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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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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Boundary Bay Dyke Trail

Bountiful birds and beautiful views of Mount Baker Quick Facts: Location: Surrey and Delta, BC Distance: 16.9 km (10.5 miles) one way Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, Surrey Parks and Recreation Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Vancouver, BC (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; but dogs not allowed on shoreline trail in…

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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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Sultan River Canyon Trail

A near yet remote canyon housing big trees and a wild stretch of river Quick Facts: Location: Sultan Basin Land Agency: Snohomish County Public Utility District  Roundtrip: 4.4 miles Elevation Gain: 850 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access:  From Everett follow US 2 east to Sultan. At a traffic light just past Milepost 23 turn left onto…

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Suiattle River– A wild river and majestic primeval forest within the shadows of Glacier Peak

Quick Facts: Location: Suiattle River Road Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 13.0 miles Elevation gain: 1,000 feet Green Trails Maps:  Mountain Loop Highway  no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass required Access: From Darrington travel north on SR 530 for 7.5 miles turning…

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