Wildflowers
Mildred Lakes — Brutal trail to a placid trio of backcountry lakes
Quick Facts: Location: Mount Skokomish Wilderness Land Agency: Olympic National Forest Roundtrip: 9.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2925 feet Contact: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District, Green Trails Map: Olympic Mountains East 168SX Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Hoodsport travel north on US 101 north for 13.7 miles turning left onto FR 25…
Read MoreIndian Henry’s Hunting Ground via Kautz Lake — Head to a fabled land of wildflowers!
Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually Valley, Mount Rainier National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 11.6 miles Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Contact: Mount Rainier National Park Green Trails Map: Mount Rainier National Park 269S Notes: National Park Entrance Fee or Interagency Pass required; Dog prohibited Timed entry pass required for entrance into Mount Rainier National Park (Longmire and Sunrise…
Read MoreGlacier Basin─Strike it rich with great views on this tough hike
Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Barlow Pass Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 12.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 30 miles to Barlow Pass. Hike begins by walking up gated Monte Cristo Road. Note: Northwest Forest…
Read MoreTubal Cain Mine and Buckhorn Lake — Take a “rhody trip” to an historic mine
Quick Facts: Location: Buckhorn Wilderness, Olympic National Forest Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Contact: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District, Quilcene, Green Trails Map: Olympic Mountains East 168SX Notes: Wilderness regulations apply Access: From Discovery Bay (Jct SR 20 and US 101), drive no US 101 north and turn left…
Read MoreGrand Ridge─Horizon-spanning views from the loftiest trail in the Olympics
Quick Facts: Location: Deer Park-Obstruction Point, Olympic National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 15.4 miles. To Maiden Peak: 7.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3,400 feet. To Maiden Peak: 1,600 feet Green Trails Map: Olympics Mountain East 168S Contact: Olympic National Park Notes: Park entry fee; Pavement on Deer Park Road ends at National Park Boundary…
Read MoreFourth of July Creek—Celebrate Independence Day with these explosive views!
Quick Facts: Location: Central Cascades Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 11.2 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Notes: rattlesnakes are common along lower portions of trail. Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range 208SX Contact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth) More information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (The Mountaineers Books) Access: From Leavenworth follow the…
Read MoreCopper Butte via Old Stage Trail– Take a historic route to the rooftop of the Kettle River Range
Quick Facts: Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: Colville National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1615 feet Contact: Colville National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District-Kettle Falls 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…
Read MoreSteens Mountain– Into the heart of Oregon’s “Big Empty”
Quick Facts: Location: Great Basin, Eastern Oregon Land Agency: Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (BLM) Roundtrip: Kiger Gorge Rim; up to 4.0 miles Elevation gain: Up to 500 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: BLM Burns Office Access: From Burns, Oregon travel 60 miles south to Frenchglen. Take Steens Mountan Loop Road for 23 miles.…
Read MoreLookout Mountain
Look out over the Methow Valley and beyond Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 3.0 miles one way Elevation Gain: 1170 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Maps: Green Trails Methow Valley 51SX Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) Notes: trail open to mountain bikes and motorcycles; Final 1.5…
Read MoreMount Wells– Victoria area summit gushes with flowers and views
Quick Facts: Location: Victoria—Langford, BC Land Agency: Capital Regional District Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles/ 3.2 km Elevation gain: 865 feet/ 264 m Maps: CRDP site Contact: Capital Regional District Parks Notes: dogs permitted on leash; please stay on trail to protect rare plants Access: From Victoria, follow Trans-Canada Highway 10.5 for miles (17 km) exiting…
Read More