Martin Lake–Heart of the Golden Lakes

Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 13.4 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 2300 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 motorcycles Trailhead directions: From Twisp drive south on SR 153 and turn right onto…

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Flapjack Lakes — Served with a healthy dose of scenery

Quick Facts: Location: Staircase, Olympic National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 15.4 miles Elevation gain: 3,050 feet Contact:  Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (360) 565-3100 Green Trails Map: Olympic Mountains East 168S Notes: Dogs prohibited; National Park entry fee; Backcountry camping permit required for overnight trips; Practice Leave No Trace Principles Access: From…

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Home Sweet Home

Bear haven in Olympic National Park Quick Facts: Location: Olympic National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Distance: 27.0 miles Elevation Gain: 4300 feet Contact: Olympic National Park www.nps.gov/olym Map: Green Trails Olympic Mountains East 168SX Notes: dogs prohibited; National Park entry fee (or Interagency pass) and Backcountry camping permit for overnight camping Access: From…

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Fryingpan Lake

Onto the Trail and into a lovely lake setting Quick Facts: Location: William O. Douglas Wilderness Land Agency: National Forest Service Distance: 11.9 miles Elevation Gain: 2000 feet Contact:  Naches Ranger District Gifford Pinchot National Forest Green Trails Map: Green Trails, White Pass, No. 303S Notes: Northwest Forest or Interagency Pass required; Overnight Permits required;…

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Dishpan Gap—Crimson carpets at the headwaters of the Sky!

Quick Facts: Location: North Fork Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 17.4 miles Elevation Gain: 3,100 feet Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo- No. 143, Benchmark Mtn- No. 144 Special Note: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; wilderness rules apply Access: From Everett…

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Red Pass─High Portal to Glacier Peak

Quick Facts: Location: North Fork Sauk River Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 20.6 miles Elevation Gain: 4,300 feet Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 436-1155; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Special Note: Northwest Trail Pass required. Access: From Darrington, travel south on the Mountain Loop Highway…

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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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Blue Lake and Johnson Mountain–divine ridge walking

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 28.3 miles Elevation Gain: 6,725 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Recommended Guidebook: Backpacking Washington (Romano; Mountaineers Books) Access: From Darrington, head south on the Mountain Loop Highway 16.0 miles turning left onto FR 49. Follow for 6.4 miles bearing…

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Cooney Lake–larches at the edge of the North Cascades

Location: Sawtooth Ridge Roadless Area Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 16 miles High Point: 7,300 feet Elevation gain: 3,800 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Prince Creek, WA- No. 115 Contact: Methow Valley Ranger District: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass Required Access: From Twisp follow SR 153 south turning right onto Gold…

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Twin Lakes (Monte Cristo) — Follow a rugged old miner’s path to a remote basin

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Barlow Pass Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 17.0 miles Elevation gain: 3,900 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway  no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest   Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; A washout at the Twin Bridges requires…

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