Tag: backcountry trails
-
Three King County Lowland Winter Walks
As the winter holidays approach and people reunite to gather together, check out King County Parks for some approachable lowland walks in our many woodland and natural areas. With picturesque views, and everything from gently graded, paved footpaths to unpaved, wooded trails, these lowland excursions make for a great nature break during the frenzy of holiday…
-
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.…
-
It’s here!!! Lookout Tower at Pinnacle Peak Park
What’s 30 feet in the air and gives you an extra workout at the top of Mount Peak? Why, that’d be a replica fire lookout tower in Pinnacle Peak Park in Enumclaw! Community Meeting – June 9, 2022 To improve the view from the new tower to Mt. Rainier and other locations we are working…
-
Update: Taylor Mountain Trail Conditions
Many of the trails at Taylor Mountain Forest did not fare well this winter, especially during the storms in February when raging creeks washed out whole trail sections and bridges. Then, in early March, just as repair efforts were launching, a global pandemic forced us all to hunker down and keep our distance. King County…
-
Maury Island gets some WTA love
Last month, Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True paid a visit to a group of Washington Trails Association volunteers who spent a “working vacation” week building a new multiuse trail at Maury Island Marine Park. Every summer WTA sponsors working vacation trail projects in the high country and wilderness areas of…
-
Ways to enjoy 215-miles of backcountry trails
We all find entertainment in different things. This is for those who would prefer to be on a mountain, by a river, in natural areas and open spaces, or just somewhere out in the sticks. I find an immense amount of enjoyment in the natural areas and open spaces within King County and fortunately for us there are…
-
Taking care of our forests: Black Diamond, Ravensdale Retreat and Henry’s Ridge
King County Parks estimates that about 25,000 of our 28,000 acres of open space are covered by forests. In some places, our forests are vast canopies of big ol’ evergreens, loads of ferns, and happy critters all around. Many times, however, our forests have had a checkered past. They became “ours” because the land had…
-
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…
-
Knowing Is Half The Battle – Q&A With WTA
This is a great time of year to remind folks how fragile our trails can get, and just what goes in to keeping them available to everyone. We decided to focus a bit of our attention on the newer trails that have come online within the last so many moons. Again, we like our third party…
-
Run (in the), forest, run!
Saturday, May 9 marks the first race in the annual Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series. Since 2003, participants have raised over $140,000 for King County Parks. Way to go runners! There are a total of five races throughout the summer and fall. Participants have the option to run one race or challenge themselves to complete the…
-
Behind the Scenes at Cougar-Squak
Since it isn’t officially open until this June we thought we’d give you a look behind the curtain at the work going in to “The Corridor”. The work and the majesty, this place is gorgeous. Lot of prep goes in to opening a property like this to the public, and as always, our BFF’s WTA (Washington Trails…
-
O Grady Natural Area + WTA =’s more trail
-
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
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Grand Ridge: WTA Bridge dedication
The ceremonial breaking of a granola bar made it official: Grand Ridge‘s bridge over Canyon Creek is now the WTA Bridge. This is our way of thanking the Washington Trails Association for their hard work and dedication. Our partnership with WTA has helped build and maintain a significant number of the backcountry trails…
-
Random photo post: Black Diamond Natural Area