Issaquah, Washington

North Lake is everything you could want in a subalpine lake: emerald green hues, cold, clear water, lots of brook trout and far from cell-phone reception. This backpack is perfect when the weather gets hot and sunny, though it does reside in what is known as “the wettest section of the Cascades,...

The Glacier Basin Trial begins in “D” loop of the White River Campground in Mt. Rainer National Park. Glacier Basin trailhead is popular with climbers who are beginning their ascent of Mount Rainier.  The trail is quite easy and well established after it was severely damaged in 2006. The Trail r...

Mount Ruth presented a challenge as it was a very hot day to be exposed on a ridge for the entire day. The trek begins in White River Campground parking lot and travels along the White River until you exit at Glacier Basin. Crossing the creek you ascend up to the ridge that leads up and up and up...

Getting There From Seattle: Head East on I90 to 405 South, Take the exit for 169 heading towards Enumclaw. I recommend stopping for a bite at the down home, family restaurant called Kitchen in downtown. The food was great with lots of local flavors! Continue on 169 where you will jump on Highway ...

Park at the Sunrise Point parking lot and find the Palisades Trail at the northeast corner of the parking lot. If you bring along a pair of binoculars, you can stop at the first overlook on the left and scan the adjacent mountain slopes for the white dots of mountain goats. Continue down the trai...

Approximately 11 miles east of Granite Falls, WA, on the Mt. Loop Highway,  turn onto Forest Service road 41 and follow this road for 18.0 miles to the trailhead. The road is quite rough and it is recommended you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. There is a washout about halfway along the road, an...

Murhut Falls offers visitors a relatively easy 1.6-mile round-trip hike to a stunning 130-foot two-tiered waterfall on the eastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula. This family-friendly trail provides a perfect introduction to the lush temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Essential Detai...

Make sure you are going out on a clear day to catch the best views of the mountains, and bring your camera! From the summit, it’s possible to see six volcanoes spanning two states. Baker, Glacier, Adams, Rainier, St. Helens and Hood wait patiently for you to climb the more-than-moderately steep p...

The Smithbrook trail starts off with several switchbacks, then continues up to Union Gap where it meets the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn south (left) at Union Gap and continue hiking until you reach the gap between Mount Lichtenberg and McCausland, where you get a first glimpse of Lake Valhalla. Ju...

The Summerland trail is by far the easiest trail that I ever experienced. The trail is well maintained and for the first 3 miles you are surrounded by trees and the sound of waterfalls and rivers, and it's green everywhere. The last 1.3 miles, you encounter switchbacks and you can get some view...

The trail is 12 mi round trip but don’t let the distance for an out and back turn you off - this hike is fantastic and even better with a beer at the top. The trail winds its way through an old growth forest and shortly joins the Wonderland Trail. After crossing a crick the trail steepens and beg...

Start from the Summer Land Trail Head at the Fryingpan Creek parking lot just West of the White River Ranger Station in Mount Rainier National Park. Beginning at an elevation of 3,800 feet, you'll head southeast along the Summer Land Trail for 4.5 miles, tracing the Fryingpan Creek. There are a f...

Start out in Crystal parking lot A. There is a small and steep trail that heads up the hill labeled as Silver Creek Trail. The trail follows a horse trail for the majority of the route and gets renamed Bullion Basin Trail shortly after you enter the woods, so when it doubt keep following the hoof...

Soon after entering Mt. Rainier National Park via the White River Entrance, pull into the Owyhigh Lakes Trail parking area. From the parking lot, walk across Sunrise Road to the Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead to begin an exceptional hike to the summit of Tamanos Mountain.Start by hiking 3.5 miles on the...

If you have been trying to get behind a waterfall Eatonville Falls is the place to hike and get a great feeling out of it. Hiking to the waterfall would lead you to a railroad and pass it would lead to a river where you would follow it down to get to the waterfall. The hike itself is pretty sim...

Begin by driving a fairly smooth Forest Road 6700 for 2.5 miles to the Smith Brook Trailhead and park in the space on the left. Much of the signage has been taken down along the trail, so it may be helpful to bring some written directions with you. The hike begins by keeping close to the road, me...