Best Lake Hikes
Lake West and Lake Helen – Seldom visited lakes within the shadows of Mount Rainier
Quick Facts: Location: Glacier View Wilderness Land Agency: Gifford Pinchot National Forest Roundtrip: 8.4 miles Elevation gain: 1,600 feet Green Trails Map: Mount Rainier West, WA no. 269 Contact: Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station (Randle), Gifford Pinchot National Forest Notes: FR 59 is rough in spots but is passable for passenger cars. Wilderness regulations apply. Free…
Read MoreMelakwa Lake–The buzz is out on this great Snoqualmie Pass hike
Location: Snoqualmie Pass region Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 9.0 miles High Point: 4,600 feet Elevation gain: 2,400 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass Gateway, WA- No 207S Contact: North Bend Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; dogs must be on a…
Read MoreChelan Lakeshore Trail—Spring has sprung along Washington’s inland fjord
Quick Facts: Location: Central Cascades Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 10.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet Green Trails Map: Stehekin, WA- No. 82 Contact: Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Golden West Visitor Center in Stehekin; Special Note: Accessible only by boat or sea plane. Regular passenger ferry service is available from Chelan and Field’s…
Read MoreHertz Trail –Hike along a wild shoreline of Lake Whatcom
Quick Facts: Location: western Whatcom County, near Bellingham Land Agency: Whatcom County Parks Round Trip: 6.2 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 60 feet Contact: Whatcom County Parks Detailed Information: Urban Trails Bellingham (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Bellingham follow I-5 to Exit 253. Then follow Lakeway Drive east for 1.7 miles bearing…
Read MoreHeart Lake– A perfect destination for a St. Valentine’s Day hike
Quick Facts: Location: Fidalgo Island Land Agency: Anacortes Parks Department Roundtrip: 3.0 miles Green Trails Map: Deception Pass/Anacortes Community Forest Lands No. 41S Elevation gain: 160 feet Contact: City of Anacortes Parks and Recreation; Friends of the Forest Notes: Dogs must be leashed; some trails open to bicycles, horses. Access: From Exit 230 on…
Read MoreCooney Lake–larches at the edge of the North Cascades
Location: Sawtooth Ridge Roadless Area Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 16 miles High Point: 7,300 feet Elevation gain: 3,800 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Prince Creek, WA- No. 115 Contact: Methow Valley Ranger District: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass Required Access: From Twisp follow SR 153 south turning right onto Gold…
Read MoreLake Valhalla– No slain souls here-just renewed ones
Quick Facts: Location: Henry M Jackson Wilderness, Stevens Pass area Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 12.0 miles Elevation gain: 1,500 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass No. 176S Contact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth): Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Access: From Everett, head east on US 2 for 65 miles to Stevens Pass.…
Read MoreTwin Lakes (Monte Cristo) — Follow a rugged old miner’s path to a remote basin
Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Barlow Pass Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 17.0 miles Elevation gain: 3,900 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; A washout at the Twin Bridges requires…
Read MoreGrand Valley–Aptly named valley has it all; lakes, meadows, and fantastic alpine scenery
Quick Facts Location: Obstruction Point (Hurricane Ridge) Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 9.8 miles Elevation…
Read MoreLake Dorothy — Easy Hike to Large Alpine Lake
Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 800 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Maps: Green Trails, Alpine Lakes West Stevens Pass No 176S Notes: Northwest Forest pass or Interagency pass required; dogs must be leashed; wilderness regulations apply Access: From Everett,…
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