SEATTLE – A Seattle-based land conservancy has purchased 0.3 square miles of land from Weyerhaeuser to preserve the popular Lake Serene Trail.

A Friday news release from the nonprofit Forterra says it closed on the purchase last month.

Forterra organized a fundraiser to purchase the land when Weyerhaeuser said it planned to log in the area and close the trail, east of Gold Bar.

Snohomish County, the Washington Trails Association, Washington Alpine Club, Outdoor Research and REI all helped raise the funds for the purchase.

The deal cost about $617,000.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story)