Category: Walking

  • No flourescent lights allowed

    It’s not always a Monday afternoon; it could be any day of the week and you still feel like you’re dragging at the office or you’re going a little stir crazy with the kids running circles around you at home. We’ve all been there and know it doesn’t feel any good to be stuck in…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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 Alert!

    Storm damage at Duthie Hill and Tolt MacDonald Park close some high intensity challenges Douggie the Douglas Squirrel was starting to get a bit of cabin fever after snowmageddon so we decided to head out to Tolt MacDonald Park for a Fitness Challenge hike.   As we were heading up the high-intensity hike we were stopped by a giant tree…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • A short video of a long walk

    This video is a great meditation on a very long walk along the King County Parks regional trail system. Many thanks to the artists and participants for their dedication to this project, and for taking the time to step out onto and experience the trails and their connection to our surroundings. The Long Walk, an…

  • Enter new year…

    On average, folks gain 7 to 12 pounds over the holidays. You heard correctly – 7 to 12. So unless you’re packing it on to keep warm this winter, maybe it’s time to hit one of our parks or trails and break a sweat. Visit our online Park finder map for suggestions on activities or…

  • Saving lives one park at a time

    The New York Times has stumbled across something. It’s called the outdoors. We are huge fans, as a matter of fact *we maintain a healthy chunk of them, so why not come check them out and live a longer/less angry life in the process. * We’re not doctors we just play them outside.

  • Awww shucks: Marymoor gets some e-hugs & Portland is left holding the leash

    We know everyone is busy, and when given a free moment the first thing that comes across their mind probably isn’t “Oh I forgot to give my parks some props!” So we are always very appreciative of feedback, good or bad (but mostly good), so we’d like to share some internet love we received and…

  • Add some learnin’ to your next Island Center Forest visit.

    King County Parks in partnership with the Friends of Island Center Forest, which =’s the Vashon Forest Stewards, Vashon Island Horse Assoc, Vashon Audubon, and the Vashon Land Trust commissioned Vashon resident Sandra Noel to create 6 new interpretive signs along the trails at ICF.  They were created to help educate visitors about the site’s…

  • Races, treks, and tidepools, oh my!

    Forecast for weekend weather looks great, soooo whatcha gonna do with all that sunshine? We’ve got heaps of options for the offering here at King County Parks! FSA Grand Prix Marymoor Velodrome Fri, July 23-Sat, July 24 Super speedy bike races. More info here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/dnrp/newsroom/newsreleases/2010/july/0721Velodrome.aspx The Long Walk A trek from Fremont to Snoqualmie Fri,…

  • It’s on like Donkey Kong this weekend!!!

    It has been crazy here prepping for this weekend, and now it is finally upon us. Welcome to the awesome storm that is the weekend of May 22nd, 2010. Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park grand opening. Saturday May, 22nd 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Raffle, beer garden and BBQ. Directions…

  • What do art and trails have in common?

    Join us this Sat, May 15 and find out, when King County Parks and 4Culture will kick off “Trails Project”, a unique summer art exhibit inspired by –and happening on– our Regional Trails System. The Saturday launch event features the exhibit’s three artists,  Susan Robb, Stokley Towles, and Paul Rucker, who will lead a trek…

  • Bert the Salmon in epic “Big Backyard 5K” spot

  • KC Parks + 4Culture = trails, art, education

    King County Parks in partnership with 4Culture will be rolling out Trails Project 2010 on May 15 along the Soos Creek Trail. Click here to learn more about the first of many events from the 4Culture blog. The Trails Project website will be live soon so please check back, and we hope to see you…

  • Trail Alert: Sammamish River Trail

    Sammamish River Trail closes May 3-14 near Marymoor Park for emergency repairs

  • Spring sun on Saturday out at Tolt-MacDonald

    Living in the Northwest, we cherish every second of sun when it decides to grace us with its presence. This Saturday was a perfect example. Had you paid a visit to Tolt-MacDonald, you would have seen a packed parking lot and acres of people. The park was not only host to a volunteer group, girl’s…

  • Random photo post: Tanner Landing

    This park has seen a great deal of improvements over the last couple years including native plantings and massive invasive removals. It is soon to be a gathering destination and will provide access for the larger white water rafting community. Maybe you should come check it out before it’s all the rage?

  • 25 ways to get your spring on

    The Seattle Times was kind enough to compile a list of great outdoor adventures for you, and … oh what’s this? It appears as though there are at least 4 trips that are in King County Parks – Your Big Backyard. Head on out and get to springing at Cougar Mountain with its trilliums, Sammamish…

  • King County Parks Flickr Pool

    In case we don’t talk enough about it, we at King County Parks have a Flickr feed, and with that we administer a King County Parks group (this is a pile of KC Parks-themed photos for you non interweb types). We would love for you to contribute, what we assume will be, your most awesome…

  • Trail Alert: Burke-Gilman trail repairs this week.

    To protect public safety and accommodate heavy construction equipment, the Burke Gilman Trail will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and Thursday, Jan. 7, in the vicinity of 91st Avenue Northeast so crews can make emergency repairs to a damaged portion of the popular route. Trail users are advised that there will be no set…

  • Avatar Quiz: Pandora or King County Parks?

    Lush forest…check. Dense foliage…check. Teeming with life…check. Crazy weird hungry doglike creatures chasing you through a dayglo jungle…negative. Conclusion: It’s King County Parks – Your Big Backyard, and trust us, it’s much safer than Pandora.