West Cady Ridge—from wildflowers to autumn colors

Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky and Henry Jackson Wildernesses, North Fork Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 8.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo, WA- No. 143 Recommended source: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest…

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Image Lake — jewel in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness

Quick Facts: Location: Glacier Peak Wilderness Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 33.0 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: NW Forest or Interagency Pass required; No camping within ¼ mile of Image Lake—use established campsites; no fires at lake; respect re-vegetation…

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Wapaloosie Mountain–a wapaloosie of a peak indeed!

Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 2,000 feet Contact: Colville National Forest Access: From Republic, head east on SR 20 for 21 miles turning left  onto FR 2030 (Albion Hill Road). From Kettle Falls, head west on SR 20 for 22 miles, turning right onto FR 2030. Follow FR…

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Fisher Lake–Quiet backcountry lake beyond Tonga Ridge

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 10.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1350 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Maps: Alpine Lakes West Stevens Pass No 176S Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: Follow US 2 east to Skykomish. Then continue east for 1.9 miles…

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Sherman Peak Loop– In general, the views are great

Quick Facts: Location: Kettle River Range, Ferry County Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 1200 feet Contact: Colville National Forest, Republic Ranger District Notes: Hunting season has begun, wear orange  Access: From Republic, head east on SR 20 for 16.8 miles to Sherman Pass. Turn left and follow access road .1…

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Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground via Kautz Lake — Head to a fabled land of wildflowers!

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually Valley, Mount Rainier National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 11.6 miles Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Contact: Mount Rainier National Park Green Trails Map: Mount Rainier National Park 269S Notes: National Park Entrance Fee or Interagency Pass required; Dog prohibited Timed entry pass required for entrance into Mount Rainier National Park (Longmire and Sunrise…

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Paradise Glacier Trail — The ice caves are no more, but the views are still incredible  

Quick Facts: Location: Mount Rainier National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 5.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet Contact: Mount Rainier National Park Green Trails Map: Green Trails Mount Rainier National Park 269SX Notes: National Park entrance fee; Dogs Prohibited; Practice Leave No Trace Principles; Timed entry pass required for entrance into Mount Rainier National…

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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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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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