Category: 175 Miles of Trails

  • Volunteer at Parks and get free smiles

    Since January 29, the Washington Trail Association (WTA) has been working with volunteers from the Student Conservation Association on a new 1.5 mile trail addition at Green River Natural Area ( O-Grady) in King County. When completed, the trail will include three bridges and will work its way through a beautiful fir forest with an…

  • Owl alert at Soaring Eagle

    Two Three confirmed owl attacks at Soaring Eagle Park. Apparently the soaring eagles are off duty. If you are out at the park, please keep your wits about you. At least one of the attacks took place between points 23 and 25 on our Soaring Eagle map. Beware. Stay safe out there.

  • Fifty strangers take a walk

    People walk for all sorts of different reasons; their health, a way to de-stress after a long workday, a daily responsibility to a beloved dog or simply to get from point A to point B. At the very least, we know that we can lump everyone into that last group, but what would happen if we pushed aside these…

  • Art Imitates Life on The Long Walk

    At this moment, the King County Regional Trail System is hosting 50 self-selecting members of the general public, led by local artist Susan Robb, as they journey together to art utopia. Trekking from Golden Gardens Park to Snoqualmie Falls over the course of four days, they will experience their surrounding geography and community in a…

  • The Green River Trail Says “Buh-Bye” to 20,000 Sandbags

    Say goodbye to those tens of thousands of giant sandbags lining the Green River Trail and protecting Green River Valley cities from the possibility of flooding – and blocking access to the trail. Howard Hanson Dam has been repaired, and the threat of catastrophic flooding has diminished in Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila. Dump trunks…

  • B-52 tickets to giveaway on our Facebook page

    Pop over to our Facebook page, and tell us why you love King County Parks, and you stand a chance to win one of FIVE pairs of tickets.

  • I’m freakin’ out, man!

    Don’t let this happen to you! To help ensure the safety along our 175 miles of regional trails in King County, King County Sheriff deputies will patrol the trails, such the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River Trails, starting this weekend. Deputies will be on bicycles and on foot and will be issuing warnings or fines for…

  • Trail alert: East Lake Sammamish Trail

    Pavement, other improvements coming to East Lake Sammamish Trail in Issaquah Year-long closure in Issaquah allows King County to replace soft-surface trail with blacktop, soft-surface shoulders, better street crossings, drainage and more Upgrades are coming to King County’s East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) through Issaquah, including removing the existing gravel trail and constructing a 12-foot-wide…

  • Random photo post: Anyone else?

    Park(ing) Day visitors, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr.

  • Come celebrate the reopening of the Burke-Gilman Trail!

    Join us on March 13 at NE 165th St and the trail. Ribbon cutting ceremony will begin shortly after 4 p.m. Learn  more about the construction project and all the awesomeness of the newly redeveloped segment!

  • Random photo post: Along the Burke-Gilman Trail

    Lake Washington along the Burke-Gilman Trail, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr. Lake Washington as seen from the Burke-Gilman Trail

  • Fitness Challenge – Volunteer at a King County Park

    Volunteering at Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr.   Parks  cube-dwellers, torn from the comfort of their monitors, and forced into honest labor. Planted vegetation around the shelter. Plants courtsey of the King County Greenhouse. It’s a great way to get fit and give back.  Check out our calendar and find a volunteer opporutnity…

  • Field notes: Snowmaggedon damage

    Snowmaggedon damage @ Tolt MacDonald Park, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr. Following the week of big snow and wind, there are lots of folks across King County who are dealing with downed tree limbs and other debris in their yards. Just imagine the size of the clean-up job if your yard is 26,000 acres…

  • Burke-Gilman Trail update

    Last week’s snow and ice made things difficult for lots of people in King County – including the crew that has been putting the finishing touches on the major reconstruction of the County’s Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park. The good news: We’re done with the paving, retaining walls, drainage, fencing and signage along this…

  • Did that squirrel just take my sign?!?

    Welcome, Fitness Challenge participants and curious onlookers. In the coming months, The Plog, along with King County Parks’ Facebook page will be your go-to location for updates about the King County Parks Fitness Challenge, a fun way for King County employees to fulfill the Healthy Incentives program and go for gold. Today is the first day to…

  • Little Footprint Big Forest Project Update – Thanks Matson!

     A BIG THANKS to Matson for donating 4 – 24’ cargo containers for our Little Footprint Big Forest project! We just received our first two containers and our crews can’t wait to start the (de)construction.  When completed, the camping cargo container will feature an adaptable floor plan complete with beds, a table, and a multi-purpose…

  • Pints for Parks: Reminder

    The darkest, dreariest days of December are upon us. Short of a trip to the Tropics, we have the perfect antidote to winter’s palette gray tones: Take refuge in the Noble Fir in Ballard, where every pint of delicious beer sold from 6:30 p.m. to closing tonight benefits King County Parks. Just how delicious, you…

  • Parks’ Store is your personal shopper

    C’mon in. Have a look. Tell you what. If you don’t find a pic of the park, trail or open space you are looking for, have a look at our Flickr feed, and find one that does suit you. We’ll make it into a card. Yeah. We’re that accommodating.

  • The Foothills Trails now for more than just feet: 1-mile segment to be completed in December

    In December, King County Parks will wrap up Phase I construction of the Foothills Trail near Enumclaw.  The one-mile segment, which begins at 252nd Avenue South, continues along the old railroad bed and ends just north of Southeast Mud Mountain Road. This phase made both gravel and paved improvements to the trail entrances at 252nd…

  • You’re Invited! East Lake Sammamish Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Nov 7

    Join Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett and King County Parks to celebrate the grand re-opening of the trail! Monday, November 7, 2011 11 a.m. At the new trail parking lot Northeast 70th Street and East Lake Sammamish Parkway Redmond A month early and under budget, the redeveloped 1.2-mile-long stretch of the East Lake Sammamish Trail…

  • Park(ing) Day 2011

    What do you need to know? We are participating. What is it? Take a look at this link. We will be up at 315 Boren Ave N. schmoozing with the Amazon crowd. Why is it beneficial to stop by our pop-up park? Because we love you, and King County Parks, and are happy to talk…

  • Random photo post: Cedar River Trail

  • Field Notes: Reports from The Long Walk

    Our very own Cristina Gonzalez, intrepid deputy finance manager, decided to tag along on The Long Walk, a 45-mile pedestrian adventure from Puget Sound to Snoqualmie Falls along King County’s Regional Trails System. Sponsored by 4Culture and led by artist Susan Robb, this is the trek’s second year. From Thursday, July 28 – Sunday, July…

  • Burke-Gilman video: The hows and whys of construction

    Video announcement for a two-mile trail closure of Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park, enabling safety improvements and much-needed repairs including widening, improving sight distance and fixing tree root damage. The video also covers alternate routes for bicyclists with safety tips and how buses plan to share the road.

  • Trail alert: Burke-Gilman Trail

    We will be doing major improvements along a segment of the Burke-Gilman Trail starting this June. Updates will be frequent, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, if you would like more details, visit the Burke-Gilman construction project page, and or read the recent article by the Seattle Times. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience…

  • Big Backyard 5K 2011: Wrap up

    It was a wonderful, dry morning for our second annual Big Backyard 5K fun and walk at Marymoor Park this past weekend. Through our partnership with Sound Experiential Marketing, the event was a huge success: some 1,200 walkers and runners, grossing $55,000 for King County Parks! Many thanks to all the teams, families, and individuals…

  • Dog walking at Island Center Forest and Taylor Mountain

    If you have a dog, you’ve probably realized by now that King County is full of fun places where dogs and their human companions can go and romp around in the outdoors.  Here at King County Parks, we love dogs (and their people).  In fact, our very own Marymoor Park, which features a 40-acre off-leash…

  • Big Backyard 5K – reminder

    Don’t say we didn’t remind you folks. Big Backyard 5K is this Sunday. Bring the kids, the dog and get some exercise. Oh yeah and all the proceeds go to King County Parks, so you’ll be supporting your local parks while you’re at it.

  • Engage in Parks

    With the promise of better weather just around the corner and a wealth of fun events, activities and amenities awaiting, King County Parks encourages everyone to “Engage in Parks” this April. There are several ways to get active and support King County Parks – Your Big Backyard. For more information and links to, visit the…

  • April is Earth Month! (and that’s no joke)

    It may be April Fool’s Day, but here at King County Parks, Earth Month is no joke. We love Mother Earth and we *heart* King County Parks even more, so we encourage you to join us in grand green spirit to celebrate Earth Month! Need some ideas of what to do? Even those crazy kids…