A trail is right outside my home! Walk a few feet and take a quick trail run, walk or hike…read more Whatever your mood wants. The level on most trails are gentle uphill. You can take your dog, family or out of town visitors to show them the beauty of our forested natural neighborhood without them being overwhelmed. I personally loved trail running when I was younger and would go out most days . Now I mostly hike or walk the trail to take a break from working remote. I feel lucky to have this beautiful gem so close by! Beware on weekends in nice weather the parking fills up quickly, but you can usually find a spot most weekdays.

Cougar Mountain has some great trails with a variety of difficulty levels throughout. Once a coal…read moremining area, a lot of work has been done over the years to help nature be nature and restore things as they should be, complete with lots of trails so that us humans can enjoy and obverse what's going on in our environment. Trails are well maintained and clearly marked. Please stay on them! Yes, there are some fun caves that are left over from the mines, no I will not tell you where they are, because they are extremely dangerous and you never know when there's going to be a problem. Either way, it's a great place to go as far (or not) as you'd like. Parking can get a little crazy depending on which trailhead you're aiming for and it's good to come earlier in the day. Also keep in mind that Cougar Mountain isn't just some cute, random name. Know what wildlife lives here, how to handle yourself, and remember that you're the trespasser.

Since we were in the area we stopped by this park. Only a few people when we arrived and they left…read moreso it was just a peaceful park. We walked around a bit taking in the fresh air and scenery. They have some structures and plants to see. It's a park so it's what you make of it. We just wanted to come by and walk around a bit and it fit the bill.

This park is a hidden gem. I was looking for a park that had mountain views and this spot…read moredefinitely delivers. There is a parking lot, bathrooms, and plenty of nature. I wish there were longer walking paths but it is situated near other trails.

Beautiful trail that follows May creek. Single lane trail which is one way. Not a loop. A lovely…read moreforest just hidden in plain site. Once you're down walking closer to the creek it's very peaceful and quiet. You wouldn't even guess that nearby is a busy road and neighborhoods. And so green in the springtime! Just a lovely place. Enjoy life. SYOY!

This neighborhood park offers a few trails, maybe a mile out at most. There seem to be two main…read moretrails, one that goes off to the Wind Tree trail head, and another that goes down May Creek (follow signs for a Boren Bridge). Both seem pretty manageable, but the Wind Tree trail seems to be more popular for everyday neighborhood walking. The Wind Tree trail is a pretty straight path, little elevation change, some roots etc. Very walking friendly. Closer to the Wind Tree trail head, there's an informational board about the terrain and history of the area. The trail down to May Creek is more tricky, winding down to the water with some short switchbacks (a total of ~100' drop over half a mile). Towards the bottom, there are some thoughtfully placed benches to stop and enjoy the view - whether it's overlooking the forest or the burbling creek. The creek is really pretty too! The shore is gently sloped so you can get close to the water. It's a little muddier and more slippery in the fall-winter-spring, especially once all the dead leaves are on the trail and in the process of decomposing.

Rattlesnake Ridge is an awesome hike that is quintessential to the area. It's popular for good…read morereason as it's accessible and has great views of Rattlesnake Lake and beyond. For anyone who loves hiking in the Seattle area, they've likely already visited Rattlesnake Ridge. So take your visitors from out of town here and it'll be a solid time. Because it's a popular trail in North Bend, like any others in the area, get here early if hiking on the weekend. We visited on a holiday where many people had the day off, so ended up parking on the side of the road as the parking lot for this trailhead was all full in the late morning. You've been warned! Bathrooms are located at the start of the trail and is where the lake is for beautiful views and a swim. The trail itself starts through a forest and is mostly covered by the trees. At the top is where it's clear, so it's a great hike for sun coverage. But you'll still break a sweat as it inclines. It's four miles roundtrip, and there are other trails attached to it for further adventures. For those who are used to hiking, this is an easy one to do. AND, it's dog-friendly! Loved seeing all the dogs here. I recommend climbing Rattlesnake Ridge and soaking in the views at the top. You won't regret it.

I have done this hike over a dozen times and still come back…read more 30-40 min drive from Seattle so not a far trek. 1.9miles each way and 3.8 Roundtrip so not a super long hike but not short either. It's perfect with great views. Expect the trail to be busy on weekends during the summer months. I always like to start early and end early. Would say it takes 2-3 hours round trip depending on your level of fitness (this includes some time at the top to enjoy the views, take a sip of some water or coffee, and eat a light snack). Highly recommend (wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and some snacks for the top).

Great park with a wilder set of plants. Lovely to see a well maintained trail that has more natural…read moregreenery and wildlife (we saw lots of birds, ground squirrels, slugs, etc.). There are not many people and there is a good amount of parking, plus a portable potty out front. It is a little steep in certain parts but everything is manageable and it is relatively short but nothing stops you from going another loop around or going down all the little side trails! Bonus: Dog friendly just pick up all waste so that it's nice for the next person!

This is a park that could be quite nice with a bit of funding…read more As it is, it's fairly small - a short walk through a narrow path that opens into a clearing with a retired reservoir that was at one point the supplier of the city's water. The clearing boasts a couple benches and another another narrow path that leads to the exit. There's quite a bit of road noise and overall it would benefit from a play area or a few sculptures placed in what has been renamed the "peace bowl". I could easily see someone who lives locally enjoying their morning walk here, but the park feels neglected and could really use some sprucing up.

Beautiful park that has something to do for everyone! There are slides, swings, monkey bar,…read morebasketball court, soccer field, lake access, boardwalk. Benches, gazebos, trails! Best part is it has tall trees so even if it's very sunny it still has shaded areas.

What a fun park to have an end of the summer party! My kids and their friends met up for a beach…read moreparty to celebrate the end of summer and start of the new school year. They have reserved picnic spaces but also lots of spaces where you can simply claim to use the day of your gathering. The bathrooms were not the cleanest nor was the lake water as my son left with a stomach bug the next day. The parking lot is a bit of a hike to get to the lake and picnic areas. I highly recommend using a wagon to transport food and drinks. Or you can have somebody pull up in the handicapped parking loop to drop off party supplies.

Absolutely stunning state park, just moved to the area and this has quickly become my new favorite…read morespot to touch grass. The lake is very nice, it doesn't get too crowded (even on a Sunday afternoon). Perfect for a beach day, a dip, a paddle, a run or just to relax and enjoy nature.

Decided to come on a crowded Sunday afternoon with the hopes of purchasing an ice cream. Mission…read moreaccomplished. But dang it so crowded! Thank goodness there are many places for large groups here. On the opposite side of the lake there was NOT a lot of people. And still plenty of picnic tables and available barbecues. The sun was extremely hot and the ice cream cold and yummy. Enjoy your life. SYOY!

Cougar Mountain has some great trails with a variety of difficulty. This particular listing is for…read morethe Wilderness Creek Trail portion of Cougar Mountain. One of the steeper parts of the trail system, it's about 3 miles long and allows you to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery that Washington has to offer. Of course, many of the trails interwind so you can choose your own adventure! Parking can get a little crazy, it's good to come earlier in the day. Also keep in mind that Cougar Mountain isn't just some random name. Know what wildlife lives here, how to handle yourself, and remember we're the ones trespassing.

This is a good trail to go for a walk or hike. Off of SR 900 in Issaquah, between Issaquah and…read moreRenton, next to the road with easy parking and public restrooms. Dog friendly, well taken care of wooden pathway in some areas, dirt path in others and some snow run off in the warmer months. There are some creek crossings with some scantily made bridges. It's 2.6 miles in according to the website so 5.2 miles round trip. Nice view of the mountains and the surrounding woods. Feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. You can go back out to the parking area or it connects to another trail, Wilderness Cliffs, and you can keep going. I'd say this is an easy to moderate trail.