Washington

The best way to get the old railroad trestle is by using the Preston-Snoqualmie trail. There is a parking lot for the trail located just across from SE 56th Place, Fall City, Washington, 98024. After parking, hop on your bike and pedal east on the Preston-Snoqualmie trail for about 2 miles. The trai...

At the north end of the Wenatchee Valley, drive up Burch Mountain Road until it turns into dirt. It is closed in the winter and early spring due to snow, so make sure it's open before you go. Once you start driving, the mountain is your playground. Go all the way up to the trees or stop just high en...

Tucked away in the trees along Olympic Hot Springs Road, the Elwha River slows to a crawl and forms a perfect natural swimming hole. It is a great place to cool off, picnic, and enjoy the beautiful forest surrounding the Elwha River. The river's water is crystal clear and a vivid blue-green color. I...

This is an abandoned trail that heads south along Rainy Creek, off of the downstream section of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail, and up to Rainy Lake. The lake is popular among fisherman, since it is home to lots of trout, but be warned -- route-finding skills are a must on this trip. I do my best ...

Leaving Spokane and driving west down Interstate 90 isn’t usually where one might envision pretty nature existing. Yes, the farms and desert are pretty in their own way, but most people don’t want to go hiking on a farm. This area has some real hidden treasures though. To get to Hog Lake from Spokan...

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 begins...

Note: Please be careful when exploring the falls. We recommend not walking on the surfaces directly next to the falls as the water is moving very quickly and can pick you up quickly. The falls are home to several very sad losses. Sunset Falls is the largest and the final of the three major waterfall...

From Rainy Pass, take the trail to Ann Lake (pictured with island and wildflowers). About 1 mile into hike, you'll reach a fork. Take the right trail to Heather Pass. From Heather Pass, take boot trail through talus field to Lewis Lake (pictured with green water and drift wood in foreground). Once y...

Monitor Ridge is the "easiest" of the routes one can take in order to claim that they have stood on top of the sleeping giant better known as Mount St. Helens. This route is heavily favored over Worm Flows as the starting elevation is not only an additional 1,000 feet higher but the overall ascent i...

This county park is great for day use or overnight camping. Half the campsites are about 20 feet from the water, so you can hear waves crashing on the rocks as you sleep. A short walk from all the sites going east, you will end up at a large field with picnic tables and a playground for kids (visibl...

Hiking to Klahhane Ridge is a rewarding experience that provides you with sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains. Further access to overnight opportunities is possible if you venture beyond the summit trail. Here’s the scoop: Get an early start. There is a decent amount of parking available at the ...

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 of a...

Entering the Park from the Southwest Entrance, bear left when you approach the forking Westside Rd. This road has been closed a few miles in due to massive rockfall. When you reach the road closure, just park along the side of the road. In Spring and Summer, you should be able to see plenty of other...

Start off on the extremely rough Forest Service 9070 road. Follow this for just over 4 miles until you see a sign for trail #1348 on the right. There is only enough room for a couple cars at the trailhead. You start off climbing right away, covering 800 feet of elevation in the first 0.80 miles of s...

This scenic destination begins at the Paradise parking lot. Head north from the parking area towards Myrtle falls. Make sure to stay left of the Paradise in and cross Edith creek over a footbridge near Myrtle falls. From here, head east towards Mazama ridge by crossing through upper Paradise Valley....

Blue Lake is a fantastic alpine lake along a moderate trail in the sawtooth North Cascades, featuring views of some of the most impressive peaks in the range. A 4.5-mile out-and-back gaining about 1,100 feet, the trail to Blue Lake Trail features summer wildflowers, autumn Larch and jagged snow-capp...