Newcastle Trails

NEWCASTLE TRAILS

About Newcastle Trails

NEWCASTLE TRAILS is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit volunteer organization focused on the preservation, expansion, and maintenance of trails within the City of Newcastle, Washington.

We recommend trail routes, identify priorities, and maintain a registry of volunteers to assist the City in trail work. Trail efforts will be planned and budgeted by the City in conformance with the Parks and Trails Plan.

Members need not reside in Newcastle, and equestrians are welcome. There are no dues. We communicate primarily by email. For more information, contact info@newcastletrails.org.

BOARD MEMBERS:
Garry Kampen (President)
Jim Price (Vice President)
Peggy Price (Treasurer)
Mark Ryker (Secretary)
Grace Stiller (Weed Warriors)
Fred Chapman (Volunteers)
Allen Dauterman (Grants)
Joel Harris (Web)
Giles Velte (Rules)

Terrace Trail

The Terrace Trail was Newcastle Trails' major project for 2007-2008, carried out in cooperation with the City of Newcastle, the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, local Scout troops, and others. It replaces a storm-damaged informal trail with a carefully designed new trail with easier grades and better drainage (see Bob Cerelli's photos).

The trail winds up the forested DeLeo Wall from the historic Thomas Rouse Road (144th Place SE) to the Terrace subdivision, with links to Cougar Mountain Park. The route features large trees (some storm-toppled), ferns, views, and huge moss-covered boulders (glacial erratics). It also provides a display of the trail-builder's art: curbing and steps of stone and wood; dips, slopes and ditches for drainage; switchbacks; even a passage through a tree.

The trail is about two-thirds of a mile long, about a half-hour walk each way. Cougar Mountain Park can be reached from the upper trailhead at the Terrace by walking a short distance on sidewalks: walk downhill to the first intersection, turn right, and follow the street uphilll into the park.

Directions to lower trailhead: See street map (route shown in green). Take Coal Creek Parkway to SE 91st Street (north of May Creek, at traffic light). Follow SE 91st east past the Highlands gatehouse. At the T (Highlands Park) turn left and follow 140th Ave. SE as it curves right (becoming SE 90th St.) and left (becoming 144th Ave. SE). At the T, turn right onto SE 87th St. The trailhead is one block straight ahead (east), just beyond the vehicle gate. Walk past the gate; the Terrace Trail begins at the steps.

Trail map: The sidebar has links to a trail map and guide. Look in the lower right-hand corner of the map for the Highlands and Terrace trails (solid green lines). Note: The underlying street map is outdated: some streets are missing, and some (e.g. SE 87th St. and 144th Ave. SE) are incorrectly labeled.

Calendar

August 9 Monday Board Meeting (7-9PM)

August 28 Saturday 5K Run/Walk (9AM)

Sept 11 Saturday Newcastle Day(s)

The events above are all open to the public. Details below.

Monthly Board Meetings

The Newcastle Trails board will meet the first Monday of each month (unless otherwise noted), 7-9 PM at Regency Newcastle , a retirement community at 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road (just off Coal Creek Parkway). Board meetings are normally held on the first Monday of the month, and are open to the public. If you plan to attend, check the web site for last-minute changes and/or email NT at info@newcastletrails.org.

5K Run/Walk

Newcastle's second annual 5K run/walk will start at 9 AM in Lake Boren Park on Saturday, August 28. The route will traverse some of the nicest sections of the Waterline Trail and the May Creek Trail. For details and signup see www.newcastle5K.com .

Weed Warrior Events

Weed Warrior Environmental Stewardship Projects restore a healthy balance to our environment by removing invasive weeds and planting native species plants. Click on the Project Calendar to view scheduled events.

Trail News

The Hazelwood Trail was completed in May, and the official opening was celebrated on June 5, National Trails Day. Newcastle Mayor John Dulcich presided at a ribbon-cutting ceremony following a trail walk, refreshments, and the introduction of the Eagle Scout candidates who helped to organize and lead the volunteer trail-builders. Attendees included much of Newcastle's City Council, and representatives from Renton School District, the Legislature, the Boy Scouts, and other organizations. Hazelwood Trail connects 116th Ave, Hazelwood School, and Lake Washington Ridge with Hazelwood Park, the CrossTown Trail, and the Hazelwood neighborhood. Trail signs will be installed this fall as part of another Eagle Scout project.

NT has been moving forward with continuing projects on several trails: the West CrossTown Trail (in the School Woods) has been upgraded; the Olympus Trail is being rebuilt to reduce the steep slope on the north end; and the East CrossTown Trail will be extended into Cougar Mountain Park to connect with the DeLeo Wall Trail. A survey arranged by NT showed there were no boundary problems with the ECTT; we've arranged for trail signs in conjunction with King County; and planning for trail improvements (deck and steps) has started.

Our trail sign project is moving forward: Neil Chakravarty has finished the citywide sign inventory (part of his Eagle project); and we're working with Correctional Industries in Walla Walla to obtain a batch of burgundy sign plates. Some of these will replace the chartreuse signage from the new sign standard, which was rejected by the current City Council and in favor of the original standard and logo.

The first version of our new trail map has been approved by the board, and used in our latest trail brochure; an improved version is in the works. The new map shows the trails more precisely: our map-maker, NT member Harry Potter, mapped our entire trail system with a highly accurate GPS. Other advantages of the new map include: updated trails (new construction); an up-to-date street layout; a focus on existing, usable trails; expansion to show connecting trails in Bellevue (Coal Creek) and King County (Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park).

Trail Projects

A number of trail projects are planned or proposed. These include rebuilding and extending the Olympus Trail, and extending the May Creek Trail to Coal Creek Parkway.

The Olympus Trail runs south from the West CrossTown Trail past the cemetery in a power line corridor owned by the Olympus Homeowners' Association. Newcastle Trails is working with the association on a proposal to reroute both trails near their junction to make slopes more gradual. The association is also considering improvements to the trail south of the cemetery, where it is mostly informal. And the developers of Eden Grove have agreed to complete the Olympus Trail by extending it east from the power line just south of Olympus to the Waterline Trail.

The Parkway Extension of the May Creek Trail will connect the Highlands to May Creek Park via (a) an access path running west from the Parkway, (b) a switchback down to Boren Creek, (c) a bridge across Boren Creek, and eventually (d) a trail running west from the bridge to the existing May Creek Trail. (a) and (c) are complete and (b) is planned. This will open up a lovely section of May Creek Park to the HIghlands and strollers along the Parkway. (d) is a longer-term project.