Fourth of July Creek—Celebrate Independence Day with these explosive views!

Quick Facts: Location: Central Cascades Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 11.2 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Notes: rattlesnakes are common along lower portions of trail. Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range 208SX Contact: Wenatchee River Ranger District (Leavenworth) More information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (The Mountaineers Books) Access: From Leavenworth follow the…

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Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.2 miles Elevation Gain: 5,130 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge-West Map 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 55 to the Starvation Creek Trailhead. Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia…

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Bear Lake—A bear of a lake but not of a hike!

Quick Facts: Location: Mark O Hatfield Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 575 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge -West No 428S Contact: Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River Ranger Station Notes: Wilderness rules apply Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to…

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Steens Mountain– Into the heart of Oregon’s “Big Empty”

Quick Facts: Location: Great Basin, Eastern Oregon Land Agency: Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (BLM) Roundtrip: Kiger Gorge Rim; up to 4.0 miles Elevation gain: Up to 500 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: BLM Burns Office  Access: From Burns, Oregon travel 60 miles south to Frenchglen. Take Steens Mountan Loop Road for 23 miles.…

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Lookout Mountain

Look out over the Methow Valley and beyond Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley, WA Distance: 3.0 miles one way Elevation Gain: 1170 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 mountain bikes and motorcycles; Final 1.5…

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Fletcher Canyon– Explore a rugged rift in the Quinault Ridge

Quick Facts: Location: Colonel Bob Wilderness Land Agency: Olympic National Forest Roundtrip: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 1100 feet Contact: Olympic National Forest, Pacific Ranger District, Quinault Green Trails Map: Mt Christie No. 166 Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Access: From Hoquiam, travel north on US 101 for 38 miles turning right onto South…

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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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Lanham Lake—Sublime snowshoeing above Stevens Pass

Quick Facts: Location: Stevens Pass Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 3.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1,140 feet Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass WA No. 176S Special Note: Slight avalanche concern. Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Access: From Everett head east on US 2 to Stevens Pass. Continue east for another 5.8 miles turning right into the…

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Green to Cedar Rivers Trail

Walk across Maple Valley through a “wilderness” park Quick Facts: Location: Maple Valley, WA Distance: 3.3 miles one way Contact: King County Parks Elevation Gain: 250 feet Notes: Dogs permitted on leash Trailhead directions: From Seattle follow I-5 to I-405 and take Exit 4 in Renton. Then drive SR 169 south for 11.3 miles turning…

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