Archives

Grand Ridge─Horizon-spanning views from the loftiest trail in the Olympics

July 11, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Deer Park-Obstruction Point, Olympic National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 15.4 miles. To Maiden Peak: 7.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3,400 feet. To Maiden Peak: 1,600 feet Green Trails Map: Olympics Mountain East 168S Contact: Olympic National Park Notes: Park entry fee; Pavement on Deer Park Road…

Fourth of July Creek—Celebrate Independence Day with these explosive views!

July 4, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Central Cascades Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 11.2 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Notes: rattlesnakes are common along lower portions of trail. Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range 208SX Contact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth) More information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (The Mountaineers Books)…

Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge

June 27, 2024 | Comments Off on Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.2 miles Elevation Gain: 5,130 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge-West Map 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 55 to the Starvation Creek Trailhead. Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area…

Copper Butte via Old Stage Trail– Take a historic route to the rooftop of the Kettle River Range

June 20, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Kettle River Range Land Agency: Colville National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1615 feet Contact: Colville National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District-Kettle Falls Access: From Republic, head east on SR 20 for 21 miles turning left onto FR 2030 (Albion Hill Road). From Kettle Falls, head west on SR…

Bear Lake—A bear of a lake but not of a hike!

June 13, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mark O Hatfield Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 575 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge -West No 428S Contact: Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River Ranger Station Notes: Wilderness rules apply Access: From…

Eagle Lake—Tough hike to a raptor’s delight

June 6, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky Wilderness, Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 8.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1,750 feet Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes West 176S Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required. Access: From Everett, head east 41 miles…

Steens Mountain– Into the heart of Oregon’s “Big Empty”

May 30, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Great Basin, Eastern Oregon Land Agency: Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (BLM) Roundtrip: Kiger Gorge Rim; up to 4.0 miles Elevation gain: Up to 500 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: BLM Burns Office  Access: From Burns, Oregon travel 60 miles south to Frenchglen. Take Steens Mountan…

Lookout Mountain

May 23, 2024 |

Look out over the Methow Valley and beyond Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 3.0 miles one way Elevation Gain: 1170 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Maps: Green Trails Methow Valley 51SX Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) Notes: trail open to mountain…

Mount Wells– Victoria area summit gushes with flowers and views

May 16, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Victoria—Langford, BC Land Agency: Capital Regional District Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles/ 3.2 km Elevation gain: 865 feet/ 264 m Maps: CRDP site Contact: Capital Regional District Parks Notes: dogs permitted on leash; please stay on trail to protect rare plants Access: From Victoria, follow Trans-Canada Highway 10.5…

Juniper Dunes Wilderness –A wilderness “sans” trails

May 9, 2024 |

Quick Facts Location: Franklin County, Eastern Washington Land Agency: Bureau of Land Management Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: 200 feet Difficulty: Moderate Contact: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane Office Notes: All approaches to this wilderness area are currently via private roads and land. The southern approach cannot be recommended due…

Want To Keep Up To Date On Hike Of The Week?

Subscribe and get new blog posts delivered to your inbox.