Evergreen Mountain—short and easy hike in the Wild Sky

Silver Lake─Precious body of water above old mining district

September 11, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 13.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Granite Falls, follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Hike begins by walking up gated Monte Cristo Road. Note: Northwest…

West Cady Ridge—from wildflowers to autumn colors

September 4, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky and Henry Jackson Wildernesses, North Fork Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 8.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo, WA- No. 143 Recommended source: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest…

Royal Basin–Crown jewel of the Olympic Rain shadow

August 28, 2025 |

Location: Northeast Olympic Peninsula Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 16.0 miles Elevation gain: 2700 feet Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: Olympic Mountains East No. 168SX Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; Dogs-prohibited at national park boundary (at 1.3 miles) Good to Know: Exceptional Wildflowers, Backpacking options Access: Take…

North Lake–Secluded Lake off popular Mountain Loop Highway

August 21, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles High Point: 4,925 feet Elevation gain: 2,250 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District Notes: Access road is rough in spots; high clearance recommended Access: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 26 miles. Just…

Image Lake — jewel in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness

August 14, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Glacier Peak Wilderness Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 33.0 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: NW Forest or Interagency Pass required; No camping within ¼ mile of Image Lake—use established campsites; no fires at lake; respect re-vegetation…

Mount Seymour — See more of the BC Lower Mainland from this classic peak

August 7, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: North Shore Mountains, North Vancouver, BC Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 miles) roundtrip Elevation Gain: 540 m (1772 feet) Contact: Mount Seymour Provincial Park Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Vancouver, BC (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Trail to Mount Seymour is snow free from July through October. Other trails in park outside of ski area are…

Wapaloosie Mountain–a wapaloosie of a peak indeed!

July 31, 2025 |

Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 2,000 feet Contact: Colville National Forest 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 right onto FR 2030. Follow FR…

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…