Washington

After a rough drive to the trailhead you’ll have little time to catch your breath as the trail laces up the mountain side, but with Rainier to distract you, it won’t be long until you’re at the top with a view that is more than enough reward for your efforts. Pay very close attention to the driving ...

Being one of the lucky recipients of an Enchantments overnight permit can't happen for everybody. So, for the rest of us, taking to the mountains in the winter is an awesome way to bypass this system and experience the central Cascades in a completely different, colder way. The suffering is almost a...

This is a beautiful trail in the Teanaway area, located in Washington State. The trailhead starts along the Stafford Creek Trail and follows the creek for the first couple miles of the trail. There are a number of different types of wildflowers out here that make the first few miles a nice warmup. T...

Global climbing legend Fred Beckey once said, "[Mount Stuart is] without a rival as the crown peak in the central Cascades of Washington, Mount Stuart has been pronounced the single greatest mass of exposed granite in the United States". To ascend the mountain by is easiest route, the Cascading Coul...

The beauty of many of the north coast trails in the Olympic Peninsula is that your car does a lot of the heavy lifting for you. This is certainly true of the Grand Valley Trail, which begins more than a vertical mile above the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the end of the Obstruction Point Road. Sixteen ...

For what was once a highly contested and disputed piece of land in the Pacific Ocean, now lays home to one of the most peaceful, tranquil, and historic hikes in the island chain. Start the hike at the parking lot of the San Juan Island National Historic Site American Camp Visitor Center. Proceed alo...

The pin above is a small gravel parking lot which is clearly marked as "Trail Head" from the road. Once you park you are within eye shot of an information station and the trail is marked as "Suspension Bridge Access." Walk past this sign and continue on the well-groomed trail eastward for just short...

Wells Creek Falls is an incredible waterfall nestled in a tight canyon below Mt. Baker. The falls plunges 93-ft. over a volcanic cliff face and envelops the small amphitheater below in a cloud of mist. From there, Wells Creeks snakes through the canyon and enters Bar Creek on the opposite side of th...

You can reach this area off I-90. Take exit 38. If you are coming from the west (Seattle) take a right after exiting the highway and continue for about 2 miles. You will drive under I-90 and then come to a parking area. This is it! If you are coming from the east it's even easier, turn right after e...

From the North Head parking lot located at the end of N Head Lighthouse Rd, make your way to the lighthouse by following the lighthouse signs at the parking lot. There's a path to the right that you can take that will take you to a view point (the walk to this viewpoint is short and easy). The path ...

Designed for cross country skiing, this trail system brings together the perfect amount of ups and downs for summer mountain biking. Generally flowy with a handful of steeper pitches, the area can be ridden in any number of loops or connections. Looking for an epic ride? Bike to the trailhead from w...

The Hike The hike there isn't short, has several steep sections, and ends at the top of the mountain. There are cliff warnings at the top, so be careful as you explore the view! The steepest portions are at the beginning and right at the end. The trail is very well maintained (because it is so popul...

Traveling east from Seattle on Highway 2, take a right hand turn onto Foss River Road (Road 68) just after the township of Skykomish. The pavement ends in 1.1 miles, beyond that be cautious of potholes. Continue along this road for a further 1.3 miles, at which point you will pass under a railroad t...

You do need a Northwest Forest Pass to park in the lot overnight. You can buy a day use E-pass online here (pick Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest from the drop down menu) and print it out and it's ready to use. Or you can buy the annual pass here . The adventure to Artist Point begins in the M...

Once you've parked your car, there is a $10 fee which can be paid at the station right next to the bridge unless you have a Discover Pass. From there, you can either go down the stairs to the beach or continue to walk across. Towards the middle, there are some stairs to get down and take some photos...

A couple things must coincide for you to have a great time watching the milky way at Artist Point. The road up to Artist is only open during the summer and early Autumn months but it's always good to check on the Washington State Department of Transportation website to see current road conditions an...