Archive
Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge
Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.2 miles Elevation Gain: 5,130 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge-West Map 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 55 to the Starvation Creek Trailhead. Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia…
Read MoreCopper Butte via Old Stage Trail– Take a historic route to the rooftop of the Kettle River Range
Quick Facts: Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: Colville National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1615 feet Contact: Colville National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District-Kettle Falls Access: From Republic, head east on SR 20 for 21 miles turning left onto FR 2030 (Albion Hill Road). From Kettle Falls, head west on SR 20 for 22 miles turning…
Read MoreBear Lake—A bear of a lake but not of a hike!
Quick Facts: Location: Mark O Hatfield Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 575 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge -West No 428S Contact: Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River Ranger Station Notes: Wilderness rules apply Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to…
Read MoreEagle Lake—Tough hike to a raptor’s delight
Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky Wilderness, Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 8.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1,750 feet Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes West 176S Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required. Access: From Everett, head east 41 miles on US 2 to Baring.…
Read MoreSteens Mountain– Into the heart of Oregon’s “Big Empty”
Quick Facts: Location: Great Basin, Eastern Oregon Land Agency: Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (BLM) Roundtrip: Kiger Gorge Rim; up to 4.0 miles Elevation gain: Up to 500 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: BLM Burns Office Access: From Burns, Oregon travel 60 miles south to Frenchglen. Take Steens Mountan Loop Road for 23 miles.…
Read MoreLookout Mountain
Look out over the Methow Valley and beyond Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 3.0 miles one way Elevation Gain: 1170 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Maps: Green Trails Methow Valley 51SX Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) Notes: trail open to mountain bikes and motorcycles; Final 1.5…
Read MoreMount Wells– Victoria area summit gushes with flowers and views
Quick Facts: Location: Victoria—Langford, BC Land Agency: Capital Regional District Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles/ 3.2 km Elevation gain: 865 feet/ 264 m Maps: CRDP site Contact: Capital Regional District Parks Notes: dogs permitted on leash; please stay on trail to protect rare plants Access: From Victoria, follow Trans-Canada Highway 10.5 for miles (17 km) exiting…
Read MoreJuniper Dunes Wilderness –A wilderness “sans” trails
Quick Facts Location: Franklin County, Eastern Washington Land Agency: Bureau of Land Management Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: 200 feet Difficulty: Moderate Contact: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane Office Notes: All approaches to this wilderness area are currently via private roads and land. The southern approach cannot be recommended due to poor roads and changing…
Read MorePalouse Falls–showy cataract of Eastern Washington’s coulee country
Quick Facts: Location: Channeled Scablands Eastern Washington Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 1.3 miles Elevation Gain: 150 feet Contact: Washington State Parks Guidebook: Day Hiking Eastern Washington (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required. Dogs permitted on leash. Watch for rattlesnakes Access: From Pasco, take US 395 north to Connell. Then follow SR 260 east for 25 miles…
Read MoreLyle Cherry Orchard–A great pick for spring wildflowers!
Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Land Agency: Friends of the Columbia Gorge Roundtrip: 6.8 miles Elevation gain: 1,500 feet Contact: Friends of the Columbia Gorge Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; Beware ticks, rattlesnakes, and poison oak; parking limited especially on weekends Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge East No. 432S Access: From Bingen…
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