| Issaquah and Squak Mountains |
| Club Advocate |
| Steve Drew, 425-392-4432 Description - Over 2,500 acres of public lands lie on Squak Mountain, including Squak Mountain State Park (1,570 acres) and approximately 1,000 acres owned by King County Parks. These lands cover the upper, forested portion of the mountain as well as a forested corridor on both the west and east sides that connect these public lands to other public holdings on both Cougar and Tiger Mountains. Public ownership on Squak was initiated by a generous 590-acre donation by the Bullitt family to State Parks, on the condition that this parkland be managed for low impact, non-mechanized recreation, i.e., no motors, chainsaws, bikes, or other mechanical objects can be used. In 1994, State Parks more than doubled the size of the park when it acquired Section 9, on the south half of the mountain. King County Parks also contibuted significantly by a series of purchases of land on the east and west sides of Squak that abut the State Parks boundaries. The most recent purchase is the old Sunset Quarry at the crest of SR900 between Squak and Cougar. 120 of the 170 acre site have been acquired by King County, with the remainder to be purchased upon restoration. It's intended that this will become a future trailhead for both Squak and Cougar mountains. There is no logging on Squak since the entire public ownership is in "park" status. State Parks has made ongoing efforts to improve park access with a new trailhead off May Valley Road, and with new trails and trail connections throughout the park. Similarly, King County Parks has contributed new trails and bridges on their ownership on Squak. Most recently, after ten years of planning and efforts by IATC and the City of Issaquah, a cooperative effort between State Parks, King County Parks, IATC, Washington Trails Association, Earthcorps (formerly Cascadia Quest), the City of Issaquah, and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, led to the completion of a new Squak Mountain Access Trail/East Ridge Trail, with a separate connector trail to East Side Trail. These trails provide a much desired pedestrian linkage between downtown Issaquah and public lands on Squak. Recently, IATC also led efforts to oppose the siting of a new million-gallon water reservoir on a portion of King County Park lands on Squak Mountain. The proposed site would have required intrusion of a new road into a beautifully forested portion of the mountain near the junction of East Ridge Trail and the new Squak Mountain Access Trail, as well as clearing of almost two acres and construction of large retaining walls and a water tank structure. As a result of IATC and other citizen's opposition, subsequent evaluations found a safer, cheaper location for this site within the City of Issaquah. This is a good example of how IATC must vigilantly watch over and protect our public lands from the seemingly regular threats of water tanks, powerlines, gas lines, new roads, or other public facilities. |
| IATC Webmaster | Updated: 08/27/7 |
