Swakane Wildlife Area

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 enough to get a view of the valley. In the spring, the hills are covered with wildflowers. If ...

This is a great place to take a stroll and stretch your legs. With waterfalls and other beautiful scenery, definitely make a stop here if you find yourself in the area. No pets allowed. 

Starting from the south end of Wenatchee, hike straight up the obvious wide trail to the south side of Saddle Rock. You'll wind around the iconic rock feature and approach it from the back. A short and steep hike will reward you with wide open views of the Wenatchee Valley as you crest the hill in the middle of the saddle. This is a very short and steep hike, a good option if time is limited...

Sauer’s Mountain is one of those well defined, moderate, and rewarding hikes that give you just the right amount of views for the effort, but the real treat is catching the wildflower bloom in mid-May. The trailhead is located on private property. Start by parking along the private drive and walk to the trailhead where you will most likely encounter Mr. Sauer sitting in his chair selling homema...

As attempting to find a good overnight spot, I stumbled upon the mostly overlooked Ingalls Creek trail. Seemingly easy to get to, this seemed like a solid option for Spring camping. When we arrived, there were about four other cars in the parking lot, and my guess is that was about how many cars were there all day.After leaving the trailhead, which has a toilet and a picnic table, we made our w...

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 always worth it.From Seattle, you simply head north out of the city on I-5, hang a right on WA-522...