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Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park and McGarvey Park
About the Park
About halfway between Renton and Maple Valley, south of State Route 169, is a large protected natural area consisting of former industrial timber lands brought into King County's inventory of publicly-owned open space over the past thirty years. The largest park in this network of connected forested playgrounds is McGarvey Park Open Space, has 11 miles of multi-use trails within a 400-acre working forest bisected by Bonneville Power Administration power lines and sandwiched between two residential neighborhoods.
Leaving McGarvey Park southwest along the McGarvey West Trail leads to Petrovitsky Park's forested 90-acres and a fun playground for children and families. The McGarvey East Trail cruises through Wetland 14 Natural Area's 40 acres. The east trail continues into Spring Lake/Lake Desire Park, a beautiful 370-acre forested site with a bald rocky outcrop, a peat bog, and three miles of multi-use trails nestled between the two lakes. Hikers can explore the rocky outcrop via the Echo Peak trail up the 900-foot Echo Mountain to catch views of the two lakes and Cascade foothills. Washington Native Plant Society leads seasonal tours throughout the park to observe rare native flora such as Labrador tea and bog laurel.
There is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boat ramp for non-motorized vessels on the west bank of Spring Lake.
Park activities and facilities
Boat ramp
Dog walking
Hiking
Horse riding
Mountain biking
Nature observation
Parking lot
Volunteer
Location
The natural area is located east of Renton, near Fairwood. From the Maple Valley Highway, SR-169, or from Southeast Petrovitsky Road, take 196th Avenue Southeast, then Southeast 183rd Street to East Spring Lake Drive.
Nearby Bus Stops
Route 148
Parking
There are parking areas at the end of West Spring Lake Drive Southeast and at Maple Valley Heights Park.
For McGarvey Park Open Space: At Southwest corner of Southeast 164th Street and 188th Avenue Southeast
For Spring Lake /Lake Desire: At the end of East Spring Lake Drive.
Trailheads
McGarvey Park Open Space: West through Maple Valley Heights Park
Spring Lake/Lake Desire - Rabbit Trail: This trailhead is located at the end of 190th Avenue Southeast or East Spring Lake Drive.
Spring Lake/Lake Desire - Three Lakes Loop North: This trailhead is located at the end of West Spring Lake Drive Southeast.
Wetland 14 Natural Area: This trail head is located at the end of Southeast 171th Place
Park History
Prior to public ownership, this land was used for coal mining and timber harvest. There are a few legacy trees over 100 years old although there is evidence this area was first clear cut in the late 1800s, the early 19030s, and lastly in the mid 1960s.
The southern and eastern portions of the area are underlain by a network of abandoned coal mines, predominantly the New Black Diamond Mine which was actively worked between 1884 and 1939.