Tag: backcountry trail
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Two Taylor Mountain trail bridges checked off the ‘To Do’ list
Last week, King County Parks wrapped up construction on the project to install two new trail bridges at Taylor Mountain Forest. Part of our effort to improve trail sustainability and protect the forest and salmon habitat, this work replaced old, undersized culverts along gravel maintenance roads that make up part of the park’s trail system.…
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Winter Weather Safety
With winter weather kicking up in the Puget Sound region, King County Parks urges all trail visitors to practice safety when venturing out on any of our trails, both our paved regional trails and backcountry trails. Windy days can bring falling tree branches and other debris that can block a trail. When walking or hiking,…
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Harvey Manning Trailhead Dedication, June 29
Please join King County Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett and longtime Cougar Mountain advocates and enthusiasts on Weds, June 29 at 11 a.m. as we celebrate Harvey Manning and his infinite contributions to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. We will be unveiling the newly renamed trailhead to honor Manning’s legacy of protecting Cougar Mountain. Among the…
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Memorial Day Weekend Getaway: Dockton Park and Forest
Pack a lunch, hop on a ferry and spend the day exploring the 152 acres of working forest, saltwater shoreline and natural park lands located on the south-central part of Maury Island. Begin the day hiking around the trails in Dockton Forest. With nine miles of hiking, running, mountain biking and equestrian trails – all…
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Happy horses heart our Taylor trails
Together with the Tahoma Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington and Washington Trails Association, we sliced through the shiny blue ribbon and celebrated our brand spankin’ new trailhead at Taylor Mountain Forest. And it was already being put to good use by the 30 some horses and their humans and trucks and trailers! Funded…
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Upcoming Volunteer Events in King County Parks- Autumn 2015
Volunteering with King County Parks is a great way to give back to the community, learn tangible skills, satisfy service learning requirements and enjoy the outdoors! Families, groups and individuals are all invited to get involved with our volunteer program. Here are the upcoming volunteer events with King County Parks’ this coming autumn: Sept. 12…
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Teach Me How to Douggie (Squirrel Style)
On a recent excursion out to Grand Ridge Park in the Issaquah Highlands we ran into our friend: Douggie the Douglas Squirrel! He was kind enough to pose for a photo shoot and show us his favorite dance moves. After a brief conversation (which mostly consisted of high pitched squeaks), he was on his way…
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Summer Hike Idea: Margaret’s Way
On National Trails Day (June 6), King County Parks and the WTA unveiled the new Margaret’s Way hike in the Issaquah Alps. The hike is a short 15 minute drive from Seattle. To access the hike from I-90, take exit 15 signed Lake Sammamish/Renton Highway 900. Turn right onto Highway 900/Renton-Issaquah Road and go south…
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National Trails Day 2015
On Saturday, June 6 King County Parks is teaming up with the American Hiking Society to celebrate the diverse trails that crisscross our world. King County Parks is home to some of the most magnificent flora and fauna ranging from giant Douglas-firs to delicate Rhododendrons. Help us keep our parks vibrant and healthy by participating in volunteer/celebratory events…
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Santa’s true identity REVEALED!
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Random photo post: Fall colors on our backcountry trails
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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…
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Get the kids out this weekend.
I have been shooting folks in our parks for about four years, and I have to say this might be the most geniune grin I have seen on any youth I have shot in one of our parks. Got me thinking that all it really takes sometimes is to just get out with the kids…
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3 Day Weekend + You = Get out and play!
It is hard to tell by the weather we’ve had recently, but IT IS ALMOST SUMMER! Memorial day weekend is coming up, your first big weekend of summer, so what are you going to do? We say grab the tots, some gear, plenty of water, and go play in your big backyard! A few suggestions……
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Backcountry trail maps online – get some
We just loaded our new backcountry maps to the the King County Virtual Map Counter. Drop by the Backcountry page to see what trails we have to offer and where your next hike, bike or ride will be then hit the counter. Enjoy.
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Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park – Seattle Times sneak peek
Seattle Times did a walk-through of the Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park (opening in May). Give it a read, peruse the photos, and watch the video over at their site or in today’s Outdoors Section…minus the video of course.
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Your Weekend = Seattle Bicycle Expo
You live in the Northwest, and odds are you have a bike for leisure or commuting. Why not stay up on and/or drool over all the latest tips, tricks and gear at the Seattle Bike Expo? Saturday, March 13, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, March 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. King County will…
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Taylor Mountain trip report WTA style
What’s not to love? Seriously folks there are some killer views along this trail so come have a look. In the meantime read up on what the Washington Trails Association had to say about their trip.
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Vashon Island + Island Center Forest + Planting Trees = Weekend Getaway!
Weekend getaways are fun, especially when they’re in your big backyard. Grab a ferry, head to Vashon and help King County plant trees on Saturday, Jan 30th from 10 am to 2 pm at Island Center Forest. This is part of a pilot project that is exploring the carbon sequestration potential of healthy soils through…
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The Canyon Creek bridge at Grand Ridge
Grand Ridge Park is located near the Issaquah Highlands in the “Issaquah Alps” along the I-90 corridor. The park is a 1,200-acre site featuring lush forests, winding creeks, and some 7 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. For several years now, King County Parks has partnered with Washington Trails Association to…
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Random Photo Post: Taylor Mountain trails
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Trailsfest 09: Debuted the new backcountry trail maps
Saturday’s Trailsfest at Rattlesnake was a lot of fun. Our booth was jammed all day. People loved the new backcountry trail maps, learning about places to hike and ride that they had never heard of.