Martin Lake–Heart of the Golden Lakes

Rooster Rock State Park- Hike above the Columbia River Buffs!

February 20, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Land Agency: Oregon State Parks Roundtrip: 3.3 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Contact: Oregon State Parks Notes: $5.00 day use fee or $30 annual pass; dogs must be leashed Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge West No. 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 25. At .5…

Meadowdale Beach—Reach the Beach through an Emerald Gulch

January 30, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Lynnwood Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 425 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Special Notes: Dogs must be leashed; park open 7 am to dusk: do not park on road Access: From Everett, head 10 miles south on I-5 to exit 183. Follow 164th Street SW west for…

River Meadows Park─Wander along the Stillaguamish River

January 23, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: South Fork Stillaguamish River, near Arlington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 150 feet Contact: Snohomish County Parks Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 head east on SR 530 to Arlington. One mile beyond junction with SR 9 (just after crossing the South…

Chambers Creek Regional Park

January 9, 2025 |

Explore an old quarry resurrected as a grand park Quick Facts: Location: University Place (Tacoma) Distance: more than 6.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 230 feet Contact: Pierce County Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Tacoma (Mountaineers Books) Notes: dogs permitted on leash and there is an off-leash area; some trails jogger-stroller and wheel…

Saint Edward State Park

January 2, 2025 |

Explore a different—and wilder side of Lake Washington Quick Facts: Location: Eastside (Seattle) Distance: more than 9.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 500 feet Contact: Washington State Parks Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Eastside (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; dogs permitted on leash; park open 8am to dusk Trailhead directions: From Bellevue follow…

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

December 12, 2024 |

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…

Ponytail Falls Loop

December 5, 2024 |

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,…

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

November 28, 2024 |

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…

Sullivan Lake — Enjoy an “On Golden Pond” moment

October 31, 2024 |

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…