Newcastle Trails
Some of Newcastle’s trails include:
The Lake Boren Esplanade is an official 0.6 mile paved trail following the west side of Coal Creek Parkway from Newcastle Way to Lake Boren Park .
The Highlands Trail is a system of 2.4 miles of trails within the Highlands of Newcastle subdivision. These trails are surfaced with wood chips and are intended for equestrian and pedestrian use.
The Golf Course Trail is an official trail paralleling the Newcastle Golf Club Road from 136 th Ave SE to 155 th Ave SE . A post marks a trail into Cougar Mountain Park .
The Clubhouse Trail is an official trail offering exceptional views from the Meadowview Park I subdivision. This trail is maintained by the Newcastle Golf Club under an agreement that allows for public use, subject to closure during tournaments.
The Meadowview Trail is a mix of official and proposed trails and sidewalks that link the lower end of the Clubhouse trail to Cougar Mountain Park .
The West CrossTown Trail runs from Hazelwood Elementary school to Lake Boren .
The May Creek Trail runs through May Creek Park and along an old railway grade.
The Milepost Trail runs east and south from the center of Lake Boren Park , through the Milepost subdivision, to the new school, then south to the Highlands trails
http://newcastletrails.org/downloads/trailsguide.doc
This trail guide is produced and maintained by Newcastle Trails. It describes 19 trails as of the above date. Trails can change quickly as vegetation encroaches, so occasionally some may not seem as “walkable” as described. If you’d like to be notified of hikes and work parties, consider joining: no dues, just your name on an emailing list (not sold). Check out www.NewcastleTrails.org. Some trails inside this brochure are merely proposed and do not yet exist; others are informal and/or poorly maintained; some are well-maintained all-weather trails. Use them at your own risk. But do use them; Newcastle has a trail for every taste, linking parks, neighborhoods, viewpoints, and historical sites. The trails are mostly on public property; exceptions include the east hundred feet of May Creek Trail and the north end of the Horse Trail. Please respect signs and fences.
Trail Descriptions
1. CrossTown Trail
West CrossTown Trail (1.3 miles from Lake Boren Park north and west to Hazelwood Park and School, including 0.4 miles of sidewalk)· From the parking lot in Lake Boren Park (a) head north to the lake, then west to 129th Avenue SE, and angle north past the historic Newcastle Cemetery or (b) head west to the utility road (the Waterline Trail) and then north to merge with 129th at the cemetery.· After passing the cemetery, turn left at the sign and follow the trail west through tall trees. (Just beyond the cemetery, the Olympus Trail branches off to the left in a utility corridor and heads south, uphill, to SE 80th Place. The top section is flat, with nice views and an easy sidewalk connection back to Lake Boren Park.)· Continuing west, angle up a draw into the School Woods, a 10-acre wooded tract owned by the Renton School District. The trail meanders east-to-west through meadows and woods.· Near the top of the hill, a connecting trail branches right to a chain link fence and 126th Avenue SE. Veer left instead. This “crossways” trail connects 126th Avenue SE with Olympus Subdivision. In a few yards (before reaching Olympus), turn right and continue west. You’ll cross a causeway and continue through woods to a north-south powerline corridor. · Walk straight west under the powerlines and head down the stairs between two houses to the sidewalk. This portion of the trail is actually on a twenty-foot-wide city-owned corridor running from the School Woods to the street. (You can also follow the powerlines north to Donegal Park on the Horse Trail, an informal trail across a mix of public and private land.)· Turn right and follow the sidewalk north along 122nd Place SE. Cross the street at the stop sign just north of SE 75th Place, and continue north along the other side of the same street. (The sidewalk continues a block further to Donegal Park.) · Where the street curves east, the trail turns northwest onto a boardwalk across wetlands and into Hazelwood Park by the main entrance at 121st Place SE. Turn left just short of the street, and start up the steps. (Part way up, a branch to the left connects to Lake Washington Ridge.) Keeping right, continue up the stairway. From the summit, known locally as Cowboy Hill, descend a winding woodsy trail, take the right branch of a Y, and descend on what looks like a driveway to SE 73rd Place. The driveway is an official (if badly sited) city trail. Walkers OK, parked cars NO.· Turn left on SE 73rd Place west, following the sidewalk to a utility road. Head west down the road, and by trail skirt around the northeast corner of the CCUD water tank property to 119th Court SE. You are on an official trail—not a yard, believe it or not.· From 119th Court SE there are options. You can follow the sidewalks north along 119th Place SE through Newport Trace to Newcastle Way, and then west to the ballfield parking lot. Or, you can head west down a stub-end street to a short flight of stairs. A trail leads from the stairs to the new Hazelwood Elementary School.Mid CrossTown Trail (0.6 mile around the south end of Lake Boren, including 0.3 mile of sidewalk)· This trail is proposed, but not yet built. It is not on the City of Newcastle’s schedule at this time.East CrossTown Trail (1 mile from Lake Boren to Cougar Mountain Park)· This trail is walkable, but primitive, unmarked, and not maintained.
2. Waterline Trail (1.6 miles south from Bellevue past Lake Boren Park to May Creek Park, including 0.4 mile of sidewalk)
· SOUTH: From the entrance to Lake Boren Park’s parking lot, follow the street uphill west toward Olympus. In a short distance, where the street crosses a gated utility corridor, turn south down a gated, broad utility corridor between stands of tall trees. Continue south to cross SE 89th Place. After a few yards, the May Creek Trail veers right down to the old Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad grade.· NORTH: The Waterline Trail follows the Seattle water pipeline along the west edge of Lake Boren Park, past the historic Newcastle Cemetery, then north along 129th Ave SE to SE 73rd Place. Here the trail leaves the street, angles northwest between houses, follows the pipeline corridor to Newcastle Way, and continues north past an elementary school into a residential area of Newport Hills in South Bellevue.
3. May Creek Trail (1.7 miles from the Waterline Trail west to Windtree along an old railway grade)
· If you follow the Waterline Trail south from Lake Boren, and cross SE 89th, then go a few yards south, you can veer west down onto the May Creek Trail and follow along the heavily wooded north side of May Creek. Much of this trail is on the broad, flat route of the old Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad. The first hundred feet of trail is on private property. From then on, you’re in May Creek Park. · The trail continues on the old railroad bed to Bartrum Station, where 124th Avenue SE enters the park from the north. Adjoining landowners use the roadbed as an access road, but the roadbed is inside the park. Continue past 124th Avenue SE and turn the left between boulders placed there to discourage motorbikes. In a few places, the trail leaves the railroad bed to climb the enclosing banks. · Just before the Windtree entrance, a huge old trestle left the May Creek railroad grade, veering across the gorge into Kennydale, and the mounds that constituted the footings are still visible below the trail. A little way past this point, the trail ends at SE 93rd Street in Windtree at the top of several steps.
4. Lake Boren Esplanade (0.6 mile from Newcastle Way south along Coal Creek Pkwy. to Lake Boren Park, all on sidewalk)
· From McDonalds at Newcastle Way & Coal Creek Parkway, head south. You’ll soon cross China Creek flowing through a meadow into Lake Boren Park. Further on, the sidewalk changes to an asphalt pathway with views of Lake Boren. At 135th Avenue SE, the Milepost Trail heads left across the parkway to Newcastle Elementary School. The woodsy trail to the right leads to Lake Boren Park.
5. Horse Trail (1 mile from Donegal Park south to May Creek Park, including 0.2 miles on sidewalk)
· From SE 74th Street, head south on a gated powerline corridor along an informal trail, which crosses private property. (An opening in the School Woods on your left marks the CrossTown Trail.) · Continuing south, detour around a fenced backyard, and cross SE 80th Way. Continue south on a crushed-rock utility road along the west edge of Olympus. (The 84th Street Trail branches off to the right, and heads west to 116th Avenue SE.)· Further south, an informal trail angles quite steeply down to the right, and continues along the east shoulder of 124th Avenue SE into May Creek Park at Bartrum’s Station. Traffic is a hazard for a short way.
6. 84th Street Trail (0.5 mile from the Horse Trail to 116th Ave. SE, including 0.1 mile on sidewalk)
· This trail is walkable, with approximately 1/10 mile occupying a sidewalk.
8. Olympus Trail (0.7 mile from the West CrossTown Trail to SE 80th Place)
· This trail is walkable from the West CrossTown Trail just west of the cemetery, up the hill (south), to SE 80th Place in Olympus Subdivision. It is maintained jointly by Williams Pipeline Northwest, local volunteers, and Newcastle Trails.
9. Highlands Trail (2.4-mile trail network between Coal Creek Parkway and 144th Place SE in the Highlands at Newcastle)
· The trail system can be viewed as one big loop with a trail X across the middle, or two loops, big and small, with a shared segment X.· The big loop: To walk the big (east) loop, start at Highlands Park and follow the sidewalk downhill along 140th SE, which becomes SE 92nd St as it curves downhill. Turn left at the trail sign and head north. Crushed rock changes soon to natural surface. The trail continues through woodlands, crosses a street, and passes a trail entering on the left. Continue north and then east to where the trail crosses SE 85th St.(Here you can cut over to 144th Place SE, the old Thomas Rouse Road. Turn left, and follow it to the northwest. A short distance along, an opening on the right marks the Terrace Trail, which ascends to Cougar Mountain Park. This trail is unmarked and unmaintained.)· Continue south along the loop trail, still in woodland. On rainy days you’ll find a wet spot (or small pond) where a drain flushes across the trail. When the trail emerges onto SE 93rd St, you have two choices:· The full loop: Turn left and walk a few paces to the end of the road. A short unmarked trail between boulders leads down to the old Thomas Rouse Road, here a dirt track. Turn right and follow it south. Take the trail to the right and head west in a wooded corridor just behind the houses that line May Creek Road. Where the trail splits, take the right fork to SE 92nd St, and retrace your steps uphill to Highlands Park.· The shortcut: Cross 93rd, turn right, and follow the sidewalk to a gravel utility road barred by wooden bollards. Follow the road downhill past a fenced-in water retention pond to the trail, and turn right. As before, go right where the trail splits.· The small loop: To walk the small (west) loop take the left fork where the trail splits (just south of 92nd), and continue west around the loop.· When you reach 139th Way SE, turn right and follow the sidwalks back to Highlands Park. Or follow the trail to the junction with the big loop, and backtrack on segment X.· Follow the big loop around the Highlands or take the short-cut through the center. Where the trail crosses SE 85th St., you can cut over to 144th Place SE and follow it to the northwest. An opening on the right marks the Terrace Trail, which ascends to Cougar Mountain Park.
11. Clubhouse Trail (0.5 mile from the golf course clubhouse down to Meadowview Park)
· This public trail has been granted by the Golf Club at Newcastle in return for tax breaks. It is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to dusk, but may be closed during tournaments and other special events. Head toward the clubhouse and pass around it to the left, following the broad cement golf cart track down to a snack hut. Pass left of the hut, enjoying the great views, and follow the cart path to a gravel road angling down to the right. Stairs lead down to a gate and Meadowview Park.
12. Meadowview Trail (0.9 mile total, including 0.4 mile on sidewalk)
· This trail is walkable to the golf course, much of it on sidewalks, and has nice views.
13. Golf Course Trail (1.8 miles from 136th Avenue SE to 155th Avenue SE along Newcastle Golf Club Road)
· Head east from 136th on a wide gravel trail with ups and downs, woods and meadows. At 155th, head a short distance up the sidewalk. A post marks a trail into Cougar Mountain Park.
15. Milepost Trail (0.8 mile from Lake Boren through Milepost to Newcastle Elementary School and The Highlands at Newcastle, including 0.3 mile on sidewalk)
· From the Lake Boren Park restrooms, head east, cross Lake Boren Creek in a wooded glen to the Esplanade, cross Coal Creek Parkway, and follow the sidewalk to Newcastle Elementary School.· Turn right on SE 88th Way and follow a crushed-rock path to a little-used asphalt road flanked by tall trees. A pleasant, shady, five-minute walk brings you to the entrance to the Highlands at Newcastle.
16. Terrace Trail (0.3 mile from The Highlands at Newcastle to Cougar Mountain Park)
· This trail has steep slopes and is not maintained.
