Posts Tagged ‘Trail Less Taken’
Barlow Point–Little known lookout site on Mountain Loop Highway
Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 2.5 miles High Point: 3,222 feet Elevation gain: 850 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Note: Northwest Forest Pass or Inter-agency Pass required Access: From Granite Falls, follow…
Read MoreDeception Creek—Big trees, wilderness valley, no crowds—and that’s the truth!
Quick Facts: Location: Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 10.5 miles Elevation Gain: 1,350 feet Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required; Dogs permitted on leash. Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Green Trails Map: Alpine Lakes-Stevens Pass-No. 176S Access: From Everett drive US 2 east to Skykomish. Then continue for another…
Read MoreFourth 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…
Read MoreSteens 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.…
Read MoreLookout 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…
Read MoreJuniper Dunes Wilderness –A wilderness “sans” trails
Quick Facts Location: Franklin County, Eastern Washington Land Agency: Bureau of Land Management Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: 200 feet Difficulty: Moderate Contact: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane Office Notes: All approaches to this wilderness area are currently via private roads and land. The southern approach cannot be recommended due to poor roads and changing…
Read MoreFletcher 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…
Read MoreTwin Falls Lake–Hike to a secluded lake between two waterfalls
Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Washington Department of Natural Resources Roundtrip: 8.8 miles Elevation gain: 1,200 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop HIghway 111SX Contact: Northwest Region Ranger District WA DNR (360) 856-3500 Notes: Discover Pass required; trail beyond Ashland Lakes sees little maintenance, is extremely difficult and not…
Read MoreWest Fork Methow River
Follow a trail less traveled along a roaring waterway Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley Round Trip: 5.0 miles Elevation Gain: 450 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Detailed Information: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; watch for rattlesnakes Green Trails Map: Methow…
Read MoreSkagit-Sauk Reach Trail
Watch for eagles along an old remote rail line Quick Facts: Location: Skagit Valley Land Agency: Skagit County Parks Round Trip: 3.5 miles Elevation Gain: minimal Contact: Howard Miller Steelhead Park Detailed Information: Day Hiking North Cascades Second edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs permitted on leash. Access: From Burlington (exit 230 on I-5), travel 38…
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