Guided tours, volunteer work party coming to King County's Soaring Eagle Regional Park

Hiking, biking and running tours, plus park clean-up party, set for April 28

Featuring miles of hiking trails through mature forests and past salmon-bearing streams, King County's Soaring Eagle Regional Park is a wilderness gem on the Sammamish Plateau.

The Friends of Soaring Eagle Park, in coordination with the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, are offering an opportunity for people to learn more about this fantastic 626-acre park.

On Saturday, April 28, three guided tours of the park are scheduled, followed by a volunteer clean-up effort to prepare Soaring Eagle for the busy spring and summer seasons.

Beginning at 9 a.m., a group mountain bike ride, group trail run and guided nature hike - each lasting one hour - are slated for Saturday. Dogs are allowed to come along on the tours, provided that they are on a leash and their owners bring clean-up bags.

From 10 a.m. to noon, a volunteer trail restoration and work party is scheduled. Restoration activities include trail drainage improvement, vine trimming and light trail brush removal. No dogs are allowed at restoration project sites.

Teen volunteers and families are welcome to participate. Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for the weather, and don't forget to bring gloves. Trails are not smooth in all areas, and none are paved.

To register for this volunteer event, contact King County Parks Volunteer Program Coordinator Laurie Clinton at laurie.clinton@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-4452. Soaring Eagle Regional Park is at 25992 NE 8th St. in Sammamish.

Since a budget crisis five years ago, King County Parks Division's has been empowered to engage in "good government" initiatives and embrace non-traditional ways of doing business.

A cornerstone of the Parks Division's business plan is a strong volunteer program. Since 2001, volunteers have provided more than 250,000 hours of service on King County Parks' lands, which has translated to additional projects and programs without additional funding. Information about additional volunteer opportunities is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/Partners/volunteer.html.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.