AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Coal Creek Falls 04067.JPG
Walter Siegmund · CC BY 2.5
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

Coal Creek Natural Area–Coal Creek Falls, 11 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,435 ft · 7 hr 31 min

Coal Creek Natural Area–Coal Creek Falls, 11 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near High Valley, WA. The route passes Coal Creek Falls before reaching Coal Creek Natural Area at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 4,435 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi364 – 1,818 ft · steepest grade: 22%16.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.48193, -122.05432
Nearest town High Valley, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Natural Area–Coal Creek Falls, 11 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,435 ft · 7 hr 31 min

Elevation 365–1,819 ft

Out & Back · Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

Trailhead: 47.48193, -122.05432

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 75°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

Transit-accessible: Squak Mountain State Park stop 13 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on May Valley Loop, heading N.
  2. 2.4 miTurn left onto Bullitt Fireplace Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.6 miBear left onto West Access Trail, heading NE.
  4. 250 ftContinue straight onto Bullitt Fireplace Trail, heading NE.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto West Access Trail, heading NE.
  6. 1.1 miBear left, heading W.
  7. 0.8 miTurn left onto Wilderness Cliffs Trail, heading W.
  8. 350 ftBear right onto Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.9 miBear left onto Shy Bear Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fred's Railroad Trail, heading N.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Shy Bear Trail, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Fred's Railroad Trail, heading W.
  13. 250 ftBear left onto Quarry Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.5 miPass Coal Creek Falls.
  15. 0.6 miBear right onto Indian Trail, heading NW.
  16. 350 ftTurn left onto Marshall's Hill Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wildside Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Rainbow Town Trail, heading NW.
  19. 450 ftTurn right onto China Creek Trail, heading N.
  20. 200 ftReach Coal Creek Natural Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 150 ftTurn left onto Rainbow Town Trail, heading N.
  22. 450 ftContinue straight onto Wildside Trail, heading NE.
  23. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Marshall's Hill Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right onto Indian Trail, heading S.
  25. 400 ftBear left onto Quarry Trail, heading S.
  26. 1 miBear right onto Fred's Railroad Trail, heading E.
  27. 250 ftBear left onto Shy Bear Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftBear right onto Fred's Railroad Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Shy Bear Trail, heading E.
  30. 0.3 miBear right onto Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail, heading E.
  31. 0.9 miBear left onto Wilderness Cliffs Trail, heading W.
  32. 350 ftTurn right onto Squak Mountain Connector Trail, heading E.
  33. 0.8 miBear right onto West Access Trail, heading NE.
  34. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Bullitt Fireplace Trail, heading SE.
  35. 150 ftContinue straight onto West Access Trail, heading SE.
  36. 250 ftBear right onto Bullitt Fireplace Trail, heading E.
  37. 0.6 miTurn right onto Bullitt Gorge Trail, heading SE.
  38. 1.3 miBear left onto May Valley Loop, heading S.
  39. 1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/coal-creek-falls-margarets-viewpoint-out-back-22-km-475e

Trail surface

54% dirt46% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 75°F53°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity52%
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 5:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:41 PM
Tue 83°60°
Wed 89°63°
Thu 91°55°
Fri 85°52°
Sat 83°51°
Sun 82°52°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Squak Mountain State Park stop 13 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near High Valley, Washington