Wildflowers
Notch Pass–Hike through history over Quilcene Ridge
Location: Quilcene Valley, Northeast Olympic Peninsula Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 8.4 miles Elevation gain: 2,800 feet Contact: Hood Canal Ranger District Olympic National Forest Guidebook: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 3rd Edition) Notes: Practice Leave No Trace Principles Access: From Quilcene drive US 101 south for 1.5 miles turning right onto Penny Creek Road. After 1.5…
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 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 gain: 2,400 feet Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: Elwha North/Hurricane Ridge-No. 134S Notes: Dogs prohibited; National Park Entry Fee required Access: From Port Angeles follow the Hurricane Ridge Road (Heart O the Hills Parkway)…
Read MoreWest Cady Ridge—from wildflowers to autumn colors
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…
Read MoreRoyal Basin–Crown jewel of the Olympic Rain shadow
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…
Read MoreImage Lake — jewel in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness
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…
Read MoreWapaloosie Mountain–a wapaloosie of a peak indeed!
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…
Read MoreGreenwood Lake–Solitude in the shadow of High Rock
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…
Read MoreEvergreen Mountain—short and easy hike in the Wild Sky
Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky Wilderness near Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 3.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet Access: From Everett head east on US 2 for 50 miles (just past Skykomish) turning left onto Beckler River Road (FR 65). Continue 12.6 miles to a five-way junction at Jack Pass. Take…
Read MoreAlpine Lookout –Wallow in good views and a chance to see a mountain goat or two
Quick Facts:Location: Stevens Pass-Lake Wenatchee regionLand Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestRound Trip: 10.0 milesElevation Gain: 2,600 feetContact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth): Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Green Trails Map: Wenatchee Lake- No. 145Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd editionNotes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass Required.Several miles of trails on this hike are also open to mountain bikes…
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