BLACK DIAMOND NATURAL AREA

The Black Diamond Natural Area is made up of several properties located just outside of the City of Black Diamond. Totaling 611 acres, there are three geographic areas that King County Parks manages:

Ravensdale Creek - located north of the City of Black Diamond on both sides of SR 169. Includes Ravensdale Lake and Creek. Several miles of trails popular for mountain biking and hiking enter the site off of SR 169. The lake, creek corridor, and a few large wetlands have a forested buffer; most of the site is young forest or shrubs.

Crisp Creek - mostly inaccessible steep forested slopes, off of 218th Ave SE, southwest of Black Diamond.

Icy Creek - three separate properties located along the Green River southeast of Black Diamond, near the WA State Fish & Wildlife Icy Creek hatchery and lands owned by WA State Parks.

Black Diamond Natural Area entered King County ownership through a 2005 open space protection agreement that involced King County, the City of Black Diamond, Plum Creek, and Cascade Land Conservancy.

2005 Press Releases
Landmark agreement new model for conservation
Sims says innovative deal will conserve land, boost recreation, protect Black Diamond's character

Access:

Ravensdale Creek - Trails lead into the site from the shoulder parking along SR 169 (Maple Valley-Black Diamond Road SE), approximately ¼ mile south
of SR 169 at
241st Ave SE/SE 291st St.

Ravensdale Lake - Access at the north end of Rdale Crk area. Very limited shoulder parking on Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road (approx. 800 feet west of 267th Ave SE in Ravensdale).

There is very limited to no access to the Crisp Creek and Icy Creek unit.

Acreage:

611 acres
(comprised of multiple properties)

Use:

walking, mountain biking, nature observation