Mica Peak to Liberty Lake: Highline Connector

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Views · Wildflowers

This trail moves through Department of Natural Resources property for a while before cutting back over onto County Conservation land. Bow hunting is permitting on the DNR property so wear bright colors and make lots of human noise as you run. Starting from the Belmont Road trailhead, you'll make your way to Mica Peak and heading north toward Liberty Lake on Edith Hansen and Liberty Creek trails.

This run begins at the Belmont Road trailhead on the west side of the Mica Peak Conservation Area. From the trailhead kiosk, take the doubletrack logging road to the right.

There are several old, decommissioned logging roads that branch off from this one.Take the road most traveled to stay on track. After a couple of miles of climbing, you'll come to a singletrack that breaks away to the left. That portion of trail was built by Evergreen East as part of a flow route down the mountain - -a trail that will be completed in fall/winter of 2019. Take the switchbacks up to the road again. From there, you'll cross the road and continue climbing.

Watch for another singletrack to the right. This one is in progress with Washington Trails Association. The section is finished from the bottom and the top, but there's a mid-section that is only flagged. Carefully work your way up the hillside, keeping your eyes open for flagging to indicate your route. Once you're back on completed trail, watch to your left for an old, unused mica mine. You'll recognize it by all the mica scattered thickly across the trail.

When the WTA trail section pops you out onto the saddle that overlooks the valley, take the doubletrack that continues to climb. From here, the trail gets a bit rough in spots with overgrowth and downed tress. However, the tamarack, aspen and even a few stands of subalpine growth are absolutely worth the work! This trail section will take you through Mica Peak North, the newest acquisition in the area and the one that actually connects to Liberty Lake Regional Park.

From here, just follow the doubletrack trail until you reach a "T." Take a left. You are now on the Mica Peak Trail in Liberty Lake. This trail descends for several miles before joining the Edith Hansen Equestrian Trail and coming out at Liberty Lake Park.

Because this trail system is not yet completed, the route isn't signed. Be sure to check back with your app often, and especially at trail junctions, to make sure you stay on track. The road will eventually take you to another singletrack that cuts off to the right. If you're running this trail in mid/late summer, be on the lookout for huckleberries. They tend to grow in treeless, sunny areas.

Moose, elk, deer, bears, cougars, tamarack, aspen, huckleberries, Indian paintbrush.