AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

Cougar Access Trail–Cross Town Trail, 7 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 989 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Cougar Access Trail–Cross Town Trail, 7 sights is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near Newcastle, WA. It climbs 989 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi345 – 1,014 ft · steepest grade: 22%6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Highlands Trail 47.51921, -122.15757
Nearest town Newcastle, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cougar Access Trail–Cross Town Trail, 7 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 989 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Elevation 345–1,015 ft

Out & Back · Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

Trailhead: Highlands Trail · 47.51921, -122.15757

Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 76°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:50 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

Transit-accessible: Coal Creek Pkwy SE & SE 91st St stop 161 m from the trailhead

  1. Start on Highlands Trail, heading SE.
  2. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cougar Access Trail, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  5. 0.3 miBear right onto Terrace Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Cross Town Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miBear left onto De Leo Wall Trail, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Marshall's Hill Trail, heading SE.
  11. 1 miBear right onto Wildside Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.5 miTurn right onto De Leo Wall Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Viewpoint #2 Trail, heading NW.
  14. 150 ftTurn left onto Cougar Access Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  16. 300 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right onto Highlands Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.7 miBear left onto Heritage Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.4 miSharp right onto Highlands Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.3 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/cougar-access-trail-cross-town-trail-loop-8-sights-8-km

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 76°F51°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity53%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 5:50 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°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 8:02 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:14 PM — 4 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Coal Creek Pkwy SE & SE 91st St stop 161 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Highlands Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Newcastle, Washington