Discovery Trail – Follow Lieutenant Clark along the Long Beach Peninsula

Quick Facts: Location: Long Beach Peninsula Land Agency: Washington State Parks and others Roundtrip: 8.2 miles on way Elevation Gain: 200 feet Contact: Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau Access: For the southern trailhead, follow US 101 to Ilwaco. Turn left onto Elizabeth Ave and after two blocks turn right onto Howerton Ave. Park on Howerton Ave. Trail begins…

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Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground via Kautz Lake — Head to a fabled land of wildflowers!

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually Valley, Mount Rainier National Park Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 11.6 miles Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Contact: Mount Rainier National Park Green Trails Map: Mount Rainier National Park 269S Notes: National Park Entrance Fee or Interagency Pass required; Dog prohibited Timed entry pass required for entrance into Mount Rainier National Park (Longmire and Sunrise…

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White Bluffs Hanford Reach

Wilderness and stark beauty along the Columbia River Quick Facts: Location: Hanford Reach National Monument Round Trip: 7.0 miles Elevation Gain: 500 feet Contact: Hanford Reach National Monument, Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Recreation Complex; Detailed Information: Day Hiking Eastern Washington (Mountaineers Books) Notes: watch for rattlesnakes; pack lots of water Access: From Ellensburg, follow I-90…

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Four Springs Lake Preserve

Explore a former farm in the heart of Camano Island Quick Facts: Location: Camano Island Land Agency: Island County Parks Round Trip: 1.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 200 feet Contact: Island County Parks Detailed Information: Urban Trails Everett (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs permitted on leash. No map online but available in pamphlet,…

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Limekiln Point and Preserve

Orcas, old quarries, and a beautiful lighthouse Quick Facts: Location: San Juan Island Land Agency: Washington State Parks and San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Roundtrip: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 265 feet Contact: Lime Kiln State Park or San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Detailed Information: Day Hiking the San Juans and Gulf Islands (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover…

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Eagle Creek — Classic Hike overflows with stunning waterfalls

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge near Cascades Locks, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12 miles High Point: 1,100 feet Elevation gain: 1,600 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Columbia Gorge West no. 428S Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; Dogs permitted (but not recommended) on leash; steep drop offs and exposure—keep children near.…

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Gothic Basin and Foggy Lake — Spiraling peaks, buttressed ridges, and a hauntingly beautiful landscape

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Service and Washington Department of Natural Resources Roundtrip: 9.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access:  From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Hike begins by walking up gated Monte Cristo…

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Kloshe Nanitch

Stand watch over the Sol Duc Valley Quick Facts: Location: North Olympic Peninsula-Sol Duc Valley; Land Agency: Olympic National Forest; Roundtrip: 6.4 miles; Elevation gain: 2,400 feet; Contact: Olympic National Forest, Pacific District North, Forks; Notes: Discover Pass Required; Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula (2nd edition) Good to Know: Dog-friendly, Trail Less Traveled, Historic…

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Mercer Slough Nature Park

Hike a slew of trails near the heart of Bellevue Quick Facts: Location: Bellevue Land Agency: City of Bellevue Parks and Recreation Distance: more than 7.0 miles of trails Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: City of Bellevue Parks and Recreation Notes: dogs permitted on leash, Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Eastside (Mountaineers Book) Access: Take Exit 12…

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