Category: 180 Miles of Backcountry Trails

  • Morning on Cougar Mountain

  • Black Forest [29,930,000 tons] Art Installation Grand Opening

    The event is happening this Saturday, come meet the artist, Hans Baumann and walk the site. Art Installation Grand Opening and Artist-Guided Tour Saturday, March 15, 2014 11 A.M. Red Town Trailhead (Lakemont Blvd SE and Newcastle Gold Course Rd) Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park For more information, visit www.theblackforest.org or www.facebook.com/blackforest2014 and find answers…

  • Moss Lake Natural Area

    Like what you see? Checkout our map of the trails out at Moss http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/GIS/Maps/VMC/Recreation.aspx#ML

  • Native tree planting at Soaring Eagle Park

  • Black Forest (29,930,000 tons)

    Artist Hans Baumann, KC Parks staff and volunteers begin work on the installation at Cougar Mountain. Want to help? Hans is looking for more volunteers this Saturday. If you are interested, follow this link.

  • King County Parks 2013 – By the numbers

    Want to know how many foot bridges we built in 2013? How about how many acres we preserved? How many kids learned a recipe at the White Center Teen Program? You get the picture, come have a look at our numbers, they’re colorful and inviting. Click here, or the images above to view our pdf.

  • 2013: These are a few of our favorite things…

    Whew, 2013 was a big year for us here at King County Parks. We turned 75, got some serious love from King County voters, and rocked out at shows at Marymoor and Tolt. Here are our 5 favorite stories from this past year. An outpouring of support from King County voters, who overwhelmingly approved the…

  • Santa’s true identity REVEALED!

  • Field Notes: Happy Trails to You…

    With the closing of the year, your inbox and social media are likely inundated with lists, reflections, and predictions for the new year. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that stuff later…for now, we want to celebrate some fellow Parkians! This year, we here at Parks said “Happy Trails” to 9 retiring staff members who gave…

  • Sun + music =’s awesome

    https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/15278250

  • Park Alert! Limited deer hunting opens Oct 12 at Island Center Forest

    Take note! From October 12 -31, Island Center Forest will be open to deer hunting for a limited season, and no other access will be permitted on 200 acres of the park. While hunting will be allowed on the former state lands that now make up Island Center Forest, hunting will NOT be permitted on…

  • Trail alert: Bears @ Cougar Mountain. It’s not just for cougars anymore.

    Cougar Mountain remarkably has rarely any cougar sightings, which is why we believe the bear cartel is moving in on their territory. Reports in the last 24 hours confirm that their is at least one black bear in the Shy Bear (clearly not the case) region and Cougar Pass/Anti-Aircraft trail region. “A huge black bear…

  • Random photo post: Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

  • If Timber! tickets fall in the woods, do they make a noise?

    Looking to experience the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival for free? Who isn’t, tickets are selling fast, so we thought we’d show you some love. Tell us what your favorite memory, or summertime activity is, in one of our parks. This means simply comment on this post (in whichever media you find it in). We will…

  • Summer construction: We’re at work so you can play!

    For most people in these here parts, summer means long days and cramming in more outdoor activities than you can shake a stick at. For us at King County Parks, summer has another meaning: construction! With such a short spell of hot, dry weather, we know that we’ve got to pack in as much activity…

  • Field Notes: You can dance if you want to…

    Last month, our Backcountry Trails Crew finished a brand spankin’ new trail bridge in Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park. The 29-foot bridge replaces an old, deteriorating one and connects the park with McGarvey Park Open Space. Built to US Forest Service standards, the bridge is made from salvaged wood our crew found on site and milled…

  • Are you still around?

    Are you still around these parts this holiday weekend? Well, the weather forecast looks good, so we here at King County Parks suggest you take a little “staycation” and go tour your big backyard! No shortage of things to explore, just a hop skip and bike pedal away. May we offer some suggestions? Why of…

  • Tolt-MacDonald Park owning July

    Ain’t no party like a Tolt-MacDonald party. We own the month of July. You are looking at three events that will be taking the park to 11. That’s right: it is so awesome, we installed a knob that goes one further, not to 10, but 11! What, you ask, are these epic events? Well, we…

  • Cocktails for a cause: King County Parks Foundation night at 50 North, June 26

    Join King County Parks for a very special night at 50 North restaurant near University Village in Seattle. For one night only, on June 26th, part of the proceeds from cocktails like the “Tree-tini” will be donated to the King County Parks Foundation! Launched earlier this year, the King County Parks Foundation supports King County’s…

  • King County Parks celebrates 10 years of Community Partnerships and Grants Program

    Community partners reflect on program achievements developing new or enhanced public recreation facilities in King County Dozens of past Community Partnerships and Grants recipients joined King County Parks this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the innovative program aimed at creating new or enhanced public recreation facilities. Community partners representing a variety of King…

  • Dirt and Bike Lovers Paradise: The Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival

    For the hard-core, adrenaline seeking mountain bikers or those flirting with the idea of giving it a try for the first time and everyone in-between, come join us for the annual Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival at King County Parks’ Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park. There will be lots to see and do with 40+ vendors,…

  • Spend National Trails Day, Sat, June 1, in Your Big Backyard

    Join us on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 1, to learn more about our growing network of 180 miles of backcountry trails spread across more than 16,000 acres of park lands. Did you know that over our 75 year history, King County Parks has built an impressive legacy of natural lands? You know, the kind…

  • Field Notes: Kiosk Alert!

    What looks like a secret underground elevator is actually one of our information kiosks under construction. The kiosks placed throughout our parks and trail-heads are undergoing a facelift to refurbish the wear and tear they get year-round from the outdoor elements. These updated kiosks will continue to deliver the same news, event information and King…

  • King County Parks Foundation, now in 3-D!

    Last week, our very own King County Parks Foundation was featured in a full color, eight-page insert as part of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s series on corporate citizenship in the region. Download and read the pdf (3.6 MB) online or contact us for a hard copy!

  • New trail at Cedar Creek uncovers Ewok village (we swear!)

    This past Saturday, May 11, locals and trail enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the opening of the brand spankin’ new loop trail through Cedar Creek Park, an Ewok-like forest paradise nestled between Covington and Maple Valley in unincorporated King County. Cedar Creek Park is actually 2 parks: King County’s portion, called Cedar Downs, and the City…

  • Field Notes: Your opportunity is knocking at the Women in Trades Career Fair!

    We are excited to take part in the 34th annual Washington Women in Trades Career Fair this Friday at the Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavillion. This fair features potential employers looking to educate young adults and connect with tradeswomen to fill valued trades jobs such as welding, electricity or carpentry. It’s a great opportunity to engage…

  • Cougar’s Wilderness Peak Trail goes to new heights to honor local legendary climber Jim Whittaker

    On the 50th anniversary of his Mt Everest ascent, local climbing legend Jim Whittaker (REI member number 0001!) is reaching new heights right here in King County. Well, technically, his name will, and that of his climbing partner, Sherpa Nawang Gombu, as we honor their accomplishments by renaming the trails that lead to the highest…

  • King County Council: Happy 75 years to King County Parks!

    Yesterday, we here at King County Parks were in for a special treat, as the King County Council invited us over for a party at Council Chambers to celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Sponsored by Councilmembers McDermott, Lambert, and Phillips, the proclamation recognized King County Parks for growing such an amazing system and taking care of…

  • Congrats to our Green Globe winners!

    On this fine Earth Day, we here at King County Parks like to start off our favorite tree-hugging day with a little celebratin’.  This morning, we joined other King County types at the Olympic Sculpture Park for the 2013 Green Globe Awards, given every two years by King County to celebrate the green, earth-loving contributions…

  • Saying goodbye is never easy

    Mike (a 13 year crew leader for WTA) has played a key role in helping complete some amazing trails within the King County Parks system. You might know him from his roles in: Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, Grand Ridge, Duthie Hill, Taylor Mountain – and as the guy in this photo. The man, and…