Wilderness Peak traverse -- a shady hike for a hot day

Most weather forecasts are offering us temperatures in the mid-80s F next weekend -- a bit hot for a hard hike -- so let's do something with no views whatsoever! and shady tree cover the whole way! I mean it -- there are two peaks, and no views, and no hot sun, I promise. Ok, ok, we have to cross two streets where we're out in the sun, and our end point has sun, but the entire hike is under trees (except maaaybe in a few spots). Our route has lots of little detours for various points of interest that are typically skipped -- we'll go see all of them. This also continues our series showing how we can use transit to enter one trailhead and come out somewhere completely different. So...

We'll take Trailhead Direct Issaquah Alps to the Margaret's Way trailhead...but we'll turn around and go the opposite way. At this point, we are just a bit south of Issaquah. We'll dodge traffic to cross SR 900, and actually start from the Jim Whittaker Wilderness trailhead. We'll go up the Wilderness Peak and Wilderness Cliffs trails to Wilderness Peak, which is completely surrounded by trees.

We'll head down again, to Shy Bear Pass, turn west on Long View Peak trail, and take a short spur trail to Long View Peak...which used to have a long view, but now is tree-covered. We'll continue west on the Deceiver trail, and detour to see Doughty Falls, which has a recently rebuilt viewing area. Back to the Deceiver trail, west again, continue west on Shy Bear trail to the Far Country Lookout. It may have a view to the west, but there are trees overhead. There is (supposed to be) a geocache here. If you want, you can bring a small trinket to leave in the geocache box -- I will try to get a small notebook and pen, in case the logbook is full. We'll stop here for lunch.

Then west on the Far Country trail, north on Indian trail, with a detour to Far Country Falls. A short way further north north, then west on the De Leo Wall trail. Where that trail turns sharply northeast, we'll continue on the Viewpoint #2 trail, and actually go have a look at the viewpoint. Then we'll come back to the junction with what used to be our Secret Trail, but is not so secret any more, and even has a name and signpost! It's now called the Cougar Access trail. That will take us down to an abandoned and derelict cabin, that we've been watching slowly disintegrate over years of visits.

Now we're down in suburbs of Newcastle. We'll follow the Highlands trail south then west, cross Coal Creek Parkway, and down to the May Creek trail. We'll follow its twists and turns to the Waterline trail, which will take us north into Lake Boren Park.

So, we start from a Squak trailhead (Margaret's Way), near Issaquah, cross through Cougar, and come out in Newcastle.

This is about 7.5 miles, 1800 ft elevation gain. Just up to Wilderness Peak is about 1.4 miles, 1230 ft elevation gain.

From Lake Boren Park, we can catch the #240 bus, which heads north to Eastgate (where we can connect to the #554 to Seattle or Issaquah) and Bellevue, or south to Renton.

Logistics:

Bring water, lunch, snacks. Hiking shoes or boots are appropriate. Keep an eye on weather forecasts.

The start time is at Mt Baker Transit Center, to catch the Trailhead Direct bus that leaves there at 9:12am. The end time is a wild estimate, assuming one needs to go back to Mt Baker TC, which is unlikely. The actual end time will depend on when we get to Lake Boren Park, and where we each need to get to.

Bus riders: The Trailhead Direct bus leaves Mt Baker TC at 9:12, but you can also get on at South Bellevue Station bay 2 at 9:23am or Issaquah TC bay 5 at 9:37am -- for safety, be at the stop 5 min early. Note Mt Baker TC is about a block north of the Mt Baker Link station, so if you're taking Link, leave time to get to Mt Baker TC.

Drivers: Don't drive, srsly, there is no good option for where to park. We are not coming back to the trailhead, and there is no way to get back there by bus at the end of the hike after Trailhead Direct ends for the day -- you'd have to turn back partway through the hike, and hike back alone. And you need a Discover Pass. If you really have to drive partway, then park at either South Bellevue Station or Issaquah TC and catch the Trailhead Direct bus there (see times above). Better, try taking the bus the whole way. You can do it!