Dogs Leashed
Features
River/Creek
Overview
This is an occasionally difficult route which features views at the beginning and end of the trail. While on the trail itself, you'll be under the cover of trees virtually the entire time, which can make this a great shaded run on a warm summer day.
Need to Know
No parking is allowed on the private streets of the Belvedere housing development, but you can park close on City streets near the trailhead in the Pinnacle development on 170th Pl SE.
Runner Notes
Parts of the trail are fairly bumpy due to tree roots and rocks. Although I'm no longer a trail runner myself, I think this would be an acceptable route for trail running as long as you are paying attention to your footing.
Description
On the western side, the trail starts between the edges of the Belvedere and Pinnacle housing developments, at one of the many headwaters of Coal Creek. If you go during winter or spring, you'll see a tiny trickle of water running under a small wood bridge.
After 0.1 miles, you'll intersect with with the sparsely used
Radio Peak Trail, which you'll follow south/downhill for 0.2 miles. From there, you'll turn left/northeast onto
Coyote Creek Trail for a relatively flat 0.3 miles. At the first trail intersection, you'll turn right onto
Lost Beagle Trail for 0.8 miles. During this part of the route, you'll get very close to the top of Cougar Mountain, with some short sections of the trail ranging from 15-35% grade. Because this is very near another parking lot within the park, you can expect to see a fair number of trail users, including families, on the second half of this trail, where it approaches the
Shangri La Trail.
When you get to the
Shangri La Trail, turn right/east for a gentle -10% grade for 0.3 mile, until you reach the intersection with the
Surprise Creek Trail, which you'll take for half a mile until you reach the
Red Cedars Trail. Take
Red Cedars Trail for 0.3 miles to
Military Ridge Trail, which you'll follow for 0.4 miles. From there, it's another 0.1 mile on the
Military Ridge Trail to the trailhead on the Talus side of the mountain, where there are bathroom facilities. Simply reverse the route to get where you started.
Flora & Fauna
Lots of trees, including cedar, douglas fir, and alder.
Contacts
Shared By:
Jeff Lowder
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