Blythe and Chukar Lakes─Birds and beauty in the Channeled Scablands

Location: Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Grant County Land Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior Contact: Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Roundtrip: 3.0 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Note: Dogs permitted on leash. Be snake and tick aware Good to know: dog-friendly, kid-friendly, spring wildflowers, exceptional birdwatching, snow-free hike Access: From Spokane, take I-90 west to Exit 179…

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

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…

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Virginia Lake─Sweet bird watching spot on Sauvie Island

Quick Facts: Location: Sauvie Island (Portland, Oregon) Land Agency: Willamette River Greenway, Wapato Access (Oregon State Parks) Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 50 feet Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: From downtown Portland, follow US 30 (NW St Helens Road) west for just shy of 11 miles turning right onto the Suavie Island Bridge. Then…

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

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).…

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Jacobs Point Park

Park rich with views, history, and wildlife on Oro Bay Quick Facts: Location: Anderson Island Land Agency: Anderson Island Park and Recreation Department Round Trip: 2.5 mile loop Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Anderson Island Park and Recreation Department Detailed Information: Urban Trails Tacoma (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs prohibited Access: From Steilacoom–Anderson Island Ferry terminal take…

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Osprey Trails — Saunter through wildlife habitat along the Sultan River  

Quick Facts: Location: Sultan, Snohomish County Land Agency: City of Sultan Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: level Access:  From Everett, follow US 2 east to Sultan. Turn left onto 3rd Street and drive 0.6 mile north. Then turn left onto High Street and continue 0.1 mile to Osprey Park. Contact: City of Sultan Notes: Dogs permitted on leash Good to…

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Cheam Lake Wetlands–Birding hotspot where the North Cascades meet the Fraser River

Quick Facts: Location: Popkum, Fraser Valley Regional District, BC Land Agency: Fraser Valley Regional Parks Round Trip: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) roundtrip Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Fraser Valley Regional Parks Notes: Dogs prohibited Access: From Vancouver, BC follow Trans-Canada Highway 1 east to Exit 138 (12 miles /20 kilometers east of Chilliwack). Turn left and…

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Peshastin Pinnacles — Hike though a magical kingdom of rocky spires

Quick Facts: Location: Wenatchee River Valley near Leavenworth Land Agency: Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 1.5 miles Elevation gain: 400 feet Green Trails Maps: Leavenworth- No. 178 Contact: Peshastin Pinnacles State Park Notes: Discover Pass required; dogs must be leashed. Access: From Leavenworth follow US 2 east for 9 miles turning left onto North Dryden Road.…

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Big Ditch─Dig in for some excellent swan and snow geese viewing

Quick Facts Location: Skagit Bay, Stanwood Land Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Roundtrip: 3.6 miles Elevation Gain: None Access: From Exit 212 on I-5 head west on SR 532 for five miles to the town of Stanwood. Turn right onto the Pioneer Highway and proceed for 2.6 miles to the junction with the Old…

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