Joined: 15 Aug 2006Posts: 2666Location: No Fun Town, USA
A while ago, someone asked about camping on Cougar/Tiger/Squak mountains. The general rule is no. Turns out, you could do it legally up until a few years ago, by joining the Issaquah Highlands Camping Club. They are no more, but their campground has been turned over to the county and is now part of the Cougar-Squak Corridor.
To explore, you need to get to the Margaret's Way trailhead at 190th Ave SE off highway 900 (which runs between Cougar and Squak). There's a fairly big parking lot, a tennis court, a few buildings including what I gather is the old campground lodge, then signs directing you to the Margaret's Way trail. But if you want to look at the old campground, your best bet is to ignore the trail and head south up what is labeled Highland Drive (gated) and what must have been the main campground road. If you're heading the right direction, you will soon see this:
Various intersections are labeled with what I assume were campsite names (Laurel, Ponderosa, etc.).
Campsites have been left to go to seed, but are still obvious flat spots. Many/most of them had RV hookups, which are presumably disabled.
The campground went quite a ways up the hill. There's kind of a map of the roads at the kiosk near the parking lot, although most roads other than Highland Drive have been blocked off. Explore as you wish. The whole area is signed no bikes, although the road is bikeable. And of course, camping is no longer officially allowed.
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joeball
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:28 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
Thanks for the report. The Issaquah Alps seem to have long been roped off from the general public other than walking though but maybe that is still a greater benefit.
Andrew_Squirrel
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:37 pm
Joined: 01 Mar 2010Posts: 2098Location: Greenwood
Fantastic recon, thanks for the report Greg
langston
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:53 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
so ninja camping without cars would probably fly? Neat work Greg, I had no idea this was there.
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gsbarnes
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:21 pm
Joined: 15 Aug 2006Posts: 2666Location: No Fun Town, USA
There are definitely spots next to private residences, as well as evidence that King County is working to whip the area into shape, but if you wander a bit you will find spots away from everything. There are also a ridiculous number of social trails to explore; presumably trails kids used to explore the woods when camping there.
Community Meeting #2 Presentation PDF seems to have the best maps.
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Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 2666
Location: No Fun Town, USA
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 6037
Location: Ether
Joined: 01 Mar 2010
Posts: 2098
Location: Greenwood
Joined: 25 Jul 2005
Posts: 5547
Location: Columbia City
