Padilla Bay Dike Trail–shore fine hike in the Skagit Valley

Quick Facts: Location: Skagit County Land Agency: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Roundtrip: 4.8 miles Elevation Gain: 30 feet Contact: Padilla Bay NERR Access: From Burlington (exit 231 on I-5) proceed through roundabouts and head west on Josh Wilson Road for 6.4 miles. Upon entering the village of Bay View turn left onto 2nd Street…

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Candy Cane Park (Terrace Creek Park)-Tis the season for a visit

Quick Facts: Location: Mountlake Terrace, southern Snohomish County Land Agency: City of Mountlake Terrace Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: 125 feet Access:  From Seattle: drive I-5 north to exit 178. Turn right and follow 236th Street SW for 0.7 mile. Then turn left onto 48th Ave W and drive north 0.2 mile to park and parking on your…

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Yost Park– Slice of Nature in the heart of Edmonds

Quick Facts: Location: Edmonds Land Agency: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Department Roundtrip: About 1.5 miles of trails Elevation Gain: up to 300 feet Contact: Edmonds Parks and Recreation Access: From Everett or Seattle take I-5 to Exit 179. Then head west on 220th Street SW for 2.1 miles. Turn right and head north on 96th Ave…

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Priest Point Park─Make it your mission to hike this park

Quick Facts: Location: Olympia, Washington Land Agency: City of Olympia Parks and Recreation Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Notes: Dogs must be on a leash. Access:  From Lacey, follow I-5 south to Olympia taking Exit 105B to Plum Street. From Tumwater, follow I-5 north to Olympia taking Exit 105. Turn right onto Henderson…

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Boulder River─ walk among crashing waterfalls and through primeval forest

Quick Facts Location: Boulder River Wilderness, near Darrington Land Agency: National Forest Service Round trip: 9.6 miles Elevation Gain: 750 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Arlington follow SR 530 for 20 miles. Just beyond Milepost 41 near a subdivision turn right onto FR 2010 and continue for 3.7 miles to trailhead. Contact:…

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Pilchuck Tree Farm─Quiet wood roads from Meadows to Ridge

Quick Facts: Location: Northern Snohomish County, near Stanwood Land Agency: Pacific Denkmann Company Pilchuck Tree Farm Roundtrip: 3.2 miles Elevation Gain: 400 feet Contact: Pilchuck Recreation Association: www.pilchuckra.org Notes: All trail users MUST sign a liability release and have it on file to use these trails. Download here and mail (with $2 donation) to Pilchuck Recreation Association. Dogs…

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Big Ditch─Dig in for some excellent swan and snow geese viewing

Quick Facts Location: Skagit Bay, Stanwood Land Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Roundtrip: 3.6 miles Elevation Gain: None Access: From Exit 212 on I-5 head west on SR 532 for five miles to the town of Stanwood. Turn right onto the Pioneer Highway and proceed for 2.6 miles to the junction with the Old…

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Explorer Falls–It's an easy search to find these falls

Quick Facts: Location: Near Lake Roesiger between Monroe and Granite Falls Land Agency: Washington DNR Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: 200 feet Contact: Washington DNR Notes: Do not block gate, nor drive past it if open. Active logging area, be alert to trucks on roadway and yield right-of-way. Access:  From Monroe, follow Woods Road north…

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