Guillemot Cove─Quiet nature retreat on Hood Canal

March 27, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Kitsap Peninsula Land Agency: Kitsap County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 350 feet Contact: Kitsap County Parks Notes: Dogs prohibited. Access: From Bremerton, follow SR 3 North to Newberry Hill Road Exit. Then head west for 3.0 miles turning right onto Seabeck Highway. Continue for 5.0 miles to Seabeck turning right…

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Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge– Delightful hiking on the delta

March 20, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually River Delta Land Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Roundtrip: 4.2 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Map: Refuge Map Notes: $3.00 per four adults entrance fee; or Interagency Passes accepted; dogs prohibited; Northern end of the Nisqually Estuary Trail is closed from October to…

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Tradition Lake Plateau

March 13, 2025 |

Wander family-friendly trails at the base of Tiger Mountain Quick Facts: Location: Issaquah Alps Distance: more than 8.9 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 250 feet Contact: Washington DNR and City of Issaquah Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Eastside (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; parking lot fills fast on weekends requiring street parking (permissible…

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Rooster Rock State Park- Hike above the Columbia River Buffs!

February 20, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Land Agency: Oregon State Parks Roundtrip: 3.3 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Contact: Oregon State Parks Notes: $5.00 day use fee or $30 annual pass; dogs must be leashed Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge West No. 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 25. At .5…

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Fortson Ponds –An old mill site on an emerging long distance trail

February 6, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Darrington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: none Difficulty: Easy Contact: Snohomish County Parks  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 (Arlington) travel east on SR 530 for 25.2 miles turning left onto Fortson Mill Road (near…

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Meadowdale Beach—Reach the Beach through an Emerald Gulch

January 30, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Lynnwood Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 425 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Special Notes: Dogs must be leashed; park open 7 am to dusk: do not park on road Access: From Everett, head 10 miles south on I-5 to exit 183. Follow 164th Street SW west for…

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River Meadows Park─Wander along the Stillaguamish River

January 23, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: South Fork Stillaguamish River, near Arlington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 150 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 head east on SR 530 to Arlington. One mile beyond junction with SR 9 (just after crossing the South…

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Turtlehead — It’s one shell of a view from this Turtleback Mountain summit

December 12, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Orcas Island, San Juan Islands Land Agency: San Juan County Land Bank Roundtrip: 5.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1295 feet Contact: San Juan County Land Bank Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; trail (partial) open to bikes (even days) and horses (odd days) Access: Take Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. Then head…

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Little Cranberry Lake — A perfect complement hike to your Thanksgiving Day celebration

November 28, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Anacortes-Fidalgo Island Land Agency: Anacortes Community Forest Lands Roundtrip: 1.9 miles Elevation Gain: 100 feet Access:  From Exit 230 on I-5 in Burlington, head west on SR 20 to junction with SR 20-Spur. Continue right on SR 20-Spur to Anacortes. At traffic light near old town, continue left on 12th Street (still SR 20-Spur and12th Street…

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