Online Hiking Resources (Seattle, Issaquah, Newcastle: how much, to buy, store)

[seattlenextyear]

I'm ready to go outside. But the Washington state parks don't have trail maps! The King County Maps are all grainy pdfs that don't list mileage. And a lot of online hiking resources just have pictures and maybe tell you where to park! I'm looking for both easy, local hikes and longer hikes in the Cascades.

Where are some websites that have:
1. Trail maps: actual maps of the trails themselves, how they connect within the park, etc.
2. Trail lengths and difficulties

Or do I have to buy 20 hiking books?

[Ira500]

Cougar Mountain has trail maps at the trailhead on SR 900 in Issaquah, as well as the trailhead on Newcastle-Coal Creek Road.

[seattlenextyear]

Yeah, I'd just like to know how long the hikes are before I get there so we plan better: how much food to bring, how early should we get there, etc.

[Ira500]

Cougar Mountain has hundreds? of miles of trails, but you can be up to the top and back down in a couple of hours. Tiger Mountain has some longer trails. Squak Mountain is also about a two hour round trip, and is delightfully empty.

[texastrigirl]

Well, we finally bought a book and it is terrific and worth every penny and has been used over and over. It is called Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region by Dan Nelson. Endorsed by the Mountaineers. You can also check the Mountaineers website for other options but the books are way cheaper at a famous online store based in Seattle...but you may also want to support the Mountaineers so whatever works for you! Gives all the specifics you might need to chose hikes. Our favorites are Twin Falls, Franklin Falls, Rattlesnake Ledge, Little Si, and locally in Issaquah, the Chirico Trail (we hike with two boys, aged 6 and 9) but these are still pretty decent challenging hikes...albeit very popular hikes. The Issaquah Alps do have so many trails, I would recommend a book or maps. You can get good topo maps at REI. My husband trail runs extensively and he has them for Cougar and Tiger I believe. Get out there though...it was gorgeous at the top of Rattlesnake Ledge today!

[texastrigirl]

Sorry, yeah, we did buy the book (for ideas) and topo maps (as needed) so I guess the answer to your question is to let me know if you find a website that does just that. My husband researched extensively and this is the system we came up with.

[seattlenextyear]

I think I'm looking for something like this:

Hiking Guide — Washington Trails Association

but that also includes the trail maps

[Heiwos]

Just go to the public library. Even my podunk King County library has a dozen or so books on local hiking. Maps are typically limited to the minimum; if you stay on the trail you'll be fine. But even my podunk library has topological maps that can be copied. Of course you can buy all this stuff too. REI has it all. I don't think you'll find much of what you want on websites. All I do there is occassionally look for trail conditions, if on the edge of the season. Books are the best choice I think.

I'm looking forward to May, the start of the real hiking season. I usually do Mt. Bandera, which is hikable then.

[cobolt]

I love this site and you get so much info and trail condition info and cool pics from the people on the forum. Plus you can find lots of hiking friends. NWHikers.net forums