Print

Redtown Meadow Trail

Parent Category: Hiking
Created: 09 April 2014
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 150 ft
Highest Point: 800 ft
Location: N 47° 32.090, W 122° 07.728
Connecting Trails: Cave Hole Trail
Bagley Seam Trail
Rainbow Town Trail
Indian Trail
Visitor’s Information:

Family friendly; Dogs allowed on leash

Hours: The park is open year around from 8:00AM to Dusk

Pictures and the video below will take you on a virtual hiking tour! Enjoy views of beautiful wild flowers and running streams along the trail!

General Information:

Photo from King County, Issaquah, Redtown Meadow TrailThe Redtown Meadow Trail is one of the most visited trails in the park; it is also one of the first trails from the entrance. The trail is wide and well-maintained, good for hikers with kids, but be careful because there are lots of rocks along the trail.

From the trailhead it is recommended taking the Wildside Trail, which is marked W1. After about 0.7 mile from the trailhead, there will be a junction of the Wildside Trail with the Red Town Trail. As you go along the path enjoy beautiful and large Douglas Firs and if you go hiking in spring or summer, you will surely enjoy picturesque meadows with different wild flowers. Here at the gated area, hikers may rest and enjoy peaceful nature. There are lots of benches that invite you to sit, rest and meditate.

Photo from King County, Issaquah, Redtown Meadow TrailThis area has also several informational signs that contain copious information about the flora in the local meadows.
There are several trails that will bring you back to the trailhead. You may take the same route you took or you can cross the bridge and continue on the Indian Trail.

Most people hike Red Town Trail because it connects with the Coal Creek Falls Trail, which takes hikers to the scenic Coal Creek Falls.

Redtown Meadow Trail is named after a mining town, which existed in the area in the late 1800’s. Photo from King County, Issaquah, Redtown Meadow TrailThe houses in this town were mostly red, and Red Town was a railroad depot from where coal was carted to Lake Washington.

It should be said that Cougar Mountain has a very interesting industrial history. In 1863, coal was discovered in this area. Over the next hundred years, mining was the main industry of the region. Eleven million tons of coal were pulled out from the mines, but in 1963 all of them were closed. Even today while hiking the trails, visitors will see traits of the mining industry.

Visitors should keep in mind that no bikes are allowed here, the pets should be on leash. It is also important to stay on the trails and be careful around any mine openings.

 

These pictures were taken on April 1, 2014

Directions:

From I-90:

Take Exit 13 and turn right at the stop sign. Continue to drive south on Lakemont Blvd SE for about 3.1 miles. The Red Town Trailhead parking lot will be on the left. The parking area is available for 25-30 cars; additional parking is situated on the left to the entrance.

Photo: Roman Khomlyak

Photo Editing: Pavlo Petryshyn

Information: Marina Petrova