Guillemot Cove─Quiet nature retreat on Hood Canal

Quick Facts: Location: Kitsap Peninsula Land Agency: Kitsap County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 350 feet Contact: Kitsap County Parks Notes: Dogs prohibited. Access: From Bremerton, follow SR 3 North to Newberry Hill Road Exit. Then head west for 3.0 miles turning right onto Seabeck Highway. Continue for 5.0 miles to Seabeck turning right…

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Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge– Delightful hiking on the delta

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually River Delta Land Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Roundtrip: 4.2 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Map: Refuge Map Notes: $3.00 per four adults entrance fee; or Interagency Passes accepted; dogs prohibited; Northern end of the Nisqually Estuary Trail is closed from October to…

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Fortson Ponds –An old mill site on an emerging long distance trail

Quick Facts: Location: Darrington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: none Difficulty: Easy Contact: Snohomish County Parks  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 (Arlington) travel east on SR 530 for 25.2 miles turning left onto Fortson Mill Road (near…

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Oaks to Wetlands Trail─ A slough of birds and delights along the Columbia River

Quick Facts: Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County Land Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: 75 feet Contact: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Notes: Dogs prohibited. Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Vancouver WA (Mountaineers Books) Access: From Exit 14 on I-5 head west 3.0 miles on SR 501 (Pioneer Street) to its…

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Second Beach– Home to First Rate Scenery

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic National Park Land Agency: Quileute Nation and National Park Service Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: 310 feet Contact: Olympic National Park, Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: 99S Olympic Coast Beaches Notes: Dogs prohibited Access: From Forks follow US 101 north for 1.5 miles turning left onto State Route 110 (signed “Mora–La Push”). Continue…

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Swan Lake and Christmas Hill –A very merry hike minutes from downtown Victoria

Quick Facts: Location: Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island Land Agency: Swan Lake Christmas Hill Sanctuary Roundtrip: 3.5 miles/ 5.6 kilometers Elevation gain: 325 feet/ 100 meters Contact:  Swan Lake Christmas Hill Sanctuary  Notes: dogs prohibited Access: From Victoria or Sidney, follow BC 17 (Patricia Bay Highway) exiting onto McKenzie Ave. Proceed east turning right onto Rainbow…

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Crescent Lake─Swan stop at the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers

Quick Facts: Location: Snoqualmie Valley south of Monroe Land Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Roundtrip: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: None Notes: Discover Pass required; Crescent Lake is an active hunting area, so be aware of hunting seasons. Access: From Everett follow US 2 east to Monroe. Turn right onto SR 203 and follow for 3.8 miles turning right onto…

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Warrior Rock Lighthouse─A scenic and historic hike on Oregon’s largest island

Quick Facts: Location: Sauvie Island (Portland, Oregon) Land Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Roundtrip: 6.5 miles Elevation Gain: 10 feet Access: From downtown Portland, follow US 30 west for just shy of 11 miles turning right onto the Sauvie Island Bridge. Follow Sauvie Island Road passing Cracker Barrel Grocery in .3 mile (where…

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Theler Wetlands─Enjoy the sounds and smells of spring at Hood Canal

Quick Facts: Location: Kitsap Peninsula Land Agency: City of Belfair, Washington Distance: 3.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: 40 feet Recommended Resource: Urban Trails Kitsap Notes: Trail open dawn to dusk. Dogs are prohibited. Access: From Bremerton head west on SR 3 to Belfair. Proceed one mile beyond the junction with SR 300 to the…

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