Category: 180 Miles of Backcountry Trails

  • New trail and entrance at Cougar Mountain now open

    As if Cougar Mountain Park didn’t have enough superlatives attached to it (our largest park, most popular local hiking spot, best for trail running, shall we continue?), here’s one more: New trail! New access point! In Issaquah! Off Newport Way NW! Did you catch you that? Yep, now there’s one more new way to get…

  • Do not be alarmed. The massive burning orb is good for you, do not resist.

    Stop running in circles, there is no need to panic. We have a solution – parks, lots of them. Too vague? All right, let’s get real specific, geocaching. Why? It’s what all the cool kids are doing, AND you get to see some killer parks. What is geocaching? Well, we can tell you it isn’t…

  • Seattle Bike Expo 2013

    Seattle Bike Expo is this weekend. Who’s comin’ with us? No seriously, we will have a booth, with shiny things and lots of knowledge to dispense. We have the new regional trails map to show off, as well as, updated backcountry maps AND five new ones! Hint, Duthie Hill is one of them. Get the…

  • Get fit. Have FUN!

    Winter hibernation is over. It’s time to get fit and (gasp!) have fun while doing it. You read that right; it’s not as far fetched as you may think. Sure, you still might have to put on a few extra warm layers, but once you’re outside and filling your lungs with fresh and tasty air,…

  • New and improved trails coming to Big Finn Hill Park

    Big Finn Hill Park, which is nestled between Saint Edward State Park and O.O.Denny Park in Kirkland, is a versatile place: its 220 acres feature both a ballfield complex and a trails system.  Some 3.5 miles of twisty, looping trails wind through the park’s forest, offering a lovely backcountry experience for hikers and mountain bikers…

  • 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.

  • Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park: Mountain Bike Fest

    Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park: Mountain Bike Fest, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr. Duthie: Then & now slideshow. Thought we’d blast you with “The evolution of a bike park” from our Flickr feed. The Mountain Bike Fest was a hit. A lot of vendors, bikes, kids and smiling dirty faces. If you are too…

  • Camping container or “Box of Awesome?”

    Camping container or “Box of Awesome”?, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr. The container is moving along (pics here). We paid a visit yesterday to discus with the project lead what we have left to do before our July unveil. Looking like some windows, a sliding door, interior framing and a paint job are all…

  • Washington Brewer’s Fest = Larger than life at Marymoor

    Beer nerds rejoice! Marymoor will be your Asgard. The 64 Breweries pouring at this year’s Washington Brewers Festiva 192 Brewing Kenmore 7 Seas Brewing Gig Harbor Airways Brewing Kent Alpine Brewing Oroville American Brewing Edmonds Anacortes Brewery Anacortes Barhop Brewing Port Angeles Big Al Brewing Seattle Big Time Brewery Seattle Black Raven Brewing Redmond Boundary…

  • Hug your Mother (Nature) today. And tomorrow. And the day after…

  • Random photo post: Anyone else?

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

  • Field Notes: Last spike + volunteers = Trail complete in Grand Ridge Park!

    On Thurs, Feb 23, after 77 days and more than 4,600 volunteer hours of work over the course of 17 months, volunteers from Washington Trails Association put the last spike into the 600-foot-long boardwalk across the north hemlock bog in Grand Ridge Park. For 10 years, WTA volunteers have been building and improving Grand Ridge’s…

  • 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…

  • Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park re-opened

    Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, a photo by kingcountyparks on Flickr. Thank you to all of the hard working volunteers! Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park is re-opened.

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • Random photo post: Fall colors on our backcountry trails

  • Duthie Hill’s first anniversary, June 11

    If you are already a fan of King County Parks on Facebook, this is old news for you. But for the rest of the internets, take a look at our upcoming drawing via our Facebook page. Join KC Parks and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to celebrate Duthie Hill’s first anniversary at the “Duthie Demoversary” this…

  • My, has it been 35 years already?

    Back in the heyday of bell bottoms was born a quiet park along a big river in sleepy Carnation. Although much has changed in the world around us since the park opened as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebrations in 1976, the story behind the creation of Tolt-MacDonald Park continues to inspire us today. The…

  • 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…

  • Better weather is coming…

    …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…

  • 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…

  • Random photo post: Wildlife at Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park

  • Photos + Parks = Awesome-sauce

    In case you haven’t been paying attention, we here at KC Parks are big fans of documenting our gorgeous and varied assets (yeah assets).  Not only that, we like to share. Sharing really isn’t a one-sided affair though, I mean takers like to tell you it is, let’s be honest everyone wants something in return.…

  • Maury Island eagle

    Sites and sounds at Maury Island. Before taking flight this eagle let staff know his true feelings.

  • Tanner Landing: Snow-pocalypse

    A very concerned micro-snowman. Photo provided by a King County Parks’ Ambassador that braved the snow-pocalypse, and lived to share this photo.

  • Random photo post: Spring Lake/Lake Desire

    We do occasionally have people ask if there are lizards in western Washington. We have them, they’re called skinks, and here is your proof. The photo was shot by staff, and we’re pretty sure it’s authentic.