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 360-469-4043    

Take a Wild Drive Through Nearby Northwest Trek Park 

Nearby Northwest Trek is one of the area’s most unique attractions. Dedicated to conservation and education, the park has been a popular attraction for local residents and tourists for decades.  The park is now offering Wild Drive premier tours that allow visitors to drive by some of the park’s wildlife residents!

View Wildlife from the Comfort and Safety of Your Vehicle 

As participants in the Wild Drive tour, Ten Trails residents can see moose, elk herds, or newborn bison calves while following the governor’s health and safety protocols. Guests purchase timed tickets and meet staff members of the park to tour with a small caravan of other vehicles into Northwest Trek’s stunning Free Roaming Area. Guests can download an audio app to hear a naturalist give a live, narrated tour with personal stories about the species that roam freely in the 435-acre natural area.

Tickets and Additional Information 

Reservations are required for the Wild Drive tours. Cost is $70 for park members/$80 for non-members. The tour is open for family members of all ages, one family or household per vehicle with a maximum of eight people per vehicle. To purchase tickets, visit Northwest Trek’s website. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043  

Five Nearby Hiking Trails to Check out This Spring

Some state-managed parks, wildlife areas, recreation land, boat launches, and natural areas will reopen for day-use activities on May 5, along with some trails and parks managed by the Department of Natural Resources, meaning Ten Trails residents can get back to spending more time in the great outdoors! If you and your family are looking for some picturesque nearby hikes for varying levels of ability, we have provided a few to explore. The Washington Trails Association has provided a thorough list of helpful tips for families who are looking to recreate responsibility. Please visit their website prior to embarking on your hike to review the tips, and be prepared that there’s a chance that some hiking trails and facilities may be closed when you arrive.

South Access Road | Issaquah Alps

The South Access Road Trail is the most direct route to summit Squak Mountain. This nearby mountain is one of the few places left in King County where visitors can walk through a preserved mountain rainforest. Because the land was privately owned for many years, much of the old growth forest remains and can be observed from the trail. The South Access Road Trail is 5.5 miles in length with an elevation gain of 1,606 feet.

Little Si Trail

Short but offering spectacular views, Little Si is the companion trail to the longer and steeper, Mount Si Trail. Little Si is 3.7 miles in length with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet. The rocky trail is popular with local hikers and is best accessed early in the morning to avoid crowds. Like with all Washington State trails, visitors need to display a Washington Trails Discover Pass on their vehicle when parking to hike Little Si.

Tiger Mountain Trail

Tiger Mountain Trail encompasses 15 miles of trail that extends from north to south through the Tiger Mountains with many cross trails to explore. Ten Trails families can spend days exploring the trails and its many hidden gems like Lone Rock, Custer’s Bridge and Wally’s Glen. Make a fun family game out of spotting local wildlife or counting the trail’s many small bridges and creeks.

Chybinski Loop Trail 

Chybinski Loop Trail is located in the Squak Mountain/Cougar Mountain corridor. The trail is 7.7 miles total roundtrip with an elevation gain of 2,100 feet. Hikers looking for a longer loop can also access nearby trails like the Bullitt Fireplace Trail or the Coal Mine Trail. No passes or entry fees are required to access this trail.

May Valley Loop 

Located just outside of Issaquah in the Issaquah Alps, May Valley Loop Trail offers hikers gorgeous views of the city’s downtown. The trail connects with Squak Mountain State Park which features a .3 mile Pretzel Tree Trail that is perfect for little kids to explore with signs that provide a self-guided interpretive walk about the surrounding ecosystem. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Small Details Make a Big Difference in the New Master Planned Community, Ten Trails 

Ten Trails’ developer, Oakpointe Communities, has been creating communities in the Puget Sound region for more than 30 years. It is their attention to detail that helps create a quality of life that sets Oakpointe’s neighborhoods apart from all the rest. At Ten Trails, decades of careful planning have gone into creating what is the fastest growing master planned community in King County.

Detailed Landscape Planning

The entire community of Ten Trails is beautifully-landscaped by Pacific Landscape Management. Native and drought-tolerant plants line the community’s many paved walkways, and flower beds with seasonal varieties of flowers that bring year-round color to the community. The community’s many flowering trees create a stunning show in the early spring months, and the late autumn leaf color change creates a beautiful backdrop and welcoming transition to fall.

Comprehensive Trail Plan

Ten Trails has miles of trails for residents to use for biking, walking or jogging. Our nature trails weave through forested areas of the community and were created sustainably using recycled chipped wood. Newer trails will connect future development in the community including the upcoming Retail Village with additional plans to connect the community trails to the proposed King County Green to Cedar River Trail Southern Extension.

Planned Connectivity for Modern Living

Now more than ever before, working from home has become a common practice for many professionals, and Ten Trails has the connectivity residents need to conduct business from the comfort of their home office. Every home in the community is wired for 1 gigabyte speed internet through Wave. The 1-gig internet service at Ten Trails provides downloads and uploads up to 1,000 Mbps, with fast performance and streaming. There are no data caps included with your service, so feel free to surf and stream on multiple devices, appliances and security systems throughout your home.

Ten Trails is Beautiful Black Diamond, WA 

Ten Trails is located in southeastern King County, barely 30 miles from Seattle in beautiful Black Diamond, WA. Take a drive through the community and see for yourself how all the many small details come together to create a one-of-kind new home community. 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Meet the Asante Family | New Residents at Ten Trails in Black Diamond, WA 

Ten Trails is happy to introduce some of our newest residents, the Asantes! Heather, Imani, and Emma Asante moved to Ten Trails from West Seattle in October with their Shitzu-Poodle, Charlie.

Search for a Close-Knit Community with Family Nearby

Heather and Imani began their search for their new home in south King County to be closer to their family members live in Covington. Heather and Emma visited the Welcome Center and model homes early last fall and fell in love with the sense of community they felt at Ten Trails, the beautiful new model homes, and all of the parks and green spaces in the community.

Hickory Floorplan by Lennar at Ten Trails

The couple chose to purchase the Hickory floorplan by Lennar because the floorplan fit their family’s needs and they especially loved the home’s large, open kitchen and living space. “We loved being able to have family come to our house this year for the holidays,” Heather says. Prior to moving to Ten Trails, the family of three lived in a rental home in West Seattle that was less than 1,000 square feet total in size with only one bathroom. “Having all of this extra space has been amazing,” Heather says.

Community Events at Ten Trails

The Asantes are looking forward to warmer weather and being able to get outside more to gather with neighbors in the parks and at one of the community’s many fire pits. Imani says he would love to get out and explore some of the community’s many trails this spring and check out the nearby Black Diamond Open Space Park with his mountain bike. “We love being out here so close to nature,” he says. “It’s a perfect escape at the end of a workday in the city.” Welcome to the community! We are so happy you chose Ten Trails as your new hometown! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Get to Know the Ten Trails Village Green Park

Just over an acre in size and located directly adjacent to the popular Civic Park, the Village Green Park at Ten Trails is a great spot for taking in one of our many community events, enjoying views of Mount Rainier, or playing a game of catch with the neighbors.

Mount Rainier Viewpoint at Ten Trails 

The Village Green Park at Ten Trails was designed with a large viewing hill in the center of the park to offer spectacular views of Mount Rainier on a clear day. The hilltop’s boulder landscaping and colorful Adirondack chairs provide a cozy seating area to catch the reflection of the sun setting over Mount Rainier.

Summer Concerts in the Village Green Park at Ten Trails 

The Village Green Park has also been the location for some of Ten Trails’ bigger summer concerts in the park like our concert featuring Aaron Crawford in August 2019 which attracted thousands of visitors to the community.

Location for Holiday Events at Ten Trails 

The Village Green Park serves as one of the main hubs for other large-scale events hosted in the community! Our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Christmas Tree Lighting both take place inside the park. For a list of upcoming events in the community, check out our events page. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Enjoy a Sense of Community at Ten Trails

In today’s busy, modern society, it’s more and more difficult to connect in person with our friends and neighbors. Ten Trails’ developer created the community with a goal in mind to build a place that was desirable to live, and where residents could feel a connection to their community and to each other. With this goal in mind, the community’s many amenities, events and parks were carefully designed to bring together residents and the public in gorgeous spaces inspired by nature.

Ten Trails Community Events

Ten Trails hosts seasonal community events that bring together residents and the public. These include Sunset Markets in our Civic Park featuring vendor booths, food trucks, live music, and kids’ activities, as well as movie nights in the park, concerts in the park, holiday events, and more.

Ten Trails Community Amenities

Our Civic Park performance pavilion is the site of musical performances and more at our summer Hometown Social events, which also bring together both residents and the public. Ten Trails has community fire pits located throughout the residential areas and parks where neighbors enjoy gathering in the evenings. Our sports courts are popular meeting spaces for neighborhood kids, and our newly constructed pea patches are soon to be a favorite gathering spot for residents.

Participate in Local Activities and Organizations

The City of Black Diamond has many festivals and events to bring residents together like the annual Labor Day’s Festival, Black Diamond Miner’s Day, and Hometown Christmas. Residents of Ten Trails are also welcomed to get involved with their new hometown by volunteering at the city’s historic Museum Depot, or the Black Diamond Community Center. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043    

Top Five Ways to Get Fit in Your New Hometown

It’s a new year and what better time than now to focus on fitness goals? Residents of Ten Trails have ample opportunities to get fit using our many community amenities and through easy access to local outdoor recreation sites!

Ten Trails Bike Lanes

Ten Trails’ community bike lanes make cycling safer and a convenient and healthy way to get around. Take your bike for a spin around the community in the new year, or hop on your bike next time you want to visit neighbors instead of getting in your car. Not only will you be doing something healthy for yourself, but biking is better for the environment as well!

Parks and Green Space 

Outdoor activities are a great way to get fit in the new year! Ten Trails is committed to providing open spaces for residents and the public to enjoy, including many parks and green spaces that are ideal for outdoor recreation and fitness. At a minimum, there will be approximately 500 acres of open space within the community when it is complete. This will be comprised of wetlands, buffers, critical areas, natural areas, both passive and active park spaces and trails.

Walking/Jogging Paths at Ten Trails

When development has finished, Ten Trails will have at least ten distinctly different trails for residents to use for walking, biking, fitness and more! Currently, our paved trails connect the different sections of the neighborhood and nature trails weave through forested areas of the community. Enjoy walking or running through Ten Trails while admiring the beautiful views of nature and the mountains.

Community Sports

If your preference is to stay active through playing sports, then Ten Trails has plenty to offer! The community’s large Civic Park has basketball hoops, a sports court, two bocce ball courts and large event lawn that is perfect for a game of kickball or touch football with the neighbors.

Nearby Outdoor Recreation

Ten Trails is conveniently located near some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest outdoor recreation sites like Black Diamond Open Space, Crystal Mountain Resort, the Cascade Mountain range, the Issaquah Alps and Mount Rainier National Park. Opportunities to get fit via hiking, camping, rock-climbing, mountain-biking, and more are just a short drive from the community. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Get to Know the Ten Trails Civic Park

If you haven’t checked out our Civic Park yet, you need to do so soon! This 1.2-acre park is located in the heart of the community and boasts a number of great amenities for residents and the public to enjoy. The Civic Park also serves as the hub of all activity during our many community events!

Award-Winning Design

This November, the Washington Society for Landscape Architects (WASLA) recognized the landscape designers of the Civic Park at Ten Trails with an award of merit for excellent design work. Jurors for the award noted the park’s wide range of play equipment and social amenities like the event lawn, stage, restrooms, and picnic area.

Playground Equipment

The park’s unique and thoughtful design is evident when visiting its playground area. Two long slides are built into a landscaped hillside, which also features a meandering sloped gravel pathway flanked by native flowering plants. A large play structure is complimented by a jungle gym, todder play house, and basket swing.

Sports Courts

Our Civic Park has a sports court with two basketball hoops and an extra supply of basketballs for visitors to use. Adjacent to the sports court are two bocce ball courts complete with sets of balls and an instructional sign so that those who are new to the sport can learn to enjoy it.

Event Space

A striking outdoor pavilion serves as both a stage for events held in the community as well as the screen area for summer movie nights in the park. The entire pavilion is surrounded by a large, grassy event lawn which doubles as extra play space for neighborhood team sports when not used for community events. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Thanks to everyone who came out for our second annual Hometown Holiday event yesterday and a BIG congratulations to our winners of the Light Up Your Hometown Contest: Clark Griswold Family Christmas – Jose Enciso Classical Christmas – John Hoyt See it from the Moon- Shellyn Moore Tis the Reason for the Season – Denise and Chris Mackey The fun never stops at Ten Trails! Follow us on Hometown Social for updates on our next event!