Icicle Gorge –Cool Hike for a Hot Day

Quick Facts: Location: Icicle River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Distance: 4.2 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 350 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth Detailed Information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; dogs permitted on leash Access: From Leavenworth, follow the…

Read More

Tom McCall Point─Legendary Columbia River Gorge Wildflower Display

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Land Agency: Oregon Nature Conservancy and Mayer State Roundtrip: 3.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet Notes: Dogs prohibited; Trail closed from Nov 1 through Apr 30 to limit tread damage. Practice Leave No Trace Principles Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge East No. 432S Contact: Oregon…

Read More

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 More

South 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 More

Stacker 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 More

Quinault 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 More

Balch 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 More

South 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 More

Padilla 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 More