Washington's Former Mining Site Near Seattle Is Now A Beautiful Park With Scenic Trails And Wildlife

Tucked in the forest right outside of Seattle is an oasis full of trails to explore and views to take in. Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is less than 20 minutes outside of Seattle, making it an accessible spot to get out and hike from the city. The park contains several trails and encompasses more than 3,000 acres. Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is part of an area known as the Issaquah Alps. This region includes Squak and Tiger Mountains, creating a massive 15,000 acres of land to hike and enjoy. A good spot to start exploring the Issaquah Alps is the town of Issaquah, which provides access on the edge of the city limits. 

The park has a history of mining, with coal first being found near Cougar Mountain back in 1863. Decades of different resources were harvested from Cougar Mountain before it became protected land in the late 1980s. While most of the mining shafts and vents were filled in, some may still remain. This is why it is important for hikers to stay on trails throughout the park to make sure that they stay safe from potential leftover hazards. Seeing as there are 35 miles of trails, you have plenty to pick from.

The park is home to several species of wildlife including bobcats, black bears, and coyotes. The Issaquah Alps Trails Club not only advocates and educates for the parks, but has its own wildlife education project. This program has 12 trail cameras to capture which animals call these trails and parks their home, providing access to the footage to engage and educate the public on which species are around and how to protect them.

Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park has trails ranging from those more accessible with city views to trails that take you further into the forest and away from the cityscape. According to AllTrails, one of the most popular trails is the Coals Creek Falls Loop, which ends up being 2.8 miles, taking around 1.5 to 2 hours to hike. Depending on the time of year, the waterfall can be dry, but thousands of hikers have reviewed this trail with the consensus being that it is a nice hike, even if at times it's a bit buggy. 

Another noteworthy hike in the park is the Whittaker Wilderness Peak Loop, named after mountaineer Jim Whittaker. Wilderness Peak is the highest point in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park at 1,598 feet. The trail takes you past large ferns, under fir trees, and over boardwalks in swampy areas. The highest point in the park might not get you a viewpoint due to the heavy tree coverage, but hikers say it's a nice trail to get a good workout while being in the forest. 

Issaquah, known as a "trailhead city" with year-round outdoor recreation, is a good place to start to find most of the trails, as this trailhead community is one of 5 charming Washington suburbs outside Seattle that are worth visiting. It's a good spot to visit not just for the trailheads but for a bite to eat, whether it's before or after your hike. While you're in the area, less than 15 minutes away is the town of Sammamish, known for its unrivaled trails, global eats, and local craft beer.