ABOUT THE PARK Thanks to several key acquisitions, the park,
which originally was created by a considerable outpouring of
public support, has evolved over time to its current size of
3,100 acres. The park is connected to Squak Mountain State Park
by the Cougar-Squak Corridor, which together create a protected
area of public land of approximately 5,000 acres. The park
generally lies between 1,000 and 1,595 feet above sea level and
features many diverse habitats, such as mature second growth
forests, streams and wetlands, and cliffs, talus, and caves.
There are sweeping views of the region, including vistas of Lake
Sammamish, the Cascades, and Bellevue, Seattle and beyond;
other, more densely vegetated areas of the park whisk you away
from the sights and sounds of nearby urban development. Hosts of
birds are regularly seen at Cougar, along with wildlife such as
black bear and bobcats. Over the years, Cougar Mountain has been
home to Native Americans, miners, loggers, and even the US Army!
For thousands of years