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

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…

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

 Location: Cape Disappointment State Park, Long Beach Peninsula Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 4.2 miles Elevation gain: 300 feet Contact: Cape Disappointment State Park Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs must be leashed Good to Know: kid-friendly, snow free winter hike, historic Access: From Kelso follow SR 4 west to Naselle. Turn left onto SR…

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 Iceberg Point — Maritime scenery will leave you frozen in astonishment

Quick Facts:  Location: San Juan Islands National Monument Land Agency: Bureau of Land Managment Roundtrip: 3.8 miles Elevation gain: 380 feet Contact: San Juan Islands National Monument, Spokane District Office BLM Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; do not park beyond Agate Beach Park; access is via private property which owners have generously granted permission—stay on…

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Hole in the Wall–walk a wilderness beach to a big natural arch

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic Peninsula Coast Land Agency: Olympic National Park Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Green Trails Map: Olympic Beaches 99S Elevation Gain: None Contact: Olympic National Park  Access: From Forks, drive west on SR 110 to Quillayute Prairie. Here SR 110 splits. Bear right (Mora Road), and drive 5.0 miles to the trailhead at road’s end.…

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Third Beach– First Rate and second to none!

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic Coast near Forks Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 2.6 miles Elevation gain: 300 feet Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: Olympic Beaches 99s Notes: Dogs Prohibited Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Good to Know: kid-friendly, snow free winter hike; beach walking;…

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Jefferson Cove─A great place to go forth on the Fourth!

Quick Facts: Location: Olympic Coast, Olympic National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 5.0 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Green Trails Map: La Push No. 163S Note: Dogs prohibited; Check tides – can only be done in a low tide; permits required to camp. Access: From Forks travel south on US 101 for 15 miles…

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Browns Point -Kalaloch–Kid and dog friendly hike on the wild Olympic Coast

Location: Olympic National Park coast Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 4.0 miles Elevation gain: 50 feet Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center Green Trails Map: Olympic Coast 99S Recommended Resource: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2ed (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs must be leashed; Browns Point can only be rounded during low tides; Practice Leave No…

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Fort Casey Historical State Park — Frolic through a fort, to a lighthouse, and on a pretty beach

Quick Facts: Location: Whidbey Island Land Agency: Washington State Parks Round Trip: 1.8 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 90 feet Contact: Washington State Parks Recommended Resource: Urban Trails Everett (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Mukilteo take ferry to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Then continue north on…

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Point Colville– Rugged coastal headland on Lopez Island

Quick Facts: Location: Lopez Island Land Agency: San Juan Islands National Monument Roundtrip: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 180 feet Contact: Bureau of Land Management  Detailed Information: Day Hiking The San Juans and Gulf Islands (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; coastal cliffs—keep children nearby  Access: From Anacortes, take Washington State Ferry to Lopez Island Landing. Follow Ferry…

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