Author Archives: Jim

Cougar Canyon Creek Trail

Trails No Comments

View accessibility details from Access Trails here.

There are two distinct parts to this trail divided at NW 119th St.

North of NW 119th St is a paved multi-use trail that connects to the Salmon Creek Greenway Trail.  This is a 1/2 mile walk alongside Cougar Canyon Creek.  4/10ths mile from the road is a connector trail that climbs 1/10th mile up to NW 125th St & NW 15th Ave.

South of NW 119th St is an unimproved dirt trail the follows Cougar Canyon Creek, then turns to the west to climb up to park land labelled Canyon Creek Woods.  With a trail loop in that area, this trail is about 1/2 mile, making for a 1 mile out and back hike.

Connector from NW 15th Ave to Cougar Creek Canyon Trail
Tree fall along Cougar Creek
Cougar Creek Woods Community Park Property
Cougar Creek Canyon Trail
Cougar Creek Canyon Trail

While the trail does not continue further up Cougar Canyon Creek yet, the county owns many parcels along the creek, so that eventually it may be possible to complete a trail all the way through to Hazel Dell Ave.

Foley Neighborhood Park Property

Parks Trails 2 Comments

At first glance this just looks like an empty lot.  Walk to the back of the field, and you find trails through a wooded area and an orchard.  The first couple times I visited the site, I saw deer in the orchard.  The fence on the north side has an opening which allows the deer to easily access the orchard.

To walk the trail through the wooded area, around the perimeter of the orchard and return to the start is about a 1/3 mile path, but of course, you could meander through the orchard.

  • Foley Neighborhood Park property
  • Foley Neighborhood Park property

Sorenson Neighborhood Park

Parks Trails No Comments

Another of Clark County’s newly developed neighborhood parks.  This park includes a 1/4 mile looping path and an interesting area of wood structures for play or relaxation.  Main frontage is on NW 26th Ave and a path connects through to the end of NW 109th St.

The empty land next to the park is the future site of a school.

Sorenson Neighborhood Park

Columbia Springs

Parks Trails No Comments

The Columbia Springs Water Resources Education Center and Trout Hatchery has over a mile of trails to wander around and lots of great educational resources.  The public parking lot is just to the west of the Trout Hatchery.

From the parking lot, you can take a short loop trail (1/3 mile) past the Nature Play Area, or follow the path alongside Evergreen Highway to the Cedar Loop trail.  East from the parking lot is the Trout Hatchery as well as trails around West Biddle Lake and to East Biddle Lake.  To walk all of the trails, out and back, would take you just under 2 miles.

  • Wood carvings at Columbia Springs
  • Trilliums at Columbia Springs
  • Along Cedar Circle Trail at Columbia Springs
  • Cedar Circle Trail at Columbia Springs
  • Nature Play Area at Columbia Springs
  • Map display at Columbia Springs

Padden Parkway Wetland

Trails No Comments

This is not an easy place to get to, even though you likely frequently drive right past it.  Padden Parkway passes through a wetland area, and on the south side of Padden is a path that meanders into the area.

Wetland alongside Padden Parkway

The only way to reach the site is from along the Padden Parkway bike path. You should be able to access the path from the back of the New Heights Church parking lot. I am certain that when I went by there, I saw an access opening from the church parking lot to the bike path, but it does not appear to be there in Google Maps.

Sunset Falls

Parks Trails No Comments

Sunset Falls on the East Fork Lewis River has a Day Use Area ($5 day use fee) and Campground.  The trail from the Day Use Area parking lot to the falls is short, but you can easily extend a hike by walking the Forest Service roads and exploring side trails.  When I was there, I followed NF-42 about 1-1/2 miles along the river and explored several short side trails from the road to the river.

  • Sunset Falls on East Fork Lewis River
  • East Fork Lewis River
  • East Fork Lewis River
  • Swamp cabbage growing near the East Fork Lewis River.
  • Sunset Falls on East Fork Lewis River

Curtin Creek Community Park (planned)

Parks Trails No Comments

This site includes the future Curtin Creek Community Park, neighbored by the Glenwood Disc Golf Course and a Curtin Creek habitat and wetland restoration area.  You can park in the Glenwood Community Church parking lot and explore trails that lead into the wetland and habit restoration area.  The church property also includes a disc golf course to enjoy if you want something more than a nature walk.

The planned park will be on the property to the north of the church and east of the fire station.

  • Curtin Creek looking toward Fire Station 7.
  • Curtin Creek habitat restoration area
  • Curtin Creek habitat restoration area
  • Curtin Creek wetlands

192nd Ave Neighborhood Park

Parks Trails No Comments

On 192nd Ave, just south of the Fisher Basin Community Park, I found a site that has a good looping trail, but no name.  This is an area of grass and partially treed with a nice paved 1/4 mile looping path.  At the west end of the site is a fenced grassy area around a water filtration pond, but when I was there the gate was open allowing access to a grassy walk.

Neighborhood Park on 192nd Ave.

In addition to the frontage on 192nd Ave, there are two access paths from SE 11th Way, near 191st Ave and near 188th Ave.