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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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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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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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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Tollgate Farm

Historic prairie at the Forks of the Snoqualmie Quick Facts: Location: North Bend, WA Distance: 1.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Si View Metropolitan District Green Trails Map: Mount Si NRCA no. 206S Notes: Dogs permitted on leash Trailhead directions: From Seattle follow I-90 east to Exit 27. Turn left onto Winery Road…

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Swan Lake and Christmas Hill –A very merry hike minutes from downtown Victoria

Quick Facts: Location: Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island Land Agency: Swan Lake Christmas Hill Sanctuary Roundtrip: 3.5 miles/ 5.6 kilometers Elevation gain: 325 feet/ 100 meters Contact:  Swan Lake Christmas Hill Sanctuary  Notes: dogs prohibited Access: From Victoria or Sidney, follow BC 17 (Patricia Bay Highway) exiting onto McKenzie Ave. Proceed east turning right onto Rainbow…

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Bridal Veil Falls — Visit after heavy rains for a bridal shower!  

Quick Facts: Location: US 2 near Index, Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 4.4 miles Elevation gain: 850 feet Green Trails Maps: Green Trails, Alpine Lakes Stevens Pass 176S Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Everett follow US 2 east for…

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Crescent Lake─Swan stop at the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers

Quick Facts: Location: Snoqualmie Valley south of Monroe Land Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Roundtrip: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: None Notes: Discover Pass required; Crescent Lake is an active hunting area, so be aware of hunting seasons. Access: From Everett follow US 2 east to Monroe. Turn right onto SR 203 and follow for 3.8 miles turning right onto…

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