Swauk Forest Discovery Trail—Golden forest beneath the Diamond Head

Quick Facts: Location: Blewett Pass Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.8 miles Elevation Gain: 400 feet Green Trails Map: Wenatchee/ Mission Ridge, WA- No 211S Contact: Cle Elum Ranger District: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest  Access: From Cle Elum follow WA 970 east for 7.0 miles to US 97. Continue north on US 97 for 14.0…

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Granite Mountain- classic fire lookout hike at Snoqualmie Pass

Quick Facts: Location: Snoqualmie Pass Region Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 9.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3700 feet Contact: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District North Bend Green Trails Maps: Green Trails, Snoqualmie Pass Gateway no. 207SX Notes: Northwest Forest pass or Interagency Pass required; Alpine Lakes Wilderness use permit required May 15—Oct 31,…

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Huckleberry Mountain — Savor solitude high above the Suiattle River

Quick Facts: Location: Suiattle River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12.6 miles Elevation Gain: 4500 feet Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway Map 111SX Notes: Glacier Peak Wilderness-wilderness rules apply; Practice Leave No Trace Principles Access: From Darrington travel north on SR 530 turning right…

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Deception Creek—Big trees, wilderness valley, no crowds—and that’s the truth!

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 10.5 miles Elevation Gain: 1,350 feet Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required; Dogs permitted on leash. Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass-No. 176S Access: From Everett drive US 2 east to Skykomish. Then continue for another…

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Tubal 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…

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Fourth 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…

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Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.2 miles Elevation Gain: 5,130 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge-West Map 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 55 to the Starvation Creek Trailhead. Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia…

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Bear Lake—A bear of a lake but not of a hike!

Quick Facts: Location: Mark O Hatfield Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 575 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge -West No 428S Contact: Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River Ranger Station Notes: Wilderness rules apply Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to…

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Steens 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.…

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