Coal Creek Natural Area
Mining-history trail through a forested ravine.
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Quick facts
At a glance
- Neighborhood
- Newport
About
About Coal Creek Natural Area
Coal Creek Natural Area is a 400-acre forested ravine hiding the ruins of a 19th-century coal-mining town, laced with waterfalls, an old railroad grade, and one of the Eastside's most surprising urban hikes. Slip below street level and the traffic sound disappears; within 15 minutes you're walking beside a mossy creek that could be a Cascades trail.
Highlights
What makes it special
- Waterfalls, mossy creeks, and old-growth-feeling forest inside the city
- Interpretive ruins of the 19th-century Newcastle coal town
- Connects to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland for longer hikes
- Cool ravine microclimate — comfortable even mid-summer
- Family-doable 3-mile loop with real backcountry feel
What you'll experience
The visit, in detail
The classic outing is a 3-mile out-and-back from the Red Town trailhead: a gentle grade down the old rail bed, a pair of small waterfalls, and interpretive signs marking the old coal town of Newcastle. Ambitious hikers link the full 4.7-mile Coal Creek Trail to the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland. Interpretive signs describe the coke ovens, boarding houses, and mine entrances scattered through the woods.
Nearby
What's around you
Family Activities nearby
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South Bellevue Community Center
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Robinswood Community Park
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Newcastle Beach Park
Bellevue's largest swim beach with playground and trails.
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Shopping nearby
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Eastgate Plaza
Everyday shopping near I-90 with QFC and services.
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Marketplace at Factoria
Refreshed open-air center with Target, Nordstrom Rack, and Trader Joe's.
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Lake Hills Village
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Overlake Fashion Plaza
Neighborhood plaza with apparel, services, and a Trader Joe's nearby.
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Restaurants nearby
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Goldfinch Tavern
4.2Hidden-gem tavern with Northwest comfort food and craft cocktails.
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Azaria's Pizza
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Spice Route Indian Bistro
4.4Modern Indian dishes from across the subcontinent.
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Pho Thanh Binh
4.5Big steaming bowls of pho in a no-frills setting.
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Coffee Shops nearby
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Victrola Coffee
4.5Seattle roaster with a sleek Eastside cafe.
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Urban Coffee Lounge
4.4Spacious cafe for laptops, meetings, and quiet mornings.
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Newport Hills Coffee
4.5Neighborhood drip-and-pastry with a loyal regulars.
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Tougo Coffee
4.6Black-owned roaster with bright single-origins.
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Hotels nearby
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Silver Cloud Hotel Bellevue – Eastgate
Local Pacific Northwest chain near I-90.
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Residence Inn by Marriott Bellevue Downtown
All-suite extended-stay with kitchens and breakfast.
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Hilton Bellevue
Full-service Hilton with Basil's Kitchen restaurant.
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Arts & Culture nearby
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Gallery Space at Bellevue College
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Winters House
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Eastside Heritage Center
Historical society preserving Eastside history.
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Garden d'Lights
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Parks & Trails nearby
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Things to Do nearby
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Newcastle Golf Club
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Pacific Northwest Ballet at PACE
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Meydenbauer Center
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Lucky Strike Bellevue
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Attractions nearby
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Crossroads Bellevue
4.5Community mall with a famous international food court.
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Bellevue Square
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The Bellevue Collection
4.7Downtown Bellevue's three-building shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotel campus — Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place connected by covered skybridges into one walkable destination.
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Lincoln Square
4.5Downtown Bellevue's entertainment, dining, and lifestyle complement to Bellevue Square — cinema, chef-driven restaurants, a public plaza, and the W Bellevue, all under one covered roof.
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Nightlife nearby
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Local winery tasting room.
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Bis on Main
Old Bellevue institution with a popular bar scene.
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Polaris Bellevue Rooftop
Sky-high rooftop lounge with Bellevue skyline views.
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The Keg Steakhouse + Bar Bellevue
Classic steakhouse with a lively bar.
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Local Businesses nearby
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Ishii Motor Industries Auto Repair
Independent Bellevue auto repair shop on 116th Ave NE — a locally-owned alternative to dealership service, walking distance from downtown Bellevue.
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Bel-Red Barbers
4.6Bellevue's longest-running barber shop — walk-ins only, seven days a week, in continuous operation on the Eastside since 1959.
Bridle Trails
Practical
Know before you go
The Red Town trailhead is the standard start — small lot fills by 10 a.m. on weekends. Trails are muddy November–May; waterproof boots and a change of shoes for the car are wise. Cell coverage is spotty in the ravine. Dogs must be leashed. Stay out of visible mine openings — they are unstable. Bring water; there are no facilities beyond the trailhead vault toilet.
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Dog-Friendly Bellevue
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Free to visit
Free Things to Do in Bellevue
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Parks & trails pick
Best Parks & Trails in Bellevue
The full Bellevue outdoors map: Downtown Park, Botanical Garden, Mercer Slough, Bridle Trails, and Coal Creek — sequenced by mood.
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