A large block of privately owned forestland in the Snoqualmie Valley—commonly known as Tokul—is being offered for sale as part of a broader land portfolio. This includes thousands of acres of working forest near Fall City, with a mix of timber value, conservation potential, and future development considerations.
For many in Washington’s riding community, Tokul has long been a place to explore—an informal network of trails built over time, shaped by riders, and shared across user groups including trail runners, hikers, gravel riders, and equestrians.
Now, with a potential change in ownership on the horizon, the future of this landscape is uncertain.
What This Means
The property is being marketed as a multi-use asset, with opportunities ranging from timber harvest to conservation easements to residential development.
Importantly, recreation access on lands like this is not guaranteed—it typically exists through private agreements, permits, or simply long-standing use. A sale introduces new variables, including:
- Who the next landowner will be
- How the land will be managed
- Whether recreation access continues, changes, or ends
Where Evergreen Stands
As an organization that works to support and develop mountain bike riding statewide, we recognize the significance of this riding area as a long-time staple of the northwest community, and the trail system that can be sustainably ridden 12 months out of the year thanks to its well-draining, south-facing slopes.
Our role is to advocate for responsible, sustainable recreation access and to ensure mountain biking and outdoor recreation plays prominently in conversations about the future of places like this.
Landscapes like Tokul should continue to serve multiple purposes—supporting working forests while also providing meaningful recreational opportunities to the multitude of users in the region. The map below shows the abundance of trails (outlined in black) that exist in each parcel.
What We’re Doing
We are actively engaging with partners and stakeholders to better understand the path forward then share this information with the mountain bike community as we work to make Washington the best place to ride for all.
Thus far we’ve been engaged with the following offices, and continue to seek others who would be helpful.
- King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Transfer of Development Rights program
- Trust for Public Land
- Mountains to Sound Greenway
- Councilmember Perry’s Office
Our focus is simple:
- Stay informed and keep the community aware of important developments
- Build relationships early and help connect stakeholders
- Advocate for continued recreation access where appropriate
Why This Matters
Tokul is part of a broader pattern across the states where large tracts of private forestland are changing hands, often with uncertain outcomes for recreation.
Moments like this are where action and advocacy matters most.
Not every outcome is within our control, but showing up early and clearly representing the recreation community can shape what comes next.
“Especially in the last couple of years we’ve been reminded that access to recreation and wild places is not guaranteed, and when there’s a possibility these places may be lost to development or private ownership unfriendly to recreation, we are obligated to do what we can.” ~Eddie Espinosa, Executive Director of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Stay Engaged
We will continue to share updates as we learn more.
In the meantime, the best thing our community can do is stay informed, stay respectful of access rules, and recognize that the future of places like Tokul depends on thoughtful collaboration.
It is also important for us to make sure our public officials are aware of how important Tokul is to our community.
Please let your legislators know what it means to you as a place of recreation, conservation, health and wellness, and a significant contributor to the local economy:
Legislators for District 5
Senator Victoria Hunt
https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/victoria-hunt
Representative Zach Hall
https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/hall/contact/
Representative Lisa Callan
https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/callan/
Councilmember Sarah Perry
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/councilmembers-districts/sarah-perry
We’re staying closely involved and committed to representing the mountain bike community as conversations about Tokul’s future move forward.
