Meeting set Jan. 31 to discuss off-trail safety at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

With increasing interest in off-trail activities in King County Parks, a public meeting is set for Jan. 31 in Bellevue to discuss safety issues related to off-trail travel in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.

The meeting, which will feature a representative from the federal Office of Surface Mining, is set for 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lewis Creek Visitors Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd in Bellevue.

Cougar Mountain, like much of King County, has a rich coal-mining history, which brings with it potential safety hazards. Staff from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the Office of Surface Mining will discuss the potential risks of off-trail activities in an area that was actively mined for a century.

Cougar Mountain Wildland Park covers more than 3,000 acres of forest lands, and includes hiking trails, horseback riding trails, wetlands and salmon-bearing streams. It is the largest park in King County’s 20,000-acre park system.