Best Spring Hikes
Quarry Loop Trail─Lord Hill Park Trail is a cut above
Quick Facts: Location: Lord Hill Regional Park Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: 250 feet Access: From Monroe, exit SR 522 onto Main Street heading west and immediately coming to a roundabout. Bear right onto Tester Road and proceed 3.0 miles to a T-intersection just after passing under SR 522. Turn left and proceed to Tester…
Read MoreSouth Whidbey State Park—Amble among ancient trees above the sound
Quick Facts: Location: Whidbey Island Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 2.3 miles Elevation Gain: 200 feet Contact: South Whidbey State Park Notes: Discover Pass Required: Dogs must be leashed Access: From the Clinton Ferry Terminal on Whidbey Island follow SR 525 north for 9.4 miles turning left onto Bush Point Road. After 2.2 miles road…
Read MoreTumwater Pipeline Trail—Hike along “strong water” watching rafters and rapids
Quick Facts: Location: Wenatchee River Valley Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 100 feet Green trails Map: Leavenworth- No. 178 Access: From Everett head east on US 2 passing Stevens Pass to Coles Corner. Continue east on US 2 for 12.7 miles to trailhead located on your right (between Mileposts 97…
Read MoreStacker Butte─Blossoming Queen of the Columbia River Gorge
Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Land Agency: Washington Department of Natural Resources Roundtrip: 5.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1,150 feet Contact: Washington DNR Southeast Region Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs prohibited; Practice Leave No Trace Principles Recommended Resource: Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge Green trails Map: Columbia River Gorge West No. 432S Good…
Read MoreQuinault Rainforest Loop — Easily accessible trail system through an Olympic Rainforest
Quick Facts: Location: Lake Quinault Land Agency: Olympic National Forest Roundtrip: 3.9 miles Elevation Gain: 500 feet Contact: Olympic National Forest, Pacific Ranger District, Quinault Detailed Information: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 3rd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; dogs should on leash Access: From Hoquiam travel north on US 101 for 35 miles.…
Read MoreBalch Creek–Dramatic Ravine a Forest Park highlight
Location: Forest Park, Portland, Oregon Land Agency: Portland Parks and Recreation Roundtrip: 2.4 miles High Point: 425 feet Elevation gain: 300 feet Difficulty: easy Green Trails Map: Forest Park No 426S Contact: Contact/permits: Portland Parks and Recreation ; Forest Park Conservancy; Notes: dogs must be leashedAccess: From downtown Portland, follow NW Vaughn Street west turning…
Read MoreSouth Indian Island — Enjoy peaceful shoreline strolling along a line of defense
Quick Facts: Location: Indian Island near Port Hadlock Land Agency: Jefferson County Parks Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: 70 feet Notes: Detailed information can be found in Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula (Mountaineers Books) Contact: Jefferson County Parks Access: From Kingston, drive State Route 104 turning right onto SR 19. Then continue north for 9 miles turning right onto…
Read MorePadilla Bay Dike Trail–shore fine hike in the Skagit Valley
Quick Facts: Location: Skagit County Land Agency: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Roundtrip: 4.8 miles Elevation Gain: 30 feet Contact: Padilla Bay NERR Access: From Burlington (exit 231 on I-5) proceed through roundabouts and head west on Josh Wilson Road for 6.4 miles. Upon entering the village of Bay View turn left onto 2nd Street…
Read MoreVancouver Lake Regional Park
Volcano views and excellent birdwatching just west of downtown Vancouver, WA Quick Facts: Location: Vancouver, WA Land Agency: Clark County Parks Round Trip: 3.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: minmal Contact: Vancouver Lake Regional Park Detailed Information: Urban Trails Vancouver WA (Mountaineers Books) Notes: year round parking fee of $5.00; Dogs permitted on-leash and prohibited…
Read MoreYost Park– Slice of Nature in the heart of Edmonds
Quick Facts: Location: Edmonds Land Agency: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Department Roundtrip: About 1.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 300 feet Contact: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Access: From Everett or Seattle take I-5 to Exit 179. Then head west on 220th Street SW for 2.1 miles. Turn right and head north on 96th Ave…
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