Guides
An amazing gorge hike with several beautiful waterfalls including one you can walk behind!
This is a beautiful gorge hike not far from Portland. It takes you on trails that hug cliffs (hope you don't have a fear of heights) and past numerous beautiful waterfalls. I hiked this trail on a rainy weekend in the spring so water levels were high (high enough for kayakers to run the canyon beneath us). I suggest doing this hike in the spring...
Enjoy an easy hike through the Cascade foothills to a beautiful set of waterfalls, only 30 minutes from downtown Seattle
This popular trail follows the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River through the rainforests along the western edge of the Cascade Mountains. The trail provides spectacular views of Twin Falls. Most people park at the Twin Falls Trailhead located off of Exit 34 on I-90. A little over a mile from the trailhead, a set of stairs descends to a viewpoint of...
Atop Rattlesnake Ridge great views of the surrounding mountains can be seen including Mount Si and Mount Washington.
This is a very popular trail in the summer months. It is a short 30 minute drive from downtown Bellevue or under an hour away from Seattle. Not only does this trail provide you with great panoramic views from atop Rattlesnake Ridge but there is also a great park located down below. Many people come to the use the lake in the warmer months. There are...
Popular site for hiking, paragliding and hang gliding
The Chirico Trail is a lovely spot located just off of I-90 in Issaquah. It is conveniently located and after about 700 feet of elevation the noise from any roads disappears. It is easy to reach and leaves the user in the forest and forgetting how close I-90 and Highway 18 are for most of the trail. The south launch area allows the users to have lovely...
Nature hike with multiple Coal Creek crossings.
This trail is an excellent finish to the four trails of Coal Creek Park. This trail offers the best views of Coal Creek and offers more of a challenge. The hills are not terribly steep but there are many and opportunity to rest is few. Starting out from the parking lot on SE 60th you will descend into the forest on a set of wooden stairs. The trail...
A short hike through the woods while exploring the area's coal mining history.
This is an easy hike that will lead you through a historical coal mining region. While the towns are gone you will still be able to view some artifacts from the past. Along the way you will see a coal mine shaft and an information kiosk where you can learn more about its history. There are also a few railroad cart turntables but they are difficult to...
Beautiful, well-groomed trail up to a beutifull series of waterfalls
Wallace Falls is set of nine different cataracts in all which are well worth the hike up. The hike is short enough for a day time picnic outing. But, be prepared to get a little exercise as it is a 1200 foot elevation gain up to the falls. On the trail, you'll find many examples of Cascade regional flora and fauna as well as some old growth forest....
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
This is one of my favorite trails to run on within the Cougar Mountain Park. It has a lot to offer in the form of scenery, access to other trails, and challenge. This trail can also be difficult to navigate if this is your first time hiking the trail. The first half of the trail seems to end with you having to walk 30 feet in either direction to locate...
Swirling Fog / Rushing Tides
Overview: Looking for a safe harbor? Smooth waters? So was Captain James Vancouver in June of 1798. So he sent Ship’s Master Joseph Whidbey with a crew in a small boat around the northeastern tip of what was later named Whidbey Island to search for the inner waterway to Port Gardener. Deceived as to the nature of this passage, he wrote on his chart...
The first comprehensive guide to The Enchantments... including photos, side trips, camps, even toilets!
This is THE backpacking destination in the state of Washington. Wander through soft tundra meadows, glacial-cirque lakes, crystal clear trickling streams, and impossible granite rock formations in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. It will make you feel like you're in a completely different part of the world. Note that you MUST have a permit...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The De Leo Wall Trail can be one of the most scenic trails on the West side of Cougar Mountain. From the scenic overlook you can see the city of Renton to the South and on a clear day Mount Rainier. To get here you can take a few routes, the quickest route is to take Wildside Trail and then take either the De Leo Wall Trail or Marshall's Hill Trail....
An Alpine Treat Above the Clouds, Great Seattle Hike
Late summer days in the Seattle area often begin with a thick layer of gloomy clouds. So you can head east through the I-90 corridor, into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, to climb above the clouds. Bandera Mountain on the western edge of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is an excellent place to find the sun and enjoy panoramic views of glacial...
Part of the Coal Creek Park trail system, this trail will take you along a creek with a few small waterfalls.
At only .8 miles the Primrose Trail seems like a quick detour, however, this trail offers some of the best sites to be seen. On this trail you will follow Coal Creek while making a few crossings of the creek via wooden bridges. Along the way you will also pass by Sand Stone Falls, one of Coal Creeks tributaries. The Primrose Trail is named after...
Follow Field Mouse on a quick educational hike located on Squak Mountain.
This is a great hike for you to take the kids on. The trail is short and has almost no elevation change to it. It also provides a little education on how the forest and its animals work together to form an ecosystem. You will follow Field Mouse, who is the lead character, while he takes his first hike into the forest. Along the way he will encounter...
This is the loop at Liberty Lake WA, it does include a side loop of about 4 miles.
• Hike Time: 4:57:44 • Distance: 11.93 miles • Average Pace: 24:58 /mile • Fastest Pace: 13:00 /mile • Ascent/Descent: 2544 feet • Calories: 1748 Please note: - Without the side loop, the Liberty Lake Loop is 8.5 miles. Count on 3 1/2 to 4 hours. - Hiking the loop clockwise (opposite the direction of this guide), you reach the...
Take this short hike on the Wonderland Trail in Rainier National Park for great views from a fire tower of the volcano
This is a beautiful hike past alpine lakes to a fire tower look out over the surrounding peaks and a commanding view of Mount Rainier. You will want to take a camera and pack a lunch to lounge on the summit rocks in the sun. Note: The true summit of the peak is 300 yards down the ridge from the firetower.
One of Seattle’s most beloved parks. This hike loops around Green Lake.
Geologists say the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet, which also formed Puget Sound and other area lakes, formed Green Lake 50,000 years ago. Dredgings of Green Lake have produced volcanic ash from an eruption of Glacier Peak that occurred about 6,700 years ago. The lake was included in the Olmsted Brothers’ comprehensive parks plan, and was given to the...
Hiking at Dog Mountain
The most spectacular wildflower meadows of the Columbia Gorge drape the alp-like slopes of Dog Mountain, north of the Columbia River in Washington. in May and June these hills are alive yellow balsamrot, red paintbrush and blue lupine. Even flowerless seasons provide breathtaking views of the Columbia Gorge. Such beauty has made the steep climb popular,...
Via Coleman Glacier with optional ski descent
This is a beautiful climb up one of the most glaciated peaks in the lower 48. In the summer you will see beautiful wildflowers. You will camp high up on the Coleman Glacier and make a summit bid early the next morning before the sun comes up. We found the best place to camp was high on the Coleman Glacier underneath a rocky ridge to climbers right....
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
This trail can be accessed from two different routes. The quickest route is to hike up the Squak Mountain Connector Trail from the base of the mountain and continue up onto this trail. This is also the most direct route to reach the peak. The hike up to the peak on this section of the trail can be difficult when compared to other trails located within...
A nice tour through the great wineries in the Walla Walla wine country
Walla Walla Washington is fast becoming one of the premiere wine growing sections of the United States. There are over 30 wineries in and around the city. This guide is a collection of some of the highlights for tasting as well as food.
A hike from The Johnston Ridge Observatory, across the pumice planes, and part way up Mt. Saint Helens to Loowit Falls.
A great hike from the Johnston Ridge Observatory, across the pumice planes in the devastated area destroyed in the 1980 eruption, and part of the way up the mountain to beautiful Loowit Falls. Mt. St. Helens is in Washington State. It's about sixty miles off highway five about 70 miles from Porland and about a hundred and fifty miles south of Seattle....
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The Red Town Trail is one of the first trails you will come across when entering the park. From the information kiosk walk forward and keep left at the trailhead marker. The trail is very wide when compared to its connecting trails, but it is composed of a mixture of large and small rocks. The trail is named after a mining town by the same name that...
Snohomish County Park, Granite Falls, Washington
Start out at Lime Kiln Trail head, south east of Granite Falls, Washington. Trail goes briefly through the forest to a mostly level road, before gently declining through the forest to follow the South Fork of the Stillaguamish river. At one point you pass by Hubbard Lake and cross a bridge over Hubbard Creek. Continue on the trail with peek-a boo...
An epic day hike loop through the spectacular Goat Rocks wilderness. Highlighted by wildflowers & often icy Goat Lake.
A wonderful loop hike in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Spectacular scenery includes alpine wildflower meadows, views of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, and a visit to often icy Goat Lake and the cascading falls at the lake outlet. Begin/end at Berry Patch or Snowgrass trailhead, there's a short gravel road between the two trailheads. It is also often...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
Located far from the park entrance you will have this trail to yourself. Rarely have I seen other hikers on this remote trail but that doesn't mean that there is nothing to be seen. You can easily spot small animals on this trail due to the infrequent use. You will begin the trail by leaving either the Wildside or Red Town Trail. The trail starts...
One of the most breathtaking hikes you will ever experience
This is a beautiful hike on the North Side of Mt St Helens to the top of Mt Margaret, just over 5 miles away. It has great views into the crater, of Spirit Lake, and the surrounding mountains.
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
This short loop is another trail at Cougar Mountain where you can see some of the areas coal mining history. Along this trail you will come across the concrete pillars from the mines steam hoist. A steam hoist is basically a crane that used steam power to raise and lower objects into and out of the mine. The quickest way to get to this trail is...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
This is one of my favorite short hikes in the park. It is an easy stroll and round trip is only 1 mile long, depending on which route you take. On this trail you will see many artifacts from the mining days of the area and information on the mining activities. The best way to get to the Rainbow Town Trail is to hike in from the Wildside Trail. From...
This hike is probably one of the most beautiful hikes in the area The 1st half is an easy hike along the beach, after you pass the whole in the wall it becomes more of a rocky hike where you may need to use your hands to get pass the rocks. The rocks can be slippery unless you walk close to the wall to your right. You can camp at the first stop...
Syncline to White Salmon (Over Bingen)
This trail gives epic view of the Columbia River gorge as well as Mount Hood. You start with favorite mountain biking spot for locals and continue thru both public and private land. Between April and October, you might encounter cows at the mid section. No worries, they are nice, but you can not bring your dog between April and October. Even on rainy...
Hiking the Summer route up Mount Saint Helens
All St. Helens trips start out at the Lone Fir Resort the night prior to hiking to pick up the permits. The weather forecast should be checked prior to climbing. It's best to start early morning at the climbers bivouc. The climb rises steadily as you go up in altitude. The wind and the altitude can affect many climbers but as with all physical activity...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The official trail may only be .2 miles long but to get to this trail you will have to hike in using one of two different routes, via Red Town Trail or Wildside Trail. The total distance travelled round trip will be about 3/4 of a mile from the Red Town parking area. This trail is a nice part of the coal mining history that can be found at Cougar...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The China Creek Trail starts at a service gate entrance to the right of the Cougar Mountain information booth. The trail is a short .3 mile trail on a wide, gravel, park service road. Once you get past the service gate you will begin walking South on the gravel road. The trail starts out fairly flat, on your left you will see a grass clearing. There...
Three day climb via Camp Muir, Ingraham Glacier & Disappointment Cleaver
This is one of the standard routes up Mt. Rainier. You will ascent the Muir Glacier to Camp Muir and spend the 1st night there. Then you will continue on to the Ingraham Glacier campsite which is just another 1,000 feet above Muir. There you will spend one more short night to acclimatize before leaving camp around 2am in the morning for an early...
Via Monitor Ridge with optional Worm Flows ski descent
You begin your hike at the Marble Mountain Snow Park. In the attached gps track the road wasn't plowed all the way to the park so we started skinning on the forest road a couple miles before the actual parking area. This is a terrific ski descent in which you can keep your skis and skins on all the way to the rim of the blown out volcano. Then click...
Via Cold Springs and South Spur
This is a challenging climb up a 12,000 foot volcano in southern Washington. You'll climb close to 7,000 feet for this ski descent. When you get up to the base of the glacier it will look like a highway of climbers in spring and summer months. Hope for good snow as the descent is fantastic. Beware - there is a false summit so be prepared to be...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
This is one of the most secluded hikes within Cougar Mountain Park. Often you will have this trail to yourself with the exception of the occasional local trail runner. There are two main entrances to the Licorice Fern Trail. The first, and longest route, is to hike from the Red Town parking area which would be about 8.5 miles round trip. However,...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
Often when hiking on this trail I find myself alone. Not because the trail is not worth hiking but because it is not well known. If you are hiking on the Southside of Cougar Mountain many hikers opt to start out from the paved parking area located a few hundred feet west, to make their trek to the mountain peak via the Wilderness Creek Trail. You can...
Part of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
This is one of the most scenic trails on the south side of Cougar Mountain. It is also one of the steeper sections of the park, which from the parking area quickly gains 1000 ft. in elevation. There are a few breaks in the elevation gain towards the middle of the trail where you will pass through Shy Bear Marsh. Along the way there are a few creek crossings...
