Southwest County Park─Emerald Swath above Edmonds

Quick Facts: Location: Edmonds Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Roundtrip: Up to 5 miles Elevation Gain: up to 250 feet Access: From Everett follow I-5 south to exit 181. Now follow SR 524 (196th St SW) west passing SR 99 and in about another mile turn right onto 76th Ave W. Proceed for about .5…

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Centennial Trail: Haller Park to Lake Bryant–river, wetlands, and rural charm

Quick Facts: Location: Arlington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 6.2 miles Elevation Gain: 100 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Notes: Paved trail is also open to bicycles and is wheelchair accessible; dogs must be leashed. Access: Southern Access is from Haller Park in Arlington near the junction of SR 9 and SR 530, four miles…

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Candy Cane Park (Terrace Creek Park)-Tis the season for a visit

Quick Facts: Location: Mountlake Terrace, southern Snohomish County Land Agency: City of Mountlake Terrace Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: 125 feet Access:  From Seattle: drive I-5 north to exit 178. Turn right and follow 236th Street SW for 0.7 mile. Then turn left onto 48th Ave W and drive north 0.2 mile to park and parking on your…

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Yost Park– Slice of Nature in the heart of Edmonds

Quick Facts: Location: Edmonds Land Agency: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Department Roundtrip: About 1.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 300 feet Contact: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Access: From Everett or Seattle take I-5 to Exit 179. Then head west on 220th Street SW for 2.1 miles. Turn right and head north on 96th Ave…

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Boulder River─ walk among crashing waterfalls and through primeval forest

Quick Facts Location: Boulder River Wilderness, near Darrington Land Agency: National Forest Service Round trip: 9.6 miles Elevation Gain: 750 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Arlington follow SR 530 for 20 miles. Just beyond Milepost 41 near a subdivision turn right onto FR 2010 and continue for 3.7 miles to trailhead. Contact:…

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Surprise and Glacier Lakes—A surprisingly nice pair of alpine lakes near Stevens Pass

Quick Facts: Location: Stevens Pass area Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 11.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required; Dogs permitted on leash; Wilderness rules apply Access: From Everett follow US 2 east to Skykomish. Continue 10 more miles turning right (just after…

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Bald Eagle Peak — Old-growth, stunning views, and solitude

Quick Facts: Location: Henry M Jackson Wilderness Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 13.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2800 feet Contact: Darrington Ranger District, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Notes: FR 49 is rough in spot requiring a high clearance vehicle; Northwest Forest pass required; dog-friendly, exceptional old-growth, wilderness regulations…

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Lake Valhalla– No slain souls here-just renewed ones

Quick Facts:  Location: Henry M Jackson Wilderness, Stevens Pass area Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 12.0 miles Elevation gain: 1,500 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass No. 176S Contact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth): Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Access: From Everett, head east on US 2 for 65 miles to Stevens Pass.…

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Lake Dorothy — Easy Hike to Large Alpine Lake

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 800 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest  Green Trails Maps: Green Trails, Alpine Lakes West Stevens Pass No 176S Notes: Northwest Forest pass or Interagency pass required; dogs must be leashed; wilderness regulations apply Access: From Everett,…

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Silver Lake─Precious body of water above old mining district

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 13.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Granite Falls, follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Hike begins by walking up gated Monte Cristo Road. Note: Northwest…

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