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…

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Yost 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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Two Trees Trail─Two big pines and plenty of other trees, too!

Quick Facts: Location: Maltby Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 75 feet Special Note: Dogs must be leashed. Contact: Snohomish County Parks Access: From SR 522 in Maltby (5.0 miles east of Woodinville; 8.0 miles west of Monroe) head east on Paradise Lake Road for 1.7 miles to trailhead. Snohomish County…

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Lake Padden Park- big trees and placid lake minutes from bustling Bellingham

Quick Facts: Location: Bellingham Distance: more than 9.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 600 feet Contact: City of Bellingham Park Map: Square One Maps Chuckanut Recreation Area Notes: on-leash and off-leash trails Trailhead directions: From Bellingham follow I-5 south to Fairhaven Exit 252. Then continue south on Samish Way for 2.3 miles turning…

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Dockton Forest and Maury Island Natural Area — Explore Vashon Island’s grand park

Quick Facts: Location: Vashon Island Land Agency: King County Parks Round Trip: More than 10 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 450 feet Contact: King County Parks Detailed Information: Urban Trails Seattle (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Seattle take Washington State Ferry from Fauntleroy (West Seattle) to Vashon Island Ferry…

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Squaxin Park─ Make it your mission to hike this park

Quick Facts: Location: Olympia, Washington Land Agency: City of Olympia Parks and Recreation Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Notes: Dogs must be on a leash. Access:  From Lacey, follow I-5 south to Olympia taking Exit 105B to Plum Street. From Tumwater, follow I-5 north to Olympia taking Exit 105. Turn right onto Henderson…

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Cranberry Lake Trail—A sweet little hike on Camano Island

Quick Facts: Location: Camano Island Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 125 feet Contact: Cama Beach State Park Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs must be leashed Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Everett (Mountaineers Books) Access: From Exit 212 on I-5, travel west on SR 532 to Camano Island to a junction at 10.0 miles.…

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Langus Waterfront Trail

A slough of surprises await just minutes from downtown Everett Quick Facts: Location: City of Everett Land Agency: Everett Parks and Recreation Department Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: None Access: From Everett, take Exit 195 off of I-5 turning left onto East Grand Ave. In 0.5 mile bear right onto East Marine View Drive and follow…

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Lake Cassidy─ADA Trail to a pretty lake along the Centennial Trail

Quick Facts: Location: Marysville Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 50 feet Access: From Marysville (Exit 199 I-5) follow SR 528 for 3.0 miles east to SR 9. Head north on SR 9 for 1.0 mile to junction with 84th Street NE. Turn right (east) and continue for just shy of…

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Jay Lake — Solitude and camping at Wallace Falls State Park

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish River Valley, US 2 Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 11.5 miles Elevation gain: 1,575 feet Green Trails Map:  Contact: Wallace Falls State Park  Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs must be leashed; Camping requires a permit-attain from park prior to trip. Access: From Everett, follow US 2 for 28 miles east…

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