Two Snohomish County parks closed due to tree-falling risk

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, October 28, 2026

EVERETT — Snohomish County announced Wednesday that parts of Paradise Valley Conservation Area and all of Southwest County Park will close because recent forest health surveys identified an increased risk of falling trees.

Advanced laminated root rot, a native fungal disease that damages roots and causes trees to die and fall, affects hundreds of Douglas fir trees across 64 acres in Paradise Valley Conservation Area near Woodinville, a press release said.

At Southwest County Park in Edmonds, the majority of red alders in the 120-acre park have reached the end of their natural lives.

“We understand these are beloved parks by the community, but the safety of our visitors is our top priority,” said Sharon Walker, Snohomish County Parks director, in the release. “Our approach prioritizes visitor safety while working toward healthier, more diverse and resilient forests for future generations.”

Snohomish County Parks and Recreation will close Paradise Valley on Oct. 29 while crews build a trail reroute. The park and the new trail, which will connect to the Wetland Plateau Trail, will reopen Oct. 30. Cascara Trail, Whispering Firs, Mainline Trail, Lloyd Loop, the Lloyd family barn and associated outbuildings will remain closed indefinitely.

Southwest County Park is closed until further notice. The tree-falling hazard leaves no safe alternative route, so the entire park must remain closed.

The trees were established around the same time, about 75 years ago.

Parks is developing a forest mitigation plan and there is no timeline to reopen the park. The county will need to either remove the trees or verify the alders have died and fallen before the park can open.

For more information, visit snohomishcountywa.gov/6986.

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-39-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; Bluesky: @btayokay.bsky.social