Private acreage near Maple Valley that is surrounded by publicly owned working forest and offering an abundance of recreation opportunities has been acquired by King County.

The 40-acre “inholding” property in Taylor Mountain Forest near the community of Hobart was purchased for slightly more than $692,000, with most of the funding coming from the King County Parks Expansion Levy.

The newly acquired forestland includes an old millpond that provides excellent wildlife habitat, while a creek’s headwaters are also protected on this property.

King County Parks hopes to build a trail to link two existing trails, creating a loop trail that will greatly improve public access to the forestland. Crews will also demolish the few structures on the property and restore those areas for improved habitat.

Taylor Mountain Forest is located near Tiger Mountain, south of I-90 and east of SR 18, between the communities of Hobart and North Bend in eastern King County. The 1,923-acre site, which offers sweeping views of Mount Rainier, forested wetlands, and meadows of wildflowers, provides an important habitat link between the City of Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed and Tiger Mountain State Forest.