Washington State Hiking News and Updates Blog

Jun 23, Washington Hiking News & Updates

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:08:34 GMT

The latest updates on conditions, new hikes, new websites to explore.

Jun 23, Seattle hikes- Best day hikes within an hour

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:00:15 GMT

The best seattle hiking trails-day hikes within an hour of the city

May 20, Western Washington Hiking

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:16:15 GMT

Details for Western Washington hiking trails

May 20, Free Detailed Washington hiking trail information

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:15:09 GMT

Washington hiking trail reports, reviews, maps and information

Apr 19, Survey about National Park Firearms Ban Change

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:32:51 GMT

A quick survey about whether the firearm ban in the national parks should be ended.

Apr 11, Central Washington Hiking

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:10:51 GMT

Great trails for central Washington hiking

Apr 1, Hiking Mountain Loop Trails

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:37:16 GMT

Details on hiking trails along the Mountain Loop Highway.

Apr 1, Other Hiking Areas

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:34:33 GMT

More hiking areas to explore

Apr 1, Hiking Gear Information

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:18:30 GMT

Some great hiking gear to check out...

Mar 17, Updated Backpacking Page

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:19:27 GMT

Added additional information and links to the backpacking Washington State page. Check it out... Some great trails and trips to plan this summer!

Feb 12, Trails and trips for Washington hiking, free info and resources...

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:01:38 GMT

Free Washington hiking information for the Seattle area and Pacific Northwest...

Jan 27, 25 Easy Hikes in Western Washington

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:29:38 GMT

A list of some great easy hikes in Western Washington

Jan 21, Trekking Poles for hiking

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:35:33 GMT

Finding the best Trekking poles and walking sticks for hiking trips.

Jan 21, Hand held GPS Receivers

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:29:05 GMT

Tips and resources for hiking with handheld GPS Receivers.

Jan 21, Hiking Rain Gear

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Find great hiking raingear for your next trip

Jan 21, Hiking Day Packs

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:04:48 GMT

Detailed hiking day packs/top choices under $100...

Jan 21, Hiking Boots compare before you buy

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:59:30 GMT

Detailed hiking boots information for the hiker.

Jan 11, Upcoming Group Hikes and events for the Public

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:14:20 GMT

Saturday, January 12, 2008 9:30a Squak Mountain issaquahalps.org has a scheduled hike to Squak Mountain on saturday the 12th at 9:30 am. visit website or call Doug Simpson at 425-392-6660 Sunday, January 13, 2008 Cougar Mountain hike issaquahalps.org has a scheduled hike up Cougar Mountain on Sunday the 13th. Visit the website or call Fred Zeitler at 425-882-3435. 6 mile slow paced hike 900 feet gain. Saturday, January 12, 2008 Millersylvania State Park hike The Mountaineers have a scheduled hike on saturday. Guests welcome but you need to sign up at mountaineers.org or call 206-284-8484 ahead of time. easy 5 mile hike with 150 feet elevation gain. Old growth forest. Monday, January 21, 2008 6:30p Climbing 101 at REI A low cost class on Basic Climbing Skills is available at the downtown Seattle REI. $25 members/$40 non-members. This looks fun. Saturday, January 12, 2008 10:00a-4:00p Winter Trails Day Mountaineers at Snoqualmie Pass. A free for the whole family day of snowshoe lessons. mountaineers.org for more details. 10am-4pm Exit 63 off I90, turn right and then a left at the next intersection. Watch for signs. Click here to visit the calendar

Jan 1, Lost XC ski boot at Gold Creek

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:04:00 GMT

Hope you all had a great holiday and got outside. If anyone saw or picked up a lost cross country ski boot up at Gold Creek Trailhead, contact us so we can get it back to Jenny. --------- First Name: Jenny Enter your Comments or Questions here: "We think we left an adult size cross country ski boot when parked along the road at Gold Creek. We are heading up again today to see if we can find it. Do you know who we could contact to ask about this?" Gratefully...Jenny

Dec 26, Winter snowshoeing in Washington state

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:24:57 GMT

Details on enjoying Washington trails in the winter. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing trails.

Dec 26, Snowshoe trails near Stevens Pass, WA

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:21:25 GMT

Details on winter snowshoe trails near Stevens Pass, WA US2

Dec 26, Snowshoe near Snoqualmie Pass

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:19:19 GMT

Snowshoe trails around Snoqualmie Pass, Washington state

Dec 26, Snowshoeing/crosscountry skiing near Cle Elum,WA

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:16:42 GMT

Details on winter snowshoeing/crosscountry skiing near Cle Elum.

Dec 9, Great Hiking resources and useful information

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:43:41 GMT

Hiking Resources, hiking links and websites for the hiker

Dec 9, Winter Hiking and Snowshoe Advice

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:07:38 GMT

WTA has a great article on precautions to take when adventuring out in the woods during winter. Some good tips on safely enjoying your hike. You don't want to get lost or injured and not have proper equipment. Make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. They should know what your car license plate is and a description of it. Think ahead especially in the winter. It is cold out there :) Read about some of the good snowshoe areas here. Snowshoe in Washington

Dec 8, New Hiking Gear Recommendations

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:24:11 GMT

I have added some new things to the hiking gear page. Some good products just in time for christmas gifts. Check it out, click the link below. And get out there for a quick hike to burn off those big meals.

Dec 8, Hiking Gear Shop

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:19:06 GMT

Great places to find hiking gear-shop online

Dec 8, Washington State Parks -camping, hiking, exploring

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:51:42 GMT

Over 120 washington state parks to explore, camp, hike and more...

Dec 8, Washington State Highway map

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:45:30 GMT

A map of the highways of washington state...

Dec 4, Link to Us

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:38:32 GMT

Link to us instructions

Nov 15, Mountain Loop Highway OPEN

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:35:16 GMT

The Mountain Loop Highway has reopened betweeen Darrington and Granite Falls. If you want a great drive, head up there before it closes for the winter. A fantastic road trip in the fall for sure. Follows the river through the mountains. It is narrow in places so keep your eyes peeled for oncoming traffic. One road I love to drive. It has been closed for years. I for one am cheering the government for spending the money to get it rebuilt. Definitely give it a try, there are excellent hiking trails along the road as well. Enjoy. Click the link below for more details.

Oct 22, Contact Information

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:29:17 GMT

Oct 22, Good hiking clubs and groups for washington hiking trails

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:07:30 GMT

Listings for hiking clubs and groups -washington,seattle,Northwest

Jul 15, Summer 2007

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:40:23 GMT

Hope you are all getting out in the fresh air for some excellent hiking. We are having a great July. Check out Rattlesnake Lake it is a nice hike. It is also the best time of year to head over to the Olympic Peninsula or the coast for some great beach hiking. Have fun

Aug 20, Big Four Ice Caves review from Susan

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 01:20:41 GMT

Trail Name: Big Four Location: 25 miles past Granite Falls, WA on Mountain Loop Hwy. Trail Condition: wonderful!! Was able to take child in stroller (until the very end of the real path--then we made out own!) Directions to trailhead: Go through Granite Falls, WA. Turn left and go about 25 miles on Mountain Loop Hwy. Trail Head will be on your right near some picnic tables. There is a large parking area. Don't confuse with many other pull-off areas. Trip Details: Bring a light jacket even in the summer. It will shield your arms from the mosquitos and keep you a litle warmer when you are right next to the caves....they are so cool you can feel it!! Your comments: We really loved this trip. Bring a camera-you'll need it!!! :: Thanks for the review Susan.::

Jul 16, Be Aware

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 02:04:23 GMT

Just a reminder. Be cautious while hiking in the middle of nowhere. 2 women were killed on the Pinnacle Lake trail in the Granite Falls area. A lot of our trails in Western Washington are still close enough to the city to attract the wrong kind of people. From car prowling at the trailhead to just plain criminal behavior you would expect in a city. Be careful out there. Travel in decent sized groups. It is more fun with the gang anyway. Stop by the ranger station and see what is going on in the area. This is usually a good idea anyway. They can give you some great trail info and ideas for a fun hike. Have fun, but be careful out there.

Jul 16, Heather Lake Reviewed - June 28th

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:55:12 GMT

Submitted by Kathur

Thanks for the trail report. Keep them coming, it really helps others choose good trails to try out..

Trail Name: Heather Lake

Location: Mountain Loop
distance: roughly 4 miles round trip
elevation gain: 850ft?seemed more!
Trail Condition: A bit wet still.

Directions to trailhead: Head east from granite falls, turn right on Mt. Pilchuk Rd just past bridge, trailhead is a mile or so in.

Trip Details: Takes some determination on the way up, as it is almost all uphill, but it's absolutely worth it. Trail goes all the way around the lake and there is a rocky area on the south side, a good spot for lunch.

Your comments: Absolutely beautiful, well worth the climb to get there. The trail is still a bit wet in places, especially near the top, and you have to climb over some slick rocks here and there. There is still snow at the top, here and there, but it is not a problem. The lake is beautiful.

Jun 17, Where You Gonna Go??

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 17:14:53 GMT

Deciding on which hike to take next is always the question. Especially with so many choices in Washington. I tend to pick an area based on the weather forecast. If it is looking dry, I tend to pick a trail on the west side of the cascades. If rain is more than likely, I will head over the mountains to Eastern Wa. I progressively do more dificult hikes as the season goes on. Warming up with some easy hikes, definitely makes work on monday less painful. Those sore muscles can be a pain. Choose an area, read some trail descriptions and gather your maps. Eventually, you just have to decide which one to do. If you have the time, check out some recent reviews or the forest service trail condition reports. wta.org has some good reviews. hiking trail conditions - Latest reports

Any trail you choose is going to have good parts and not so good ones. Pick this weeks trail and go for it. You may want to have a couple choices in an area, in case parking is limited at one trailhead. What do you want to see this week? Beach, old growth, lava rocks, great views or do you want a steep climb or an easy one? Don't stress about picking the right one, you can't see every trail this year anyway. What sounds great to you? Make that choice and hit the trail. It sure beats 4 hours at work, no matter what. Have a blast!

Apr 23, Heather Lake Trail Review

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 03:26:26 GMT

New Trail Review submitted by: Matina Thank you for sending one in and anyone else that has tips or suggestions for others to enjoy be sure and drop me a line or use the submit trail form. Trail Name: Heather Lake Location: Outside of Granite Falls. distance: 4 miles roundtrip? elevation gain: ? Trail Condition: Depends on the time of year. In the spring there is generally alot of runoff which makes for great waterfalls on the trail but can make things muddy and slippery so always watch your step. Directions to trailhead: When you're heading up Mount Pilchuck there will be a small parking area on the right side, the trailhead is directly accross the street. Trip Details: Your comments: This is one of my favorite hikes ever! I've done it in all seasons and it is magical every time. It goes through different terrain and at one point I didn't believe there was a lake there until suddenly it opens up and there is this beautiful lake nestled at the foot of the mountains. I highly recommend this hike but allow yourself at least 4 hours to fully enjoy it.

Feb 23, Great Tasting Camping Food

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:48:09 GMT

Great article on cooking and camping foods.

Feb 23, Sleeping in Comfort Outdoors

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:38:28 GMT

Some tips for getting a good nights rest on a camping bed.

Feb 23, Backpacking Tips For You

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:57:00 GMT

Some basic tips for the backpacker in a great story.

Feb 23, Why do people go Backpacking

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:41:36 GMT

A brief story on Backpacking's appeal.

Feb 12, Olympic National Park

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:49:13 GMT

This is a great time of year to take a drive over to the coast. There are some good day hikes.

Olympic National Park contains over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast--the largest section of wilderness coast in the lower 48 states.

Archeological and historical records reveal clues about people who have lived here for the past 12,000 years.

Very diverse, Rain Forest, Old Growth, mountains and the Pacific Coast. More details here Olympic Peninsula day hikes

Jan 7, Mount Rainier National Park Winter Activities

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 21:27:46 GMT

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing When there is sufficient snow, Park Rangers or volunteers mark some trails for ski touring and snow shoeing. Check the Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast web site before starting on your trip, whether it is just for the day or for a week. If you will be camping overnight, a Wilderness Permit is required. Pick up your permit at the Longmire Museum. The following routes may be available, depending on snow conditions. All mileages are round trip. Novice Routes: Barn Flats (Unmarked .75 mile) Paradise Valley Road and Sevens Canyon Road to Reflection Lakes (Unmarked 6.75 miles; Prone to avalanches. Be sure to check the avalanche forecast.) Intermediate Routes: Nisqually Vista Loop (Marked 1.25 miles) Edith Creek Basin (Unmarked 1.5 miles) Glacier Vista (Unmarked 3 miles) Mazama Ridge (Unmarked 5.5 miles) Paradise to Narada Falls (Marked 3.25 miles) Advanced Routes: Skyline Loop (Unmarked 6 miles) Camp Muir (Unmarked 9 miles) Caution: Some routes may have short sections of greater difficulty than indicated. Use appropriate caution. Caution: No skiing in snowplay area or on plowed roads. Skiing on plowed roadways is both unsafe and illegal. Whether skiing or walking, stay off plowed roads where you are a vulnerable target for a snowplow or a car skidding out of control. Caution: Be sure to check the Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast web site before starting your trip. Knowledge of the local avalanche danger is extremely important. Be sure to inquire at the Visitor Center or ranger station before you leave. Get a map!: A map of these trails and other unmarked ski routes is available at the Jackson Visitor Center !

Dec 28, Greetings

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 22:04:44 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog. I will be adding posts weekly to keep you informed on the latest hiking news. Stop by soon; Michael

Dec 17, Spokane hiking trails

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 22:38:58 GMT

Some great Spokane hiking trails

Dec 17, Hiking North Cascades National Park

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 22:24:24 GMT

What to do in North Cascades National Park.

Dec 17, Mount St. Helens area hikes

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 22:18:17 GMT

Details on hikes in the Mount St. Helens area

Dec 17, Mount Rainier Hiking

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 22:15:31 GMT

Good sources for information- Mount Rainier Hiking