Mount Wells– Victoria area summit gushes with flowers and views

Wapaloosie Mountain–a wapaloosie of a peak indeed!

July 31, 2025 |

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…

Fisher Lake–Quiet backcountry lake beyond Tonga Ridge

July 17, 2025 |

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…

Sherman Peak Loop– In general, the views are great

October 17, 2024 |

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…

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

August 15, 2024 |

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…

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

August 8, 2024 |

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…

Tubal Cain Mine and Buckhorn Lake — Take a “rhody trip” to an historic mine

July 25, 2024 |

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…

Copper Butte via Old Stage Trail– Take a historic route to the rooftop of the Kettle River Range

June 20, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: Colville National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1615 feet Contact: Colville National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District-Kettle Falls 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…

Steens Mountain– Into the heart of Oregon’s “Big Empty”

May 30, 2024 |

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.…

Lookout Mountain

May 23, 2024 |

Look out over the Methow Valley and beyond Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 3.0 miles one way Elevation Gain: 1170 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Maps: Green Trails Methow Valley 51SX Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) Notes: trail open to mountain bikes and motorcycles; Final 1.5…