Washington

Start out on the Phelps Creek Trail and hike in 6.5 miles to reach the head of Spider Meadows. Continue on up the trail to the the base of the Spider Snowfield around 6200 feet for even better views of the entire Phelps Basin. Follow the trail up the snowfield for .5 miles to the top of Spider Ga...

Take three or four nights and check out some of the most epic views in the Pacific Northwest. Though you can do a shorter or faster route, I highly recommend you consider the 19-mile loop from the Snowgrass trailhead through Cispus Basin and Cispus Pass (6400'), and then back down Nannie Ridge. D...

The northwestern-most point of the San Juan Islands, Stuart Island, is arguably the most gorgeous island to circumnavigate. Unfortunately, as Stuart Island is 16 miles away from the closest ferry port, there is no simple way to get there in one day. A couple of options to get there include:1) Onc...

The secret to this trip: Marmot Pass and Boulder Shelter, where you can camp on National Forest Service land. Multiple excellent, large backpacking sites sit just on the edge of the National Park, giving you great access to Mt. Constance and Mt. Deception, two of the tallest peaks in the Olympics...

Start at the north end of Ozette Lake and proceed right, following signs to the mostly flat trail leading to Cape Alava. Be sure not to head left towards Sand Point, that is the trail you will use for your return trip. Once you’ve reached the coast, scan the sky for the frequently seen bald eagle...

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 pho...

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 ...

Begin by parking at Barlow Pass and following the Gothic Basin Trail to Foggy Lake. Most of the trip's mileage is consumed by just getting to Foggy Lake, from here, the summit sits about 3/4 of a mile distant and over a thousand above you.Face the mountain and identify the obvious leftward trendi...

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...

Starting near Snoqualmie Pass, hike the historic Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) through old-growth forests and boulder fields to the "Kendall Katwalk," a high ledge of rock carved out of a mountain side many years ago using dynamite. The hike to the Katwalk gradually gains elevation using switchbacks...

This hike has it all: old-growth forests, rivers, waterfalls, alpine lakes, views, peaks, and so on. The hike starts from near Denny Creek Campground in between the separate I-90 viaducts. Almost immediately, you will cross over a walk bridge over Denny Creek's waterfalls, and then eventually und...

It's always a good idea to check the weather, but when it comes to getting a peak at Mt. Rainier you might be better off just showing up and hoping for a miracle. To do this from Seattle, you'll have a 2 hour 20 minute drive down I-5 and WA-167. After a couple turns here and there (you can follow...

The Enchantments are an amazing experience in themselves.  Yet one of the most striking features of any hike into the core zone of the Enchantments is that of Prusik Peak.  This pyramid like spire rises dramatically from the many puddle lakes and boulder fields you pass along your way.  With it's...

Starting at the Heather-Maple Pass Loop Trailhead, jump onto the trail that will take you counter-clockwise along the loop. After about 1.25 miles, you will come to a split in the trail, take the right path and continue for just under a mile until you reach Heather Pass. Off to the right there ar...

The Dose Forks Campground is an overlooked campsite deep within the Olympic National Park, making it a perfect weekend camping destination. A mild, 7.5 mile (one-way) trail delivers you to this enchanting area and is a must for those who love photographing forests. There are no reservation requir...

Although this hike is possible if you’re looking for an all-day training hike, it’s much more enjoyable if it’s an overnight backpacking trip. Head up the trail past Snow Lake toward Gem Lake. En route to Snow Lake will be a little crowded, but should lighten significantly as you continue hiking...