…and King County Parks is ready to meet all your sunny (or not-so-sunny) day needs!

As you’ve probably figured out by now, except for a few rare days here and there, the weather has been just plain ugly for the first four months of 2011. To wit:

• April has recorded the coldest average monthly high temperature since records started being kept in 1891
• In April, there were 27 days with “below normal” temperatures, 2 days with “above normal” and 1 day with “normal” temperatures
• This was the 7th wettest April on record

In short, it IS as bad as it seems.

But nobody really moves or stays here because of the weather…we live here in spite of it. We live here because dodging raindrops on the way to the park or trailhead or beach is part of what makes us us.

We also live here because we know that some day soon the sun will be out, the clouds will dissipate, and there will be a mass exodus to our favorite places.

One of those favorite places is Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park – King County’s largest park and a can’t-miss destination for the whole family whether or not the weather gods smile upon us.

This is a great time of year to visit Cougar Mountain. Waterfalls are flowing – especially Coal Creek Falls, which is less than 15 minutes from the Red Town Trailhead. Our Cougar Mountain staff also just improved a short side-trail that offers close-up views of Far Country Falls, which is close to the junction of the De Leo Wall and Indian trails.

And there are plenty of blooming things this time of year: Trillium, salmonberries, skunk cabbage and more. Wildlife is also becoming more active – be on the lookout (and keep your ears open) for buzzing hummingbirds, drumming woodpeckers, questioning owls and the sharp call of osprey overhead.

Good weather or not, why not plan visit to your favorite King County park or trail? For the sufficient push to get you out the door, check out our interactive parks map with the details. So many choices!