Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
Surprise Creek Viewpoint–Military Ridge Trail, 4 sights
8.4 mi · ▲ 1,143 ft · 3 hr 22 min
Surprise Creek Viewpoint–Military Ridge Trail, 4 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near Issaquah, WA. The route reaches Surprise Creek Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 1,143 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Surprise Creek Viewpoint–Military Ridge Trail, 4 sights
8.4 mi · ▲ 1,143 ft · 3 hr 22 min
Elevation 47–905 ft
Out & Back · Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
Trailhead: East Lake Sammamish Trail · 47.55182, -122.04402
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 78°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:41 PM
Transit-accessible: SE 56th St & East Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE stop 11 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on East Lake Sammamish Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Pickering Multiple Use Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Sammamish Multiple Use Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Newport Way Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Military Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Precipice Top Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Surprise Creek Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miReach Surprise Creek Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Precipice Top Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Military Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Newport Way Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Sammamish Multiple Use Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto East Lake Sammamish Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 200 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: SE 56th St & East Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE stop 11 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from East Lake Sammamish Trail Trailhead
- Homestead Trail & Pickering Multiple Use Trail via East Lake Sammamish Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Tibbetts Beach–Orchard Loop, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Rainier Greenway Trail & Rainier Trail 5 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Big Tree Ridge Trail–Fred's Railroad Trail, 10 sights 13.7 mi · ▲ 1,680 ft
- Bootleg Trail–Hidden Forest Trail, 7 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 3,721 ft
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