from the Sky Country trail head. In summer the clay pit is pretty cool, you can go right up to the water's edge and see tadpoles in the water as well as animal footprints - we take turns guessing which animal left which footprint. I love bringing overseas guests here, it's just so beautiful. There are also several picnic spots near the trail heads so you can make a day of it. Enjoy!

VickiT397

I really liked this place. Not overly commercial and a nice place to visit with young children. We visited with our son, his wife, and grandson. Our grandson loved the animals and the exhibits. We could travel the park in a day without getting too tired or overwhelmed. I definitely recommend this park!

willwork4wine

Miles of trails, some leading to waterfalls, missile silos, and historic mining relics. Some animal sightings. Beautiful, easy trails. You'll often find small groups of happy people and their dogs in the parking lot, with lots of cars, on a beautiful day. Get there early. Go deeper into the woods than the rest, and find peace and beauty. Dogs must stay on leash, FYI.

lene67424

We went walking here as tourists. We downloaded a map onto our smart phone and used that and the trail signs to navigate. It was easy to find our way around. We walked about 4 miles and did a circular route. The forest is old and tree truns are covered with moss... it's like in a fairytale.

WanderingWoman_13

Close to the freeway, unexpected zoo. Clean, educational, animal friendly, love this place! Walk around at your own pace, ask questions and learn about the different animals that are more NW related. (Though not all !)

WilliamH98006

Not to big and not too small for that day trip with your grandchildren!My Granddaughter Loved it; and I didn't get too tired. Afterwards, we had Ice Cream! I imagine its good for small children families too...

BBSeattle

So much history, so expansive, so accessible, and so unknown. I used to live within a few hundred yards of one of its many trailheads and spent many hours on pleasant hikes. This park is addictive if you just try it once.

SFantle101

There are so many options available for year-round hiking on Cougar Mountain. Families, dogs, all are welcome here. No pass is needed for parking, which is a big plus too. Be sure to print a map (available online or at some of the trailheads), as the network of trails can get a bit confusing.

MOG808

This park is an amazing resource so close to Seattle. We hiked from the Redtown trailhead on one occasion and our second hike started at the Squak Mountain Corridor that connected to the Wilderness Cliffs trail. Both trails were well marked and connected with other trails in the park. The trails from the Redtown trailhead were more heavily used than Wilderness Cliffs, where we felt as though we were on our own private trail. The lowland forest is quite beautiful. It was a warm day and we were thankful that most of the trail was in shade. I am looking forward to exploring more trails in this park on our next visit to Seattle.

Hollyrik

King County Parks, which administers Cougar Mountain, bills it as one of the largest urban wildernesses in the country. There are over 30 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, and I've found the historical information signs about the coal-mining history of the area very informative and interesting. The trails are mostly easy, many of them being old roads for the Coal Creek mining community that was here until the 1920s. The primary trailheads are "Red Town" at 7436 Lakemont Blvd and "High Country" at the south end of 166th Way SE near the old Nike missile site (also with good historical info signs). My favorite is a hike out to Coal Creek Falls (which are seasonal, drying up around late July or August), but for the less adventurous the hike out to the Ball Field Meadow is along an old road and features several mining town sites with information signs and ends in a restored wildflower meadow. Its a great way to introduce kids to hiking and the wilderness without having to pack up to the mountains.

msgardenelf

Great place to hike during the winter months when all of the upper mountain trails are covered in snow. Wear boots and gear appropriate for the weather. Many trail options to explore.

JessicaB193

This offers some nice and easy and shaded walking paths. There is also a very steep path that leads straight up the mountain. This was a nice place to go and do some hiking with friends.

TSchenk

The Cougar Mountain network of trails offers a delightful opportunity to view the local flora and fauna. It is accented with many relics of the areas anti-aircraft, railroad and mining history. The trail system is well maintained and offers hikers a wide variety of options.Some of the trail loops pass old mines and cross over the remnants of the railroad that once passed through the area. I particularly enjoyed the smells that were occasionally punctuated with the Earthy odors coming from the coal seams and mine shafts.The higher ground offered several waterfalls and the steeper grade added some challenge if your goals include a physical fitness workout. With so many different trail options you can visit this area several times and not pass by the same area twice.

NoniTravels

It is amazing that a place like Cougar Mountain Regional WIldlife Park exists so close to the city. Beautiful hiking trails, incredible views and glimpses of deer and other wildlife make it a perfect retreat from the city buzz.

CaptainBeardman

There are no viewpoints or anything worth seeing, and the trails are infested with thousands of caterpillars. Good for exercise but nothing else