Lower Big Quilcene River─Lowland hike teems with primeval beauty

Greenwood Lake–Solitude in the shadow of High Rock

July 24, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1450 feet Contact: Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station (Randle), Gifford Pinchot National Forest Green Trails Maps: Randle, WA no. 301 Notes: Road to trailhead can be rough. Trail is open to motorcycles but sees little use as it receives little…

Fisher Lake–Quiet backcountry lake beyond Tonga Ridge

July 17, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 10.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1350 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Maps: Alpine Lakes West Stevens Pass No 176S Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: Follow US 2 east to Skykomish. Then continue east for 1.9 miles…

Evergreen Mountain—short and easy hike in the Wild Sky

July 10, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky Wilderness near Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 3.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet Access: From Everett head east on US 2 for 50 miles (just past Skykomish) turning left onto Beckler River Road (FR 65). Continue 12.6 miles to a five-way junction at Jack Pass. Take…

Fourth of July Pass─Declare your Independence this week in the North Cascades

July 3, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Ross Lake National Recreation Area, North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR20) Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 9.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,350 feet Green Trails Map: North Cascades Ross Lake 16SX Special Note: Dogs must be leashed. Contact: North Cascades National Park Visitors Center Newhalem Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd Edition Access: From Marblemount…

Surprise and Glacier Lakes—A surprisingly nice pair of sub-alpine lakes near Stevens Pass

June 26, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Stevens Pass area Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 11.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required; Dogs permitted on leash; Wilderness rules apply Access: From Everett follow US 2 east to Skykomish. Continue 10 more miles turning right (just after…

Black Mountain

June 19, 2025 |

Savor sweeping views from mountain to sound to city Quick Facts: Location: North Shore Mountains, West Vancouver, BC Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles) roundtrip Elevation Gain: 550 m (1800 feet) Contact: Cypress Provincial Park Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Vancouver, BC (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Notegate closure times at Cypress Bowl Ski Area so not to be…

Alpine Lookout –Wallow in good views and a chance to see a mountain goat or two

June 12, 2025 |

Quick Facts:Location: Stevens Pass-Lake Wenatchee regionLand Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestRound Trip: 10.0 milesElevation Gain: 2,600 feetContact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth): Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Green Trails Map: Wenatchee Lake- No. 145Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd editionNotes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass Required.Several miles of trails on this hike are also open to mountain bikes…

Diablo Lake– Hell of a lake, but not a devil of a hike

June 5, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: North Cascades Highway Land Agency: Ross Lake National Recreation Area Roundtrip: 7.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1400 feet Contact: North Cascades National Park Detailed Information: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access road gated at 4:15 pm during winter Access: From Marblemount follow SR 20 east for 21.5 miles.…

Boulder River- waterfalls among old-growth forest

May 29, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Boulder River Wilderness, near Darrington Land Agency: National Forest Service Round trip: 8.6 miles Elevation Gain: 750 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Arlington follow SR 530 for 20 miles. Just beyond Milepost 41 near a subdivision turn right onto FR 2010 and continue for 3.7 miles to trailhead. Contact:…