North Head Lighthouse–Hike to a headland at the mouth of the Columbia River

Mount Finlayson─This spoil of war now offers peaceful wandering

February 15, 2024 |

Quick Facts Location: San Juan Island Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 3.5 miles Elevation Gain: 290 feet Contact: San Juan Island National Historic Park Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: Take Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Follow Spring Street for .5 mile through town turning left onto…

Second Beach– Home to First Rate Scenery

January 4, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic National Park Land Agency: Quileute Nation and National Park Service Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: 310 feet Contact: Olympic National Park, Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: 99S Olympic Coast Beaches Notes: Dogs prohibited Access: From Forks follow US 101 north for 1.5 miles turning left onto State Route 110 (signed “Mora–La Push”). Continue…

Clallam Bay Spit — Explore Washington’s deserted and spectacular North Coast

November 16, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca, North Olympic Peninsula Land Agency: Clallam County Parks and Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 2.1 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Clallam County Parks Notes: Dogs permitted on leash Access: From Port Angeles follow US 101 west for 5.4 miles to SR 112. Continue west for 44 miles on SR 112 to the community…

Ebey’s Landing—A Sound Hiking Adventure

April 27, 2023 |

Quick Facts: Location: Whidbey Island Land Agency: National Park Service and Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 5.2 miles Elevation Gain: 260 feet Contact: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve Suggested Guidebook: Urban Trails Everett Special note: Dogs permitted on leash. Access: Take Washington State Ferry from Mulkiteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Continue north on SR 525…

Ruby Beach─Easily accessible but still wild

December 29, 2022 |

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic Coast Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: To Ruby Beach: 0.5 mile; To Hoh River: 6.0 miles Elevation Gain: 80 feet Green Trails Map: Olympic Coast 99S Notes: Dogs permitted but must be on a leash. Access: From Forks, head south on US 101 for 27 miles to Ruby Beach trailhead.…

Penrose Point State Park

December 8, 2022 |

Madronas, big maples and sweeping views of Mount Rainier Quick Facts: Location: Key Peninsula Land Agency: Washington State Parks Round Trip: 2.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: 200 feet Contact: Penrose Point State Park Detailed Information: Urban Trails Kitsap (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required, Dogs permitted on leash Access: From Purdy (just north of…

Cape Flattery─Hike to the northwestern most point in Washington State

November 3, 2022 |

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic Peninsula Coast Land Agency: Makah Nation Reservation Roundtrip: 1.5 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Contact: Makah Indian Nation Green Trails Map: Cape Flattery, WA- No 98S Notes: Dogs allowed on leash, Makah Recreation Pass required ($20, available at Washburn’s General Store ,the Makah Museum and several other locations in Neah Bay).…

Beards Hollow─Just in the Nick of Time for razor clam season

April 28, 2022 |

Quick Facts: Location: Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County, WA Land Agency: Washington State Parks Contact: Cape Disappointment State Park Roundtrip to Beards Hollow: 1.0 mile Elevation Gain: 50 feet Roundtrip to North Head Lighthouse: 3 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Access: From Ilwaco, take Loop Spur State Road 100 in either direction to Beards Hollow…

Horse Creek Trail–Trot through towering coastal old-growth forest

March 31, 2022 |

Quick Facts: Location: Drift Creek Wilderness, Siuslaw National Forest Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 7.2 miles Map: Online from Forest Service Elevation gain: 1,400 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: Central Coast Ranger District (Waldport), Siuslaw National Forest Notes: Drift Creek Wilderness is south of Newport. Do not confuse with popular Drift Creek Falls near Lincoln…