Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge– Delightful hiking on the delta

Quick Facts: Location: Nisqually River Delta Land Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Roundtrip: 4.2 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Map: Refuge Map Notes: $3.00 per four adults entrance fee; or Interagency Passes accepted; dogs prohibited; Northern end of the Nisqually Estuary Trail is closed from October to…

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Tradition Lake Plateau

Wander family-friendly trails at the base of Tiger Mountain Quick Facts: Location: Issaquah Alps Distance: more than 8.9 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 250 feet Contact: Washington DNR and City of Issaquah Recommended Guidebook: Urban Trails Eastside (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Discover Pass required; parking lot fills fast on weekends requiring street parking (permissible…

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Japanese Gulch — Historic Ravine laced with trails

Quick Facts: Location: Mukilteo Land Agency: Mukilteo Recreation Department Roundtrip: More than 7 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 500 feet Contact: Mukilteo Recreation Department Notes: Trail system is currently rough in places and unsigned. Access: From Everett, head west on Mukilteo Blvd (which becomes 5th Street in Mukilteo) for to parking and trailhead on…

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

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…

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Deer Lake– Wilderness lake above White Pass

Location: William O. Douglas Wilderness, White Pass Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip:  6.0 miles Elevation gain: 780 feet Green Trails Map: White Pass No. 303 Contact: White Pass Nordic Center  Access: From Yakima or Morton follow US 12 to White Pass and proceed north to parking area near Yurt behind the Village Inn Condominiums.…

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Fortson Ponds –An old mill site on an emerging long distance trail

Quick Facts: Location: Darrington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: none Difficulty: Easy Contact: Snohomish County Parks  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 (Arlington) travel east on SR 530 for 25.2 miles turning left onto Fortson Mill Road (near…

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Meadowdale Beach—Reach the Beach through an Emerald Gulch

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…

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River Meadows Park─Wander along the Stillaguamish River

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…

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Chambers Creek Regional Park

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…

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