Cougar Trail

Starting from the back of the Railroad Association building this trail is blazed with white rectangles. For the first 0.5 miles the trail mostly climbs with some quite steep sections up to the ridge. It intersects Hemlock Trail on the left going up soon after the start and can also be accessed from Hemlock Trail. Before the steepest climbs the trail has been rerouted to the left to avoid a very muddy section. Many people continue to use the straight old section even though the newer section is clearly marked (multiple white rectangular blazes) and only has a very short wet section on it. The climb can be challenging and can be slippery when wet. The trail is wider and mostly level for most of the part along the ridge. Near the end, there is private property on the right. Watch for the blazes to follow the trail. Near the end of the trail it crosses a power line right of way. This trail is lightly enough used that the path across the right of way can become quite overgrown in summer and difficult to traverse. 50 feet further from the left turn to the right of way is a better crossing. This crossing rejoins the trail just after crossing the right of way. This trail ends at the junction with Oak trail on the left with purple blazes and continues directly into Fern Trail with orange blazes. Oak take you down to Alice Knight Memorial Trail and Nature Trail and Fern takes you to picnic shelter 19.