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Landsburg Reach and Big Bend Natural Areas
About the park
Landsburg Reach and Big Bend Natural Areas are connected properties that span both sides of the Cedar River. These Natural Areas link undeveloped forest in the Cedar River Watershed to the east, creating a crucial wildlife corridor and protecting water quality along the Cedar River. With a combined total of over 200 acres, these natural areas are located slightly more than a mile east of Maple Valley. There are views of wetlands, bluffs, and forests filled with a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees. The Cedar River Trail goes through both properties.
Location
From the heart of Maple Valley, head south on SE 268th Pl toward 225th Pl SE. Turn right onto 226th Pl SE, then turn left onto SE 270th Place. Turn right onto 228th Ave SE, and get on SE Summit Landsburg Road to Landsburg Road SE in Hobart, about 4 miles. Turn left onto SE 272nd Street, then continue onto SE Kent Kangley Road for less than one mile.
Turn left onto SE Summit Landsburg Rd and proceed 2.5 miles, and finally, turn left onto Landsburg Rd SE, parking at the beginning of the east end of the Cedar River Trail.
Parking
There is no parking available at Big Bend or Landsburg Reach Natural Areas. The closest parking available is at the Landsburg Trailhead, located on Landsburg Road SE approximately one mile east of the Natural Area by way of the Cedar River Trail.
Park activities and facilities
Hiking
Nature observation
Fishing
Forestry Projects
2025-2026 Landsburg Forest Health Work
Project Overview:
King County Parks is planning a forest thinning project on approximately 30 acres to improve forest health and improve habitat. Work is planned take place in late 2025 or 2026. This is the same work that was proposed in 2024 but has undergone delays. Parks will plant trees resistant to root rot the following spring to increase forest diversity and resilience to this persistent fungal disease. A virtual public meeting will be scheduled in fall 2025. Details will be posted here, posted on-site, and mailed to adjacent landowners.
Project Details:
The County will cut and remove a portion of maturing Douglas-fir across 30 acres of upland forest. This stand of trees is very dense homogenous Douglas-fir riddled with root rot, leading to stressed and dying trees and rapid loss of canopy cover and carbon. Thinning will retain the biggest and best trees and allow them to have more light and water to continue growing. This project will also expand the root rot openings to slow the spread into unaffected areas. Extensive tree planting in the following spring will establish rot-resistant native tree species to form the next generation of this forest. Similar projects took place at nearby Henry’s Ridge and Ravensdale Retreat in 2018 and 2019.
There are no trails within the project area. The Cedar River Trail and Trailhead will be unaffected. Log trucks will access via SE 247th St.
The County will submit a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist and obtain a Washington Department of Natural Resources Forest Practices Application permit before work can begin.
For questions or comments, please contact King County’s senior forester Paul Fischer at 206-817-8259 or pfischer@kingcounty.gov.