The atmospheric river and associated flooding events this month have impacted King County and other areas across Washington State in ways we have never experienced before. We hope you and your community are safe during this time. King County has created a series of resources and ways to deal with flood damage safely and effectively – go to kingcounty.gov/flood-recovery for more information.
Impacts on Parks and Trails
Many King County parks and trails are located along rivers and flood plains. While seasonal flooding is something we are used to, we have never experienced flooding of this severity and magnitude. As of December 18, 2025, we are managing 26 closures across our system, with causes ranging from flooding to landslides to sinkholes to felled trees. Tolt MacDonald Park was largely underwater, and a sinkhole opened at Margaret’s Way trailhead at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park as culverts beneath the access road are overwhelmed by Tibbetts Creek.
Each new issue is being addressed by staff who continue to demonstrate extraordinary dedication, resilience and professionalism. Our Operations team is doing an extraordinary job of taking care of Parks properties non-stop during this emergency event. Other staff have been filling sandbags, ensuring trails and trailheads were closed for public safety, assisting with flood patrols, overseeing construction of urgent repairs, helping at the King County Emergency Operations Center, and upholding emergency evacuation routes via our regional trails where applicable.
Thank you to all the Parks staff, other county employees, partner organizations, and first responders who have helped keep everyone safe during this event.
We are still evaluating the full extent of the damage. Some areas may be impacted for a long time, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work on repairs. Storm cleanup will mainly be done by staff and other licensed professionals due to the complexities of the damage. Please DO NOT try to clear debris yourself on King County property for your safety.
What You Can Do
There are still hundreds of parks and miles of trails open and safe to enjoy! We hope you continue to spend time outside on these properties. Go to Backyard FunFinder to see the latest impacted properties and where you can safely go. Please stay out of any areas that are closed as they may have sinkholes, landslides, be near a river levee that is at risk of breaking, or other hazards you may not be able to see.
If you would like to help with taking care of parks and trails, we and our Partners are still offering our regularly scheduled trail work and environmental restoration volunteer events. These projects support the long-term resilience and health of our parks and provide meaningful opportunities to connect to the outdoors. Go to kingcounty.gov/parks/volunteer to learn more.
If you want to make a financial donation, give.wa.gov has a page specifically designated for the 2025 WA State Floods. You can also support a reputable charitable organization providing assistance. If you want to volunteer with general flood recovery efforts, Serve Washington is our state’s official volunteer coordination program. You can also check with local organizations in your community.