"My sister and I finally took the old shortcut trail we'd been trying to locate on several hikes. I hadn't hiked it in at least 8 years, maybe 10. Blast from the past! Very old maps and guidebooks by Harvey Manning (the one I have is from 1988) refer to it as Jim's Trail. Both ends are hard to spot, but the trail remains intact." — Al-Rashid • May 11, 2023

"Solo. Primary purpose was to hit 3 of the remaining 5 peaks (all on Cougar Mtn) to complete the Issaquah Alps 24 challenge. Got started early (6:45) since it was Saturday. Cloudy, and sometimes a bit misty. No views at any of the peaks; perhaps a couple of peekaboo views at other points, but hard to tell since it was low clouds. Put on my rain slicker about halfway through, though probably didn't need it. Was pretty quiet for the first half, busier as I was heading down the last mile or so. Interestingly, all the people I saw on the first half were runners, while all the people I saw on the way down were hikers." — danv • Aug 7, 2021

"Starting from the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak trailhead, I kept to the path until I hit the junction. I followed Longview Trail to the Peak; which is just a dirt patch. I continued down the Deceiver's Ridge and was amazed at how beautiful the environment was with the morning light. I visited Doughty's Fall that was dry at this time of year as well. Eventually, it led me to Shy Bear Pass that took me back to Wildneress Trail. To end the day, I revisted the Wilderness Peak and finished the loop bsck to the trailhead." — IanW • Sep 7, 2020

"A small, forested mountain just outside Seattle, hiked on a cool late fall morning. Overall rating 4/10, nice for a short winter hike with some climbing that's right outside the city" — MountainQuest • Nov 23, 2019

"My sister Shelley and I did a run from my doorstep to Wilderness Peak and back to my doorstep in a 10 mile loop. It was awesome setting out for an adventure together right from the house and exploring the big backyard. I think we'll be doing more runs like this in the future. We took off right after the rain stopped. The forest felt so alive, and the air so clean. It was very refreshing and exactly what I needed. Thanks for delivering another awesome evening trail run, Cougar Mountain." — Al-Rashid • Sep 23, 2019

"I only had a few hours to get away, so I decided to nab all the little nubbins in Cougar Mountain Park. Did a 12 mile loop starting from outside the gate to the Sky Country Trailhead (I arrived before the park opened), then looping over Marshall's Hill, Deceiver Ridge, Long View Peak, Wilderness Peak, and Anti-Aircraft Peak, before returning to the car. No views, but lots of sword ferns and courteous runners." — TynanRammGranberg • May 31, 2015

"It was certainly a great day for a bit of adventure in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. My buddy John and I made our way up to Wilderness Peak and then traversed a short distance over to Long View Peak to pull in a second peak for the day. The trail conditions were predictably wet with mud patches in some areas, though no blowdowns and no unusually challenging conditions." — herdingcats • Mar 27, 2014

"We came up the remnants of the West Tibberts Creek Trail, which only really exists near the 2 ends where it connects with the Bear Ridge Trail at the bottom, and the West Tibbets Creek Connector above the Fantastic Erratic Glacial Boulder at the top. From there we headed down to sit on the boulder and have some lunch, because we worked up quite an appetite bushwacking through thick thorns on the way up through the vanished middle section of the West Tibbetts Creek Trail. From the boulder we headed west on the Precipice Trail to connect with the Newcastle Queen Mine Trail. It is difficult to find where the trail picks up when you head west from the boulder. If you just head westward crossing up and over the first 2 ridges and gullies you come across, then bushwack straight uphill when you attain the top of the third ridge you will hit the trail at a point where it is very well worn and obvious. From here we continued westward to the Newcastle Queen Mine Trail and then up to the claypit. Next we made a quick stop at Claypit Peak before taking the Blackwater Pond Trail to the fork just past the pond. From the fork we went right to head to Jerry's Duck Pond. Next we wen..." — Al-Rashid • Mar 3, 2012

"We came up the Newcastle Queen Mine Trail to the claypit. From there we headed to Claypit Peak, and then hopped on the Blackwater Pond Trail. We cruised past Blackwater Pond and connected back with the official trail network just below Wilderness Peak. Then it was back to another unofficial trail, Jim's Trail, which we took down to connect with the Wilderness Cliffs Trail, and finally Wilderness Creek Trail." — Al-Rashid • Mar 4, 2011

"While reading some of the interesting comments in the summit log I came across a recent one that said "sex on the bench was rough." My buddy Jake was with me and happened to mention the trip to a couple of friends of his, who told him "we were just up there the other day, we had sex on the bench!" Small world I guess." — Al-Rashid • Dec 11, 2010