AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Central Park

South Pond–Coal Mine Loop Trail, 5 sights

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,244 ft · 3 hr 43 min

South Pond–Coal Mine Loop Trail, 5 sights is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Central Park near Issaquah, WA. The route reaches South Pond. It climbs 1,244 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi289 – 1,194 ft · steepest grade: 18%9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.53640, -122.01873
Nearest town Issaquah, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South Pond–Coal Mine Loop Trail, 5 sights

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,244 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Elevation 288–1,193 ft

Out & Back · Central Park

Trailhead: 47.53640, -122.01873

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Transit-accessible: 9th Ave NE & NE Ellis Dr stop 480 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 200 ftTurn left onto Issaquah-Preston Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.7 miSharp left onto Grand Ridge West, heading E.
  7. 250 ftSharp right onto Coal Mine Loop Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.7 miSharp left onto East Fork Trail, heading E.
  9. 1.5 miBear right onto Len's Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.7 miReach South Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left onto Spruce Coaster Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miSharp right onto Flowing Fir Loop, heading NW.
  13. 1.6 miSharp right onto Sam Dog Creek Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Coal Mine Loop Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.3 miPass South Pond.
  16. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Grand Ridge West, heading SW.
  18. 250 ftSharp right onto Issaquah-Preston Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftArrive 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/south-pond-south-pond-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

77% dirt10% gravel2% paved11% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:53 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~128 min). Leave by 4:43 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 9th Ave NE & NE Ellis Dr stop 480 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Issaquah, Washington