Barlow Point–Little known lookout site on Mountain Loop Highway

Meadowdale Beach—Reach the Beach through an Emerald Gulch

January 30, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Lynnwood Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 425 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Special Notes: Dogs must be leashed; park open 7 am to dusk: do not park on road Access: From Everett, head 10 miles south on I-5 to exit 183. Follow 164th Street SW west for…

River Meadows Park─Wander along the Stillaguamish River

January 23, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: South Fork Stillaguamish River, near Arlington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 150 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 head east on SR 530 to Arlington. One mile beyond junction with SR 9 (just after crossing the South…

Chambers Creek Regional Park

January 9, 2025 |

Explore an old quarry resurrected as a grand park Quick Facts: Location: University Place (Tacoma) Distance: more than 6.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 230 feet Contact: Pierce County Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Tacoma (Mountaineers Books) Notes: dogs permitted on leash and there is an off-leash area; some trails jogger-stroller and wheel…

Saint Edward State Park

January 2, 2025 |

Explore a different—and wilder side of Lake Washington Quick Facts: Location: Eastside (Seattle) Distance: more than 9.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 500 feet Contact: Washington State Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Eastside (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; dogs permitted on leash; park open 8am to dusk Trailhead directions: From Bellevue follow…

Cedar Butte–Bad spelling on the summit and bad tidings at Christmas Lake below

December 26, 2024 |

Location: Snoqualmie Valley near North Bend Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation gain: 900 feet Green Trails Maps: Rattlesnake Mountain Upper Snoqualmie Valley No. 205S Contact: Washington State Parks (360) 902-8844 Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs must be leashed Access: From Seattle take I-90 east to exit 32 in North Bend turning right (south)…

Dugualla State Park

December 19, 2024 |

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6215-1024x768.jpg

Quiet ambling on Skagit Bay Quick Facts: Location: Whidbey Island Distance: more than 5.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 500 feet Contact: Washington State Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Everett (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; dogs permitted on leash Trailhead directions: From Oak Harbor, follow State Route 20 for 4.0 miles and…

Turtlehead — It’s one shell of a view from this Turtleback Mountain summit

December 12, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Orcas Island, San Juan Islands Land Agency: San Juan County Land Bank Roundtrip: 5.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1295 feet Contact: San Juan County Land Bank Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; trail (partial) open to bikes (even days) and horses (odd days) Access: Take Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. Then head…

Ponytail Falls Loop

December 5, 2024 |

Behind the scenes beauty! Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge Oregon Distance: 2.7 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 450 feet Contact: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Maps: Green Trails Columbia River Gorge–West No. 428S Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs allowed on-leash. Trailhead directions: From Portland or Hood River,…

Little Cranberry Lake — A perfect complement hike to your Thanksgiving Day celebration

November 28, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Anacortes-Fidalgo Island Land Agency: Anacortes Community Forest Lands Roundtrip: 1.9 miles Elevation Gain: 100 feet Access: From Exit 230 on I-5 in Burlington, head west on SR 20 to junction with SR 20-Spur. Continue right on SR 20-Spur to Anacortes. At traffic light near old town, continue left on 12th Street (still SR 20-Spur and12th Street…