The parking lot and primary access point to this 1,800-acre working forest that lies between North Bend and Hobart will be closed from October through December while a work crew makes improvements.

Located near the intersection of Southeast 188th Street and 276th Avenue Southeast, the parking lot will have enough room to accommodate a total of 30 cars and 25 trailers once work is completed.

During construction, riders and hikers can access Taylor Mountain Forest at the Holder Ridge trailhead, 150 yards north of the parking lot. Limited parking will also be available along 276th Avenue Southeast.

The main logging road that runs through the forest will remain open during parking lot construction, and can be accessed from Holder Ridge.

King County Parks is also updating its forest stewardship plan for Taylor Mountain Forest to document work completed since the original plan was written and upcoming projects. A 10-year technical update is required under the Forest Legacy Program that provided funds to purchase most of the land at Taylor Mountain Forest.

Update highlights include replacing two undersized road culverts with larger culverts, and replacing another culvert on Carey Creek with either a larger culvert or possibly a bridge.

The plan update recommends continuing to convert forest stands from hardwood to conifer by thinning stands and planting conifers, and for keeping older forest types with large mature trees in reserve status with no planned harvest activities.

There are no changes to public use recommendations for the forest. Once completed, the updated plan will be posted online and available for public review.

For information on parking lot construction, contact Linda Frkuska at 206-477-4484 or linda.frkuska@kingcounty.gov. For information about the Forest Stewardship Plan technical update, contact Kelly Heintz at 206-477-6478, orkelly.heintz@kingcounty.gov.