Deer Ridge–Enjoy dear views of the Gray Wolf River Valley

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…

Mount Wells– Victoria area summit gushes with flowers and views

May 16, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Victoria—Langford, BC Land Agency: Capital Regional District Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles/ 3.2 km Elevation gain: 865 feet/ 264 m Maps: CRDP site Contact: Capital Regional District Parks Notes: dogs permitted on leash; please stay on trail to protect rare plants Access: From Victoria, follow Trans-Canada Highway 10.5 for miles (17 km) exiting…

Little Giant Pass

September 21, 2023 |

Shortest (but not easy) portal to the fabled Napeequa Valley Quick Facts: Location: Chiwawa River Valley Round Trip: 10.4 miles Elevation Gain: 4100 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, https://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/Detailed Information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Wilderness Rules in effect; Chiwawa River must be forded—dangerous in high water…

Sunrise Ridge─What a setting!

September 14, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic National Park – Hurricane Ridge Road Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 5.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet Green Trails Map: Elwha North-Hurricane Ridge No. 134S Contact: Olympic National Park Access: From Port Angeles, follow Race Street south to Mount Angeles Ave to the Heart O’ the Hills Parkway (Hurricane Ridge…

White Chuck Cinder Cone — Coolest volcanic cone north of Lassen

August 31, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: Glacier Peak Wilderness,Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 23.0 miles Elevation gain: 5,200 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 436-1155 Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Darrington, head south 16…

Naches Peak–Big Scenic Payoff for little effort

August 10, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: Naches Pass, Mount Rainier National Park Land Agency: United States Park Service Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation gain: 600 feet Green Trails Maps: Mount Rainier Wonderland Map 269SX Contact: Mount Rainier National Park Notes: Dogs prohibited Access: From Enumclaw follow SR 410 east to Tipsoo Lake parking area just before Chinook Pass. Good…

Cascade Pass─Easy Portal into the North Cascades National Park

July 13, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: North Cascades Land Agency: North Cascades National Park Roundtrip: 7.4 miles Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet Green Trails Map: Ross Lake North Cascades No. 12SX Contact: Summer – North Cascades National Park Visitors Center Newhalem: (206) 386-4495 ext. 11 or NCNP Visitors Center Sedro-Woolley (360) 854-7200; www.nps.gov/noca Notes: Dogs prohibited. No trailhead camping.…

West Fork Methow River

June 1, 2023 |

Follow a trail less traveled along a roaring waterway Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley Round Trip: 5.0 miles Elevation Gain: 450 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Detailed Information: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; watch for rattlesnakes Green Trails Map: Methow…