Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area 2020

Category Overview

Urban Wildlife Habitat projects fund close-to-home places to play and explore nature. As our urban areas are increasingly expanding and densifying, these grants protect important fish and wildlife habitat within five miles of densely populated areas, creating green refuges that help keep our ecosystems healthy and provide places to enjoy nature right in our backyards.

Project Highlights

The Department of Natural Resources will use this grant to buy 167.4 acres of privately owned land for inclusion in the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area in east King County. The land is highly threatened by residential development and provides crucial wildlife habitat in an urban area. The land is a part of the Mountains to Sound Greenway, a 100-mile corridor of forests, wildlife habitat, and open spaces along Interstate 90, which is a National Scenic Byway and National Heritage Area. Distinctive features of this site include mature Douglas fir forests, pockets of old-growth forests, snag-rich wildlife habitats, numerous streamside systems, cliffs, steep slopes, and wildlife corridors. The quality of this site is high due to the habitat diversity, remote character, and wildlife connections it provides in the surrounding region. The area is used by a variety of wildlife including northern spotted owls, pileated woodpecker, peregrine falcon, black bear, Roosevelt elk, bobcat, cougar, fox, coyote, osprey, black-tail deer, and a variety of other mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Natural Resources Dept of Category: Urban Wildlife Habitat WWRP Grant: $1,338,671.00 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Acquisition County: King Legislative District: 5 Status: Active RCO Project # 20-1424

Location Details

Snoqualmie Point: From I-90 eastbound, take Exit 27. Turn right (south) on Winery Rd and travel approximately 0.5 miles. Trailhead area is located to the south of the road. From I-90 westbound, take Exit 31. Turn right onto North Bend Blvd. S. Turn left on W. North Bend Way. Travel approximately 3 miles. Pass under freeway on Winery Rd and travel approximately 0.5 miles. Trailhead area is located to the right (south).

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.