Turtlehead — It’s one shell of a view from this Turtleback Mountain summit

Quick Facts: Location: Orcas Island, San Juan Islands Land Agency: San Juan County Land Bank Roundtrip: 5.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1295 feet Contact: San Juan County Land Bank Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; trail (partial) open to bikes (even days) and horses (odd days) Access: Take Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. Then head…

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Ponytail Falls Loop

Behind the scenes beauty! Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge Oregon Distance: 2.7 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 450 feet Contact: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Maps: Green Trails Columbia River Gorge–West No. 428S Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs allowed on-leash. Trailhead directions: From Portland or Hood River,…

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Little Cranberry Lake — A perfect complement hike to your Thanksgiving Day celebration

Quick Facts: Location: Anacortes-Fidalgo Island Land Agency: Anacortes Community Forest Lands Roundtrip: 1.9 miles Elevation Gain: 100 feet Access:  From Exit 230 on I-5 in Burlington, head west on SR 20 to junction with SR 20-Spur. Continue right on SR 20-Spur to Anacortes. At traffic light near old town, continue left on 12th Street (still SR 20-Spur and12th Street…

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Sullivan Lake — Enjoy an “On Golden Pond” moment

Quick Facts: Location: Selkirk Mountains Northeastern Washington Land Agency: Colville National Forest Roundtrip: 9.2 miles Elevation Gain: 650 feet Access: From Metaline Falls, Washington drive 2 miles north on SR 31. Turn right onto Sullivan Lake Road. Continue on this road for 4.7 miles before turning left onto FR 22. Proceed 0.4 mile, then turn right onto…

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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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Swauk Forest Discovery Trail—Golden forest beneath the Diamond Head

Quick Facts: Location: Blewett Pass Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.8 miles Elevation Gain: 400 feet Green Trails Map: Wenatchee/ Mission Ridge, WA- No 211S Contact: Cle Elum Ranger District: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest  Access: From Cle Elum follow WA 970 east for 7.0 miles to US 97. Continue north on US 97 for 14.0…

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Granite Mountain- classic fire lookout hike at Snoqualmie Pass

Quick Facts: Location: Snoqualmie Pass Region Land Agency: National Forest Service Round Trip: 9.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3700 feet Contact: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District North Bend Green Trails Maps: Green Trails, Snoqualmie Pass Gateway no. 207SX Notes: Northwest Forest pass or Interagency Pass required; Alpine Lakes Wilderness use permit required May 15—Oct 31,…

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Huckleberry Mountain — Savor solitude high above the Suiattle River

Quick Facts: Location: Suiattle River Valley Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12.6 miles Elevation Gain: 4500 feet Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway Map 111SX Notes: Glacier Peak Wilderness-wilderness rules apply; Practice Leave No Trace Principles Access: From Darrington travel north on SR 530 turning right…

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Deception Creek—Big trees, wilderness valley, no crowds—and that’s the truth!

Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 10.5 miles Elevation Gain: 1,350 feet Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required; Dogs permitted on leash. Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass-No. 176S Access: From Everett drive US 2 east to Skykomish. Then continue for another…

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Tubal Cain Mine and Buckhorn Lake — Take a “rhody trip” to an historic mine

Quick Facts: Location: Buckhorn Wilderness, Olympic National Forest Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Contact: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District, Quilcene, Green Trails Map: Olympic Mountains East 168SX Notes: Wilderness regulations apply Access: From Discovery Bay (Jct SR 20 and US 101), drive no US 101 north and turn left…

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