Sky Country
Issaquah AlpsBest Year-round
The front door to Cougar Mountain's waterfall loops and wildflower wandering.
About This Trail
Sky Country is a brief connector trail at the southern edge of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, but the trailhead it shares is one of the best starting points in the entire park. From the spacious Sky Country parking lot, hikers fan out to waterfalls, old mining sites, forested ridges, and seasonal wildflower displays.
The trail itself links to Military Road and a web of paths including Cave Hole, Nike Horse, and the routes toward Coal Creek Falls and Shy Bear Marsh. A popular winter loop strings together three waterfalls in about 7 miles with 1,000 feet of gain. Spring brings trillium, bleeding heart, and other wildflowers along the lower trails. The park stays green and walkable year-round.
Expect mud in the wet months. Trail conditions get reported frequently, and volunteers keep up with blowdowns after storms. No pass is required, the lot is spacious, and there is a restroom at the trailhead. This is a neighborhood park doing an excellent impression of wilderness, just minutes from the I-90 corridor.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“I love rainy day hikes to go see waterfalls.”
Last report: Feb 7, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Muddy sections in wet months
- Narrow footbridges with steps; not wheelchair accessible
Getting There
Spacious Sky Country Trailhead parking lot. From I-90 Exit 13, south on Lakemont Blvd 2.5 miles, left on SE Cougar Mountain Way, right on 166th Way SE, lot on the right in under a mile. No pass required. Restroom available.
A short connector leading into the broader Cougar Mountain trail network. From the trailhead, paths branch toward Military Road, Cave Hole, Nike Horse Trail, and longer loops to waterfalls and viewpoints.
Weekday mornings or early weekend starts keep things quieter. The lot can fill on sunny weekends by mid-morning.
Recent Reports
I love rainy day hikes to go see waterfalls. Today my friend and I did a 7 mile loop with just over a 1000 ft of elevation to see three waterfalls.
Yesterday, we took advantage of a break in the atmospheric river to hike to three waterfalls in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. We started at the spacious Sky Country Trailhead parking lot at 8:45 am.
My 3rd hike of the fall season to Cougar Mtn was a great one. After weeks of mostly gray skies and rain it felt great to have blue skies overhead all day.
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