Explore Southeastern King County’s Off the Beaten Path Attractions this Summer
Tucked away in a scenic section of southeastern King County, Ten Trails is located close to outdoor recreation hotspots as well as some lesser known but still notable area attractions.
Franklin Ghost Town Trail
Ten Trails is located just minutes from the former town of Franklin. Once a booming coal-mining town, Franklin is now owned by King County and is part of the
Green River Gorge Conservation Area. Hikers can explore the ruins of old buildings and view coal car tracks and cables hidden among the forest. The trail is part of privately-owned land, but the public is welcome to tour the Franklin Ghost Town trail for a $5 fee.
Maid of the Mist Waterfall
Also commonly known as the “Green River Gorge Falls” the Maid of the Mist waterfall is clearly visible with just a short hike from the historic
Franklin Ghost Town trail. Instead of hiking up toward the hills, visitors can check out the waterfall by taking the route that ventures down into the gorge.
Black Diamond Open Space
Just a short, five-minute drive from Ten Trails north on Hwy 169, visitors can find the
Black Diamond Open Space Park. The park boasts 240 acres of park and trail space for hiking, horseback riding, trail running and mountain-biking. The latter is what the park is most well-known for, with more than 28 mountain bike trails that span more than 13 miles total.
Nolte State Park
Nolte State Park is one of the area’s finest state park recreation sites, but is not well-known to anyone who lives outside the immediate area. This 110-acre day-use park has 7,174 feet of freshwater shoreline located on Deep Lake near the Green River Gorge.
Black Diamond Cemetery
The
Black Diamond Cemetery was founded in 1884 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located within walking distance to Ten Trails, the cemetery has more than 1,200 graves, one of them of a Civil War veteran, and many others of the miners who came to work in the city from all over the world.
www.TenTrails.com
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