Washington

Have you ever explored the ancient caves of the Washington Palouse? Just off of highway 17 near Coulee City the Lenore Lake Caves are a perfect day hike experience. These caves were formed when the area was flooded 12,000 years ago by melting ice. You have to see them for yourself!The trail im...

Marymere Falls (90 ft.) is located in Olympic National Park, near Lake Crescent. The falls can be accessed by a short, well-maintained dirt trail through old-growth lowland forest consisting of fir, cedar, hemlock, and alder trees. The creek descends from Aurora Ridge and tumbles over Marymere Fa...

The lesser known Mt Si Rd trail starts off as a relatively flat road. This continues for two miles until you reach the Teneriffe Falls sign. Upon turning right at this junction, the terrain takes a shift and the incline steepens. This is where most of the elevation is gained. The rest of the way...

Hike up into the forest (take the right path, not the one going left), and follow it all the way until you get to "Carpenter Lake" (which always seems to be just an empty, marshy field). Keep going and do not take the right path at the first Y split off. Instead, stay left, until you come to anot...

NOTE: Please check to see if the trailhead is reachable after a road closure in August 2024 (source: USFS).  Take in amazing views of Mt. Baker, the North Cascades, Mt. Shuksan, and the Puget Sound. This trail is great for a dayhike or an overnighter. Enjoy the picture perfect setting for hikes ...

The Cape Horn Trail is great for those who are short on time, but still want to get outside for something close by with great views. Located just 35 min east of Portland, the Cape Horn Trail offers a few different possibilities for you to hike. The whole loop (lower section is closed from Feb 1s...

Hamilton Mountain has one of the best views in the Columbia Gorge. The hike starts out with a gradual uphill climb through an old-growth forest. After about a half-mile in you will come to a clearing where you can see the ridge line going up to the top of Hamilton Mountain. From there you'll pass...

Looking for a hike that will make you feel like you're in a foreign landscape, but don't have to deal with that far of a drive? Then consider hiking Gothic Basin. This hike is located only 30 miles down the Mountain Loop Highway, which is nearly a hour shorter for people that live in the greater ...

When you park at the top of the trail, all you see is layers and layers of emerald trees and ground clear of any underbrush. Once on the trail, you start on a rapid decline that brings you to the first of the many streams along this hike. Cross the bridge made out of logs and head towards the ma...

This hike is a short, 4.0 mile round trip, half-day or less hike, located just past the Hurricane Ridge entrance into Olympic National Park. Being relatively level and the trail head just off loop E of the Heart O' the Hills Campground, the Heart O' the Forest hike offers those looking for a tast...

The trail up to Lake of the Angels, known as the Putvin Trail, starts out pretty mellow with a gradual uphill climb. Your first marker will be an old roadbed at around 1.4 miles, but you'll need to cross two ravines before making it there. It's thick forest with gorgeous views in the clearings, s...

Everyone knows Gasworks Park for its awesome views of downtown Seattle. A great spot during anytime of the year, the park is even beautiful at night, when you can see reflections of the city lights in Lake Union. Make sure you bring a tripod to capture some awesome long exposure images! During t...

This trail has a nice, steady climb that's perfect for beginner or intermediate backpackers. The first 2.5 miles follow a forest trail along the Big Quilcene River. For the next 3 miles, the trail flows in and out of shaded trees, over a small talus field, and through a meadow before the final ac...

Depending on when you arrive at the Pete Lake Trailhead, expect to be traveling with company as it is one of the more popular locations on the eastside of Snoqualmie Pass. At an elevation of 2600 feet, the beginning route is a moderate 400 feet of elevation gain. Start on your way through the va...

Coyote Wall is a relatively uncrowded trail system in the Columbia River Gorge that provides outstanding views of the Columbia River. The trail system is made up primarily of user-created mountain biking trails, allowing hikers a choose-your-own-adventure approach to exploring the area. Start o...

No grades, no crowds, tons of rock. Banks Lake is a little-trafficked & underrated climbing destination overall, but the deep water solo climbs rimming the lake shores are what provide a truly unique experience. Within the seemingly endless slab walls of granite rising out of the water are se...