Old Sauk River Trail– Stroll along a Wild and Scenic River

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington, Land Agency: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 150 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: Northwest Forest or Interagency Pass required Access: Take Exit 208 off of I-5 following SR 530…

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Lake Cassidy─ADA Trail to a pretty lake along the Centennial Trail

Quick Facts: Location: Marysville Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 50 feet Access: From Marysville (Exit 199 I-5) follow SR 528 for 3.0 miles east to SR 9. Head north on SR 9 for 1.0 mile to junction with 84th Street NE. Turn right (east) and continue for just shy of…

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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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Rooster Rock State Park- Hike above the Columbia River Buffs!

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Land Agency: Oregon State Parks Roundtrip: 3.3 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Contact: Oregon State Parks Notes: $5.00 day use fee or $30 annual pass; dogs must be leashed Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge West No. 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 25. At .5…

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Anderson Point County Park

Short hike to one of the finest beaches on the Kitsap Peninsula Quick Facts: Location: Kitsap Peninsula Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 250 feet Contact: Kitsap County Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Kitsap (Mountaineers Books) Notes: dogs permitted on leash; Park open from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm; do not park along Millihanna Road…

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Chambers Creek Regional Park

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…

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Saint Edward State Park

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…

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

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…

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