WTA Hiking Guide

A flat hike through old forests leads to a wide expanse of water. Hyas Lake is actually a pair of pools in the middle of the Cle Elum River. The lower pool is a broad but shallow lake that sprawls nearly all the way across the valley floor and stretches more than a mile from one end to the other. The upper pool is a smaller, even shallower lake. In reality, it's the same lake, but the waters have been divided by a hearty growth of marsh grasses--as the grasses grew, they trapped more and more sediment, until finally a small band of muddy ground stretched across the upper end of the long Hyas Lake, leaving the smaller fragment just a few dozen yards above the lower lake. Plan to venture at least as far as the middle of the lower lake--and the best rest stops are at the upper end of the lake.

The meadows alone make the trek to the top of 6500-foot Green Mountain worth the sweat and energy expended. Acres upon acres of emerald slopes burst with a dazzling display of wildflowers. But it's hard to stay focused on Green Mountain's brilliant floral arrangements when its jaw-dropping scenic sideshow is dominated by the gargantuan snow cone of Glacier Peak. Green Mountain offers one of the finest views in the North Cascades, and did I fail to mention the historical fire lookout to boot?

This is a nice woods trail, but only few views reward the hiker until she/he arrives at Stevens Canyon road in Mt. Rainier N. P. Trail starts alongside a grassy rock slab and works its way to the top of the ridge.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 left this area was inundated with up to 600 feet of mud from the initial landslide, but today is a reminder of nature's strong ability to recover and rebuild. Elk roam the basin, browsing on the lush plant life around the small pothole lakes and ponds.

Spring and fall are the best times to hike Eastern Washington's desert country and Swakane Canyon is an inspired choice. Its rolling hills beckon as you drive north along US 97, and they don't disappoint the few hikers that take the time to visit.

An Olympic classic-bag this peak for one of the most supreme views this side of Hood Canal. From the jagged summit peer deep into the heart of the Olympic wilderness or out across Lake Cushman and Puget Sound to the Cascades spanning the eastern horizon. All of this comes at a price, however-the trail to Ellinor is steep and tough.

You won't find better views anywhere else this close to Seattle. Rattlesnake Ledge is a monolithic block of rock on the eastern end of Rattlesnake Ridge, towering high over the cool waters of Rattlesnake Lake and the Snoqualmie River valley. Looking up from the trailhead, the site is daunting--the rock face looks sheer and impregnable. Fortunately, the cliff face isn't too broad, and hearty Washington Trails Association volunteers have carved a path through the steep forests flanking the rock face. Indeed, the original trail, which was daunting in its own right, has been largely replaced with a new, more secure pathway.

"Paralleling the beautiful Clear Fork of the Cowlitz River, this trail is flat and smooth, making it a wonderful hiking adventure for families with small children or for those who simply want to enjoy the wilderness without a lot of exertion. Over the entire trail length, the elevation gain is less than 300 feet. Walking ease doesn't correspond to a lack of interesting sights, though. The best and most dominant feature of this hike is the ever-beautiful Clear Fork of the Cowlitz River and the smaller Little Lava Creek on the other side of the valley. We enjoy simply listening to the river; watching the cold, clear water roll over the rocks; admiring the thirsty wildlife that gathers on its shores; or casting a fly into the river and feeling the raw energy of the strong, toothy trout that prowl the icy pools and eddies. In addition to the river, the trail leads to Lily Lake, a small mea-dow tarn that is the favorite haunt of muskrats and mule deer.

Don't expect to find much heather growing along the shores of this pretty little subalpine lake. That ubiquitous mountain shrub is pretty hard to find on this hike. But what you can expect to see along the way are some mighty fine old cedars. Expect, too, to be serenaded by babbling brooks, wooed by fine views of Mount Pilchuck's craggy, rocky north face, and charmed by Heather's placid waters. Don't plan on being alone here, however; this easy trail is one of the premier stomping grounds off of the Mountain Loop Highway. On a sunny summer weekend, you'll likely encounter the entire spectrum of the hiking world, from old-timers to neophytes and everyone in between.

Hemlock or Huckleberry would be a more suitable name for this lake, as you'll be hard-pressed finding heather growing along the shores of this backcountry beauty. A misnomer yes, but a lake you'll not want to miss. Cradled beneath knolls of meadows along the Cascade crest and set in a deep forest of primeval proportions, Heather Lake is a pure gem. And the trail is a near delight! But you won't be alone here, as plenty of your fellow hikers are well aware of all of this.

With spectacular groves of old-growth forest, meadows teeming with wildlife, and views of rugged surrounding peaks, the West Fork Humptulips River bottom is one of the most varied of the rainforest valleys. Devoid of visitors and traversing the edge of one of the largest roadless areas in the Olympic National Forest, this hike offers a true wilderness experience. The river must be forded eight times, but if amphibious adventuring is not for you, 1.5 miles of dry trail (and kid-friendly hiking) can be enjoyed year-round from the northern terminus of this hike at the Campbell Tree Grove.

Ain't it Grand! When viewed from a distant vantage point, Grand Park looks as though a scythe sheared off the top of a mountain, leaving a flat, mesalike meadow sprawling across the forested horizon. Stroll into the meadows at the fringe of the broad, table-flat plateau of Grand Park, and it seems as if the vast field of wildflowers stretches endlessly before you. The meadows are occasionally broken by small stands of woodlands, several of which are "silver forests"--the still-standing weathered-gray skeletons of trees killed by forest fire. The "official" access to Grand Park requires a long 14-mile round-trip hike in from Sunrise. That's a beautiful trail, but that long walk gets you only to the edge of the meadows. Better to visit Grand Park by the backdoor.

Venture up a wide and deep valley to peaceful meadows in the heart of the Entiat Mountains. While nearby trails swarm with hikers and horseback riders, you'll more than likely only be sharing this route with ground squirrels and deer and perhaps a shy bear. While any distance along this trail makes for a nice early season wilderness probe, to reach the meadows you must ford Rock Creek twice, which is usually safe only late in the season.

A popular spot in the heart of the Chuckanut Mountains, little Fragrance Lake makes for a fine destination any time of year. On a well-built hiker-only trail through big timber, the way to Fragrance Lake includes a scenic lookout of Samish Bay and a glistening horizon dotted with islands. Loop back on a gentle old fire road and admire a crashing cascade. And if more exercise and exploration are desired, miles of interconnecting trails will more than satisfy. You won't be without company however-folks from Bellingham flock to this "backyard wilderness."

This lesser known trail starts in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and then enters the northeast corner of the park, is snow-free early in the season and goes through some amazing old growth.

Too many people think you have to be in the national park to enjoy Mount Rainier. This quaint trail dispels that myth quite effectively. It ambles easily through forest and meadow, passing pretty woodland lakes and climbing to the high vantage point once utilized by professional fire watchers. Now, lest you ask, the unusual name is truly unique: the name is attributed to two families who climbed to the summit in 1897. The proud fathers of the Mesler and LaWall families pulled the first initial of each of their combined children and created the name: Burgon, Elizabeth, Lucy, Jessie, Isabel, Clara, and Alex. As the trail lies outside the national park, it is dog friendly.

Venture up a valley as wild as any in the adjacent national park. Marvel at the sheer height, girth, and biomass of some of the biggest trees you'll ever lay eyes on. Watch in awe as the churning, tumbling Upper South Fork Skokomish crashes and squeezes through a narrow box canyon. And while the Upper South Fork lacks federal wilderness protection, this area is nothing but pure Olympic wilderness.

Duncan Hill? At 7819 feet, Duncan is no hill. It's a bona fide reach-for-the-clouds mountain. And the views? No mere hill would be able to grant such a panoramic perspective of the Entiat and Chelan ranges, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount Stuart, the Chiwaukums, the Whites, Bonanza-you get the picture. Hill indeed!

Saunter to Windy Pass on a clear summer day and ask yourself a simple question. Does it get any better than this? Watch shadows cast by cotton-candy clouds dance across an awe-inspiring landscape of deep dark valleys and emerald ridges. Admire endless columns of icy and rocky spiraling peaks piercing the cobalt sky. Walk mesmerized through rapturous alpine gardens; waves of dazzling wildflowers gently swaying in warm breezes. Look out across some of the wildest wilderness remaining on the North American continent and let your senses whirl. Yet, you've hardly broken a sweat getting here. No, it doesn't get any better than this.

After the Tyee wildfire roared over Miners Ridge in 1994 (but spared its summit), the Forest Service abandoned this easy-to-hike, flower-studded, view-filled ridgeline hike. What a shame. The tread is still intact, the views and flowers are still there, wildlife is prolific, and people are scarce. The only prob-lem-and it's a big one-is fighting your way around hundreds of downed trees before reaching the inviting meadows that drape the ridge.

The path to Pratt Lake was once a braided super highway, at times more than 10 feet wide. Hardly the stuff of wilderness. But Washington Trails Association (WTA) volunteers stepped in and rebuilt the trail. Not only did they rebuild the tread to channel all hikers onto the proper path, they decommissioned all the unauthorized secondary trails, creating a new single track worthy of a pristine wild area. Hikers can now stroll easily up this picturesque trail to the pretty Pratt Lake basin.

A fine trail for those willing to climb to get to great views in a remote part of the North Cascades National Park. Best done as a side trip off an overnight trip from Rainy Pass to Stehekin, or something similar.

Steep, hot, and dusty is an accurate description of this hike up the western edge of the Monte Cristo Range, but the views from the summit of Little Huckleberry Mountain are astoundingly beautiful. And don't be fooled by the name-there is nothing little about the big, juicy huckleberries you gobble down while plodding along the ridge trail. From the trail, you'll enjoy views east to Mount Adams, and south to Oregon's Mount Hood. The 9-mile long black scar of the Big Lava Bed can also be viewed to the west. The trail starts in cool forests where you'll find the berry bushes thick and heavy with fruit, but the best picking is near the top of the trail, where more sun reaches the berries, creating sweeter, juicier delights for you and the resident birds and bears.

England may have Winchester Cathedral, but here in Washington State we have Winchester Mountain, in the natural cathedral of the North Cascades. From the restored lookout perched atop this heavenly peak, praise boundless beauty beaming before you. Sparkling lakes, shining snowfields, and rows of mountain spires separated by deep emerald valleys-simply divine. And best of all, just a little physical sacrifice is required on this moderate hike.

Mountain rivers are magical, crystal-clear ribbons that inundate your senses. They can be cool massages for your feet. They offer delicate music for your eyes, sparkling flashes in the alpine sunlight. When properly treated, they offer needed refreshment for thirsty hikers. The Middle Fork Teanaway River offers all this and more. as it tumbles through a gorgeous mountain valley, home and habitat to a variety of birds, beasts and, yes, bugs. This riverside trail passes through rich valley meadows, grand old forests, and comfortable campsites for those who can't resist the chance to stay longer than a single day.

Because of this route's high trailhead, much of your elevation gain is done before you start walking, meaning you can enjoy a high ridge route with relatively modest effort. The trail rambles along the ridge, rolling up and down with wildflowers underfoot and views stretching for hundreds of miles--as far south as Mount Rainier and north to Mount Stuart. The big rock of Diamond Head stands to the east. This trail is open to motorcycle use, so visit midweek to minimize the chance of running into these noisy beasts.

Cougar Lakes boast gently sloped sandy banks, perfect for swimming and sunning after a long dusty hike. Once you've tired of swimming, spend some time foraging for ripe huckleberries--plentiful when in season--or simply scan the talus slopes below House Rock, looking for the ever-present white specks of mountain goats that balance on precarious perches high above green meadows. Don't see any goats? Well, then pull your gaze off the cliffs and scan the meadows below the talus. See any brown blobs moving through the greenery? These are likely big mule deer or possibly even some of the resident elk that make the greater Bumping River basin their home.

Tucked in tight folds, big basins, and rocky cirques high above the West Fork Foss River are a bevy of big, beautiful alpine lakes-one of the highest concentrations of alpine lakes in the entire Alpine Lakes Wilderness, actually. You can spend days here, and many do, but day hiking to several of these aquatic gems isn't out of the question. Just prepare for a tough slog over rough terrain. And prepare for some of the finest alpine scenery this side of Stevens Pass.