Carnation, Washington

This hike offers some of the best views one can see in the area. On a clear day, you'll get amazing views of Mt. Rainier. The best part is that as you start heading uphill in the first half mile, you'll get great views of McClellan Butte. Once you reach the summit of Defiance at 5584 feet, you'll...

This hike has unreal views of Mount Rainier. On a great clear spring day, the mountain is out. It's right in your face. It's incredible. If you tackle this hike in the spring the bear grass and wildflowers are alive and blooming towards the top and it makes for some fantastic picture-taking. Once...

Ira Spring trail offers up great views prior to reaching the ridge that you go over to reach Mason Lake. The lake itself is an amazing sight—beautiful water with rocks and trees along the shores, making this 6.5-mile roundtrip hike well worth it. The trail to Mason Lake, the Ira Spring trail, pr...

Starting at the McClellan's Butte Trailhead, right off of I-90 exit 47, head out on the main (only) trail at the trailhad. The first half mile of the trail is quite easy as it meanders through the forest, but don't be fooled or worried, it will get harder. This first half mile has a crossing of a...

The Loop Trail in Discovery Park offers a nice respite from the city, with views of the Puget Sound, open fields and forest. Given it's a loop, there are a couple of different options to begin the hike. The most common is to park at the East Visitor Center Parking lot and take a short connector t...

Discovery Park and its beach area great for walking, running, photography, and taking in a sunset. If you want to put your feet in the sand, head down to the western most part of the park. This beach is a sand beach with an iconic lighthouse at the end. Dirftwood also washes up on the beach provi...

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a beautiful little gem nestled within the wilderness of the stunning Cascade Mountains. This hot springs complex is situated on the old remains of a mining town, and delivers steadily flowing water to a set of tiered pools along the mountainside. The “cave” pool at the top...

With less than 500 feet of total elevation and 4.4 miles of round trip hiking, the Barclay Lake trail is a perfect hike for beginners, families, or those looking for a quick morning or afternoon jaunt. Yet dont let the simplicity of the hike fool you. The end result of the hike is nothing short o...

Don't let the low mileage trick you – this is not an easy climb. Give yourself plenty of time to summit this beast of a mountain. Starting at the Barclay Lake Trailhead, be careful not to jump onto the Barclay Lake Trail. The path to Baring Mountain is hidden down a path leading from the bathroo...

Start off on the same trail as Barclay Lake. After 2.25 miles, you will arrive at Barclay Lake. This lake can be quite busy in the summer months as it is relatively easy to access, and you may see many people camping there with their kids. Continue around the lake until you almost reach the east...

If you plan to hike to this beach on the weekend, arrive early because the parking lot fills up fast. From the trailhead, hike down through an old forest along a stream to reach Meadowdale Beach Park. Take in the sounds of birds, wildlife, and the stream adjacent to the trail. At one mile you wil...

Visited here in August and the water was possibly the coldest I've ever swam in. A great half-day trip as the hikes are easy and the spots are quick to get to. The falls are located just to side of the road with a couple of different places to park. There's a $5 or $10 entrance/parking fee. A gre...

The Franklin Ghost Town trailhead is just a large muddy lot, surrounded by no trespassing signs. When you pull in you will see signs for a $5 day use fee, just fill out the form and drop it in the box. There are two trails that leave the lot, one heads down to the river and is probably a mile rou...

The trail was not crowded although when we got to Snoqualmie Lake there were only a couple camping spots left. The trail up from Dorothy is not too hard at all. The weather was perfect. After passing Dorothy you have to ford a creek where the bridge has been washed out. We went through it on foot...

Start off by traveling along Highway 2 and turning towards the Money Creek Campground. Turn off onto Forest Road 6410 and follow that to the Lake Dorothy Trailhead (about 9 miles).This first section of the hike can be pretty crowded on a nice summer day as the trail is very family friendly and it...

With a moderate grade on a wide trail, the hike to Talapus Lake is the perfect introduction to the outdoors for hikers and beginning backpackers. Upon arrival at Talapus, break out lunch or pitch camp. Either way, you can cool off in the large lake. If you feel like pressing on, Ollalie Lake is j...