Trip Reports
You — and other hikers from across the Northwest — have posted 44,367 Trip Reports to date. Search Trip Reports to find out where others are hiking and learn about current trail conditions.
You may also write a Trip Report or search the WTA Hiking Guide to learn more details about hikes.
Showing
2410
trip reports
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- East
Expand report text
Hide report text
Went up for a simple spring day hike with the girlfriend and the dog. We got to the Big Creek Camp ...
Went up for a simple spring day hike with the girlfriend and the dog. We got to the Big Creek Camp area around 10. Had to park at the main gate due to The camp being closed. It was a perfect sunny spring day with temp expected to be 70. The trail is in great condition no mud and no blow downs. Took a lunch break on one of the many benches located next to one of the many creeks for lunch about half way on the loop. Perfect day for the perfect hike on the perfect trail.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Silver Star via Grouse Vista Trail head.
Beautiful evening hike.
No flowers yet.
1st mile li...
Silver Star via Grouse Vista Trail head.
Beautiful evening hike. No flowers yet. 1st mile little to no snow 2nd mile 70% snow 3rd mile 98% snow I did sink up to my waist only once. Other than that its a 3 to 6 inch depressions per step. Most of the snow holds you up fine. Going up in with the hike being covered in snow kicked our butts I must say. I had to look back at the website to see the distance because it felt more like 4+ miles one way. We started out at 5pm and returned to our truck hiking the last mile with flash lights as it was about 8:45 when we returned. I did enjoy hiking down in the snow. If you have joints that don't fare very well decending, its kind of nice actually. I found myself choosing the snow over solid ground on the way down. Great hike. I've done Hamlton Mt, Table Mountain (cloudy day), and Dog Mountain and I must say I think this had the best views from the top. I'll post a couple pics. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Issaquah Alps
Wildflowers blooming
Mud/Rockslide, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
We started the hike at the Central Park trail head and were hiking with two Standard Poodles. The d...
We started the hike at the Central Park trail head and were hiking with two Standard Poodles. The day was beautiful - balmy and sunny. The hike was lovely with flowers blooming and all the new green leaves and ferns. There were places with mud and water on the trail, but most places were still passable. Only one or two places were really sloppy. Our biggest issue was with all the mountain bikers. We hiked 11.5 miles of this 14 mile trail and did not see one other person on foot. The bikers sometimes surprise you coming around turns and it make for a nerve-wracking hike with my dogs. We will likely hike this trail again, next time from Duthie Hills Park, but will not do with with our dogs.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- East
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Clogged drainage, Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
If you prefer pics to words, they’re at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51278183@N05/sets/7215763331...
If you prefer pics to words, they’re at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/.
Thanks, Bob & Barb for you report warning us to keep our eyes peeled for the trailhead! (we plan to take your recommendation to check out Shady Lane another day) The directions in Romano’s book (and WTA trail description) are accurate, but we paid careful attention due to prior trip reports about missing the trail head. After the pavement ends on FS 24, the gravel road is 25 mph. That was about our top speed due to potholes lying in wait in the shadows across the road. That said, we made it fine in our Prius, so I’d say pretty much any car is ok. The causeway/bridge across the north end of Lake Cushman is still barred by the locked, yellow gate. You can park at the gate (please keep to the side as residents must get through the gate) and walk to the trailhead, just on the other side of the lake and to the left. There’s a red gate there and a trail sign after that. The first part of the trail is on a road with private cabins skirting the northwest side of the lake. After that, it climbs up the hill through forest, away from the lake but always within sound of the creek. This is a very well-built trail, but it needs some TLC for limbs, small trees (many!), drainage issues (2-3 more serious ones), and general treadwork. I’d love to help maintain this trail if WTA hosts some weekend crews here! Best reasons to do this trail right now? 1) TONS of trillium; I mean obscene amounts, 2) we were the only people on the entire trail (seen or heard), and 3) you can take your pooch (on leash – there are cougars). (Not so) Dry Creek is raging, and we chose not to ford it. It was 3.9 miles after the yellow gate where we parked on FS 24 and a great place for lunch. On the way back we went down to the campsite we saw a sign for just shy of 1 ½ miles from the trailhead sign-in. We had to cross a small section of blowdowns and follow a pretty messy (branches, small trees, water, tread damage) trail down to the lake. SOOOOOO worth it! The views of Mts. Rose, Ellinor, Washington are great, there’s a sandy beach, we saw ducks and Canada geese and a bald eagle! The lake is still a little chilly even in the shallows (I only went just past my knees as there was a stiff breeze and I’m not yet in “always remember dry clothes” mode). That could have been because it’s right where Dry Creek flows into it. Regardless, it’s a lovely beach on which to melt in the sun and laugh at a puppy’s antics for a few hours. In addition to copious trillium, we saw bleeding heart, salmonberry, yellow violet, and even a couple of calypso orchid!! The fawn lily and false Solomon’s seal are not yet blooming, also maybe Hooker’s fairy bells? A great hike on an over-the-top gorgeous spring day!! |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Overgrown, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
Headed up here hoping for a short and easy walk into my favorite Wild Sky. I noticed that a comment ...
Headed up here hoping for a short and easy walk into my favorite Wild Sky. I noticed that a comment on the Hiking with my Brother site said it was clear by mid May last year; I thought with the lower snowpack this year, we'd be OK now. Unfortunately, the road was snowed in probably just less than half a mile from the trailhead, as was the rest of the trail.
We went ahead and walked up and continued down the trail. Probably less about a mile up the trail, there is quite a disaster of blowdowns and overgrowth. I went into "the jungle" about 100 feet and then could see it only got worse, so we turned around and headed down. A bit disappointing but still a nice little walk. If you want to go up, I would recommend wearing YakTrax (or similar) and taking treking poles to help with the snow. Snowshoes are unnecessary. Also, there were several drainages where the trail is washed out; they took some minor scrambling to get through, so keep that in mind before taking the kids and/or grandpa. Anyway, I suspect this trail'll need a few weeks of melting and then a full work party before it's back to the way it's described. I'm looking forward to trying it again. It's a beautiful spot! |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Will, Dyla (My son's dog), and I adventured up to Mailbox Peak on Monday. We are park of a group, Cl...
Will, Dyla (My son's dog), and I adventured up to Mailbox Peak on Monday. We are park of a group, Climbers with a Purpose (CWAP), striving to summit Mount Rainer in July, raising funds for Planet Changers (clean water wells in Uganda).
The weather could not have been better - crystal clear and temps in the 40's. One encounters numerous rocks and spreading tree roots underfoot - hiking poles are needed, as well as good hiking shoes. It is a challenging uphill trail, and we encountered muddy sections, before reaching he snow level at 3800 ft, requiring us to stop and get the MicroSpikes on. Of course, Dyla has "all paw" drive and had no issues with the climb. The climb was challenging, but if you are experienced and in good shape, it is definitely achievable. The views on the way up and at the top are breathtaking. Rainier stands out in her splendor, and the other mountain ranges are truly amazing from this height. The trip down was a different story. Even with traction devices, one would slip on the slushy base under the top snow level, from snow melt and hikers on the trail. The mud below the snow level and the wet tree roots also made traction difficult. Then there was the pounding on your knees on the steep declines... We enjoyed the hike to the top and the wonderful views, but the trip down was difficult, and our knees are still sore. Of course a few slips and strains on the knees did not help them. Even Dyla was tired when we got down - she could not wait to get home and take her nap! |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- West Slope
Blowdowns, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Reading the other trip reports there's not to much to add that has not already been said. I must say...
Reading the other trip reports there's not to much to add that has not already been said. I must say the waterfalls are spectacular and the trails in great shape. First time I took the 5 and a half month old Yorkie pup into the actual wilderness and Zoey loved it. Since it was her first time I only went as far as the waterfalls. Been taking her on park trails close to home until today. I did read that this trail once went to Three Fingers. Has anyone looked for the old trail at the end of this one?
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Wildflowers blooming
Mud/Rockslide, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
The entrance to the trail was a bit muddy. The trail was damp and muddy but it was alright. The day ...
The entrance to the trail was a bit muddy. The trail was damp and muddy but it was alright. The day was gorgeous, so once we arrived at the field it was beautiful. As we finally reached the point, we saw many people with their chutes launching from the pad. It was a great day to see them fly!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
We were able to drive to just short of the parking lot which is still snow covered. The first half o...
We were able to drive to just short of the parking lot which is still snow covered. The first half of the trail up to Talapus Lake is mostly snow free and can easily be hiked with just boots. Talapus lake is still frozen over almost completely.
After Talapus we backtracked to a bridge across the river to Ollalie Lake. The bridge was a little tricky as it is still completely covered in snow but we we able to cross fairly easily. The trip up towards Ollalie Lake required snowshoes but was pretty easy going. Ollalie is also still almost completely frozen over besides the outlet. Considered trying to continue on to Island and Rainbow Lakes but decided to save that for another day. Recommend this as an easier, beginner snowshoe especially to avoid the crowds this area attracts during the summer months. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- Coast
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
Stunningly beautiful and mercifully free of crowds (this time of year in the spring), Ruby Beach is ...
Stunningly beautiful and mercifully free of crowds (this time of year in the spring), Ruby Beach is excellent for exploring tide pools and beach life. It's a great place to sit and stare as well, reflecting on the beauty of the area. It's not a real "trail hike", unless you walk on the beach (which you can do for miles).
NOTE: The Cedar Creek, which feed into the sea, is a full blast right now in spring, so if you want to cross to the North and explore the big sea stacks, be prepared to ford the creek - meaning: you will get wet. It's about three feet deep right now (4/2013) and flowing hard. If you don't cross it, you can't explore some of the most beautiful sea stacks in the area. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Issaquah Alps
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
It was rainy and slushy but the flora was fresh & beautiful. Me and my friend took the Little Si Tra...
It was rainy and slushy but the flora was fresh & beautiful. Me and my friend took the Little Si Trail to the Boulder Garden Loop- first turn to the right and hiked up the hill past the lovely mossy boulders. About a mile up, we turned right and headed up to summit Mt Si via the old trail. Great work out and beautiful views. Totally recommend this hike!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
The bridge didnt have as much water on it as it did 2weeks ago, same for the creek that you cross wi...
The bridge didnt have as much water on it as it did 2weeks ago, same for the creek that you cross with the logs. 2 weeks ago it was flowing quickly and the logs were wet and slippery. Trail ends at 1.2mi. Great views of Castle Rock and the rock climbers as well as the river which is running fast.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns, Clogged drainage, Mud/Rockslide, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
This trail is still very snowy. The last third was covered in at least a couple of feet of snow, and...
This trail is still very snowy. The last third was covered in at least a couple of feet of snow, and snowshoes or spikes are needed. Today was foggy with rain and snow, so there weren't any views. The little parking area was already getting full by the time we showed up at 8am, but this trail wasn't crowded.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Olympics -- North
Blowdowns, Mud/Rockslide, Mudholes, Bugs
Expand report text
Hide report text
Trail was great for the most part. There were some muddy areas as well as some areas where there had...
Trail was great for the most part. There were some muddy areas as well as some areas where there had been apparent rock slides but everything was fairly easy to navigate. In fact, there were a few areas where a secondary trail was made around areas of high mud, etc.
The view was beautiful on the lake and it was great weather overall to be out there. It started to rain about our last 1/4 mile but other than that it was easy in/easy out. We left our car around 11am and we didn't see anyone on the way out until the 4-mile turnaround. On the way back we saw considerably more groups (5-8 in total) and one mountain biker - perhaps it's more of an afternoon trail? There were kids with two families and we had our dogs. People were very friendly to the dogs and they were the only ones we saw. We did end up with one tick on one dog though so be aware. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
Wildflowers blooming
No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
This has got to be the best hike in terms of spectacular scenery. Just outside of Leavenworth in Pes...
This has got to be the best hike in terms of spectacular scenery. Just outside of Leavenworth in Peshatin. This hike doesnt take long to climb but you see views of the Enchantments almost immediately. As you climb higher the views continue to expand and you can see Glacier Peak on a clear day. Wildflowers are in bloom, esp the Balsamroot and many others. Dont forget to buy a Ladybug rock at the trailhead painted by Mrs. Sauer. Mr Sauer might be out doing a little parking directing with his dog Blue but very nice people to allow hikers to use his property to access this magnificent trail.
The first 1/3 and the last 1/3 of this hike are steep and the middle is relatively flat as you hike the saddle before reaching the peak. The view is worth every step. From trailhead to the peak RT is 5.5 mi including the loop trail that comes out with spectacular views of the mountains and Leavenworth below. The trail is maintained very well and easy to follow |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
We didn't make it to the top, but it still made for some cool photographs. The trail is still under ...
We didn't make it to the top, but it still made for some cool photographs. The trail is still under a substantial amount of snow, and we were w/out snowshoes.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Hello humans! This is Henry the Mountain Dog! I go hiking with my humans a lot! This hike was tons o...
Hello humans! This is Henry the Mountain Dog! I go hiking with my humans a lot! This hike was tons of fun! Even though my humans (mommy and 13 year old) were prepared for water, EVERYONE was muddy from the knees down. I suggest you bring a towel to wipe down after hiking and snacks. And doggy bags! Overall there were few people on this trail and it was a fun hike if you can beat the mud!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
One might say it was not the best day for a hike! But then again the more rain, the less people :) T...
One might say it was not the best day for a hike! But then again the more rain, the less people :) There were no children or pets in our party, but there were quite a few seen. Mostly low falls hikers.
We started our hike in the rain, and ended it in the rain. Most of the trail was pretty wet, obviously. We passed a few people coming down, but pretty much had it to ourselves. No one was traversing to the high falls (except us). There are a lot of actual stairs on this hike. Great views on Low Falls, Middle Falls and High Falls. The visibility was great from high falls, there was a cool fog rolling over the hills. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
We arrived just before noon on Saturday and there were many people on the trail. A lot of families a...
We arrived just before noon on Saturday and there were many people on the trail. A lot of families and folks with dogs. The trail was damp in some places but a great hike overall!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
South Cascades -- Chinook Pass - Enumclaw or Hwy 410 area
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
One tree down at the beginning of the trail (still) at the first switchback, but there is a cut trai...
One tree down at the beginning of the trail (still) at the first switchback, but there is a cut trail allowing the switchback and fallen tree to be avoided. Trail clear and beautiful, with only a patch or two of snow to navigate. Beyond Ranger Viewpoint, 5 additional switchbacks can be navigated snow free, but snow gets deep at about 3,900' (according to my Garmin). Last 1,000' to the top won't be clear likely until early May, like in 2012. On May 15, 2012, we did the entire loop (Ranger/Pallisades) and there was still snow for about .5 miles from the Cabin to the edge of the Pallisades trail.
On 4/20/13 no wildflowers or budding of trees yet, but beautiful nonetheless. LOTS of Elk pellets the entire route, and Grouse drumming the whole way up. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
I started the hike to Lily and Lizard Lakes from just below the upper parking lot. It was a gradual ...
I started the hike to Lily and Lizard Lakes from just below the upper parking lot. It was a gradual climb up to Lizard Lake and the trails were in good shape, although muddy. It was obvious some maintenance had been done on this trail with little culverts directing the water away from the trail. I went past Lizard Lake and continued down the British Army Trail until it reached a road, where I turned around. It was a steep climb back up to Lizard Lake, but the view through the trees of the valley below was beautiful. I stopped for lunch at Lizard Lake and had a pleasant chat with two women hikers from Bellingham.
I hit the trail again, following Max's Shortcut and the PNT past Lily Lake. That lake seemed pretty overgrown compared to the lovely Lizard Lake. Max's Shortcut did not seem to be as well maintained, with lots of mud and roots. I took the Larry Reed Trail back over to the Lily Lake and Lizard Lake Trail, and had to go around a pretty large blowdown. There was a note at the DNR sign in box about this blow down, that horses can not get around it. I was able to, but any one with horses will want to avoid Larry Reed until that tree is cleared out. Overall, it was a great day for a hike. I was expecting it to rain, but only encountered a few drops. I had to cross a few little creeks running across the trail, but managed to mostly keep my feet dry. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
We left Vancouver around six a.m. and were the first to arrive at the trailhead, my dog Zoey, hiking...
We left Vancouver around six a.m. and were the first to arrive at the trailhead, my dog Zoey, hiking buddy Gavin, and his dog Kember all excited for the day ahead. Poison oak was plentiful and our dogs certainly found their way into most of whatever we passed. We started up abandoned Hwy 8 for the Labyrinth Trail under the morning sun, pausing to take pictures of the numerous wildflower species in bloom. The trail through the Labyrinth was the highlight of the trip, aside from the sheer cliffs of the wall itself. We explored the small cave and, using a flashlight, found some gypsum growing in the back of it. We also made the dogs wash themselves off in the stream by the small waterfall, but this would ultimately prove futile as there was poison oak everywhere during the whole hike and they seemed quite adept at diving into it. We took pictures of the bright yellow moss, the oak forests, basalt columns, and eventually made our way to the bottom of the cliffs. We followed the looping bike trails up the hill, fighting a strong wind and stopping periodically to peer over the edge. We found a gopher snake under some old boards and a ridiculously photogenic fence lizrard, and we passed through the forest to a road we spied at the top of the hill. Here we stopped for lunch before making our way down the road all the way until it passed a house and joined a main road. We turned around and found a salamander and some more wildflowers before heading back on the Crybaby trail. I started down the trail to the valley, but got a bit lost and decided to hike back above the cliffs rather than below them and made a tough climb back up to the main trail. We followed the trail back to where we had crossed over to the road before and did the same thing, again pausing to for some food. We headed down the road in the opposite direction this time and soon found ourselves ion private land, passing by a young vinyard on the way. We eventually made our way downhill through a beautiful open pasture while the dogs chased each other through the fields of wildflowers. I found a tick crawling on me and we spotted dozens of hikers headed down the ridge of the cliffs. We decided to wait for the crowds to pass and stopped for trail mix while we watched the people pass from afar. We headed back down the trail, this time taking the Coyote Wall trail and we found ourselves cursing the bikers are their swooping S shaped trails. We cut through the meadows when we could, passing bikers and hikers alike until finally making it down to Hwy 8 again. We stopped to let the dogs swim in the lake and hopefully wash some of the oil off and we saw an osprey guarding its catch from a covetous crow. The osprey flew right above us with a big trout in its talons. We covered about 13 miles according to Gavin's pedometer app, and arrived back to a packed trailhead. Although I had intended on parking courteously, I ended up looking like an asshole since my car was parked perpendicularly to every other car around it. Over all it was a great trip and we stopped for beers and sandwiches on the drive back.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
We hiked a loop starting at the North Trailhead, down the Yakima Rim Skyline Trail, then right along...
We hiked a loop starting at the North Trailhead, down the Yakima Rim Skyline Trail, then right along Roza road to Birdsong Spring and back to Jacob Durr road where we returned to the North Trailhead.
Drove in to the North Trailhead in our VW Passat, which was very rough. Had I known the state of the road, I would not have subjected my vehicle (or any normal clearance, two-wheel drive vehicle) to the trip -- in fact, I consider us lucky that we didn't get ourselves into trouble (car took a beating though). Once at the trailhead (a small pullout with a trail heading off perpendicular to the road), the weather was fair (slight wind, clear skies) and the trail was fine (rocky in places, but dry and easy enough). We hiked approximately four miles before settling for lunch on one of the many hilltops that we ambled across. After walking up and down a number of small peaks, the trail petered out and it took us a few minutes to find our way -- a downed, "closed to vehicles" sign was the best marker we found. From there, the trail descended steeply towards the river on very rough and rocky road -- this was not pleasant with our packs on our backs. From there we headed to Birdsong Spring, which was gorgeous though water was a bit more challenging to come by than we'd hoped. Once we'd built a small rock edge for the stream to run over, it actually proved quite easy. We camped here for two nights, relaxing under the gnarly old tree and then headed out back to Jacob Durr road and to our car, completing the loop. Wildflowers were out, but not remarkable. All in all, the hike was pleasant and a nice respite from the weather back in Seattle. Trail was at times a bit unclear to find, the descent along the skyline trail a bit rough (mile or so), and the drive along Jacob Durr road to the North Trailhead rougher than we would of liked. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Expand report text
Hide report text
Personally I find the oyster dome trail to be less than exciting - the other side of Blanchard mt ha...
Personally I find the oyster dome trail to be less than exciting - the other side of Blanchard mt has far more charming trails. On the plus side, views of the bay and islands are fantastic, and its a good workout. Best of all it has no snow most of the year! Thanks to an enormous amount of volunteer trail maintainence the trail is in great shape! Very little mud to speak of - I enjoyed an early season hike in tennis shoes, and still finished the trail in dry shoes. Probably not a good weekend choice because parking is minimal at best. If there's no parking on Chuckanut drive and you have a burning desire to see the views you can always circle around Blanchard mt and drive up to the Samish overlook. I would estimate this would cut off about 1000' of elevation gain too - not a bonus in my book.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Snow on trail, Bugs, Avalanche danger
Expand report text
Hide report text
Last weekend's snow has melted out to the old snow line - which starts roughly 3/4 of a mile before ...
Last weekend's snow has melted out to the old snow line - which starts roughly 3/4 of a mile before the lake - and there is a LOT. At lake serene I would estimate at least 8 feet in places, certainly not less than 6 feet. There is so much snow it's not possible to take the summer trail, instead after the last stream crossing you have to climb steeply to a small ridge that overlooks the lake and then head down into the lake basin. The last stream crossing that can be tricky some years is in great shape this year - a very low snow bridge, with no bank the way it's been in the past few years. Avalanches on the far side of the lake ate spectacular, as they are every spring. Snowshoes would be useful for the very last stretch, but at the very least traction and or poles are required - unless you're very brave, and very sure footed. The rest of the trail is in great condition, no real mud to speak of (this is April, prime mud season after all) and all the blow downs are easily navigable.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Nice little hike. Trail is in excellent condition and well maintained. The nicest thing about this...
Nice little hike. Trail is in excellent condition and well maintained. The nicest thing about this hike is it is close in, and can be hiked quickly. It would be a great hike to do at the end of a stressful day at work.
As others mentioned, the tunnel leading underneath the railroad tracks is covered in water, and effectively impassable. There are a couple solutions to this. First, you could bring along some high waterproof boots and probably negotiate the water successfully. Second, you can climb two fences and cross a couple of railroad tracks. DO NOT DO THIS! People are regularly killed along this stretch of railroad by fast moving trains. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Trail was clear for about a 3rd, slush for about another 3rd, and then packed snow for the top snow....
Trail was clear for about a 3rd, slush for about another 3rd, and then packed snow for the top snow. Plenty of people on the trail for a weekday though then again it was spring break for some schools.
I found a receiver for a portable radio system. Message me if you've lost one. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Bridge out, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Went on this hike with my wife and dog in the afternoon. Perfect weather! Got some great pictures, m...
Went on this hike with my wife and dog in the afternoon. Perfect weather! Got some great pictures, my dog had a blast exploring, and the whole hike took less than 4 hours round-trip.
This wasn't the most strenuous hike I've been on, but we did have to take a couple breaks on the way up, which provided good opportunities to take more pictures. There were a few mini-waterfalls that flowed over the trail early on, a bridge was down but there was a way to get around it anyway, and there was a lot of snow up near the top of the trail. This would be a great beginner-intermediate hiking trail for anybody who is interested in experiencing the snow still and wants to see an awesome landscape of a snowy lake with more mountain behind it. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Trail was clear through the road portion, spotty snow mixed with mud/ice appearing about 1/2 way up ...
Trail was clear through the road portion, spotty snow mixed with mud/ice appearing about 1/2 way up the final mile switchbacking to Teneriffe Falls. Timid folks may want to wait for the snow to melt, which will hopefully be soon!) or bring poles as you can't easily use traction devices on the trail as it is blasted talus chunks.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
I drove most of the way in the dark and reached sunset campground around sunrise. The road to the tr...
I drove most of the way in the dark and reached sunset campground around sunrise. The road to the trailhead was snowed out about a half mile from the trail head so I backed out and parked on a landing less than a mile from the trailhead. I hadn't brought snowshoes so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the snow was still frozen and the crust was thick enough to at least partially support my weight. There were bear tracks in the snow leading up to the trailhead that appeared to be a few days old. It was a clear morning and the views north were great. There was snow the whole way with varying depths but the hiking was surprisingly easy. I made it up to the trail junction and a tremendous view of Starway Canyon in the early morning shade.There was no trail sign for Ed's trail that I saw, but I followed a small path to the left to get up to a rocky plateau and great views of Adams, St. Helen's, and Rainier. I followed the road uphill to the left and attempted to follow this road all the way up to the first false summit. I climbed up the steep north face to get pictures of Sturgeon Rock and Silver Star, but decided to try for the summit another day since the forgiving ice crust was melting and I was starting to sink deeper into the snow. I made my way back the same way, fighting a strong wind on the way down from the false summit. This area looks like a great place for back country skiing, as Silver Star has multiple peaks, cliffs, and chutes. I'm planning a back country trip for a clear day in December or January, but I would also like to hike this when the snow melts.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
The trail is well maintained. I would rate it as a moderate+ Walk, or a Easy+ Hike. The trail is goo...
The trail is well maintained. I would rate it as a moderate+ Walk, or a Easy+ Hike. The trail is good, the elevation change can be a chore, but well worth it. Glutes and Thighs! The view is phenomenal. Angel and I (at least I) want to hike to East point lookout when we have more time. Would like to do the whole Ridge, but with no camping not sure we could do 20+ miles in a day! A lot of people on the trail from trail runners to people I'm not sure made it to the ledge, but not too crowded. Well worth the trip.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- Mount Baker Highway
Blowdowns, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
The road to the trailhead is still unaccessable due to snow so we parked at the picnic area just off...
The road to the trailhead is still unaccessable due to snow so we parked at the picnic area just off the Mount Baker Highway and hiked the two and a half miles on the forest roads to the trailhead. There are many blow-downs on the forest roads and even once the snow has melted away they will require some maintenance before they will be driveable.
The first second of the trail is a lot of steep switchbacking but there was very little snow allowing us to hike a little faster. Though there were no other tracks and no signs of people for awhile the trail was still fairly easy to follow. After the first mile and a half or so on the trail the snow gets pretty deep requiring snowshoes. We did not quite make it all the way to the summit due to how hard it was to hike in such deep snow carrying all of our backpacking stuff but we did find a nice spot to camp a little ways down. A foot of fresh snow fell overnight and the next morning there was quite a bit more snow on the trail. It will be quite a while before this trail melts out but it was a fairly nice snowshoe. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Bridge out
Expand report text
Hide report text
I've done almost all the Tiger Mt trails/areas but this one was new. The dog and I headed up here ho...
I've done almost all the Tiger Mt trails/areas but this one was new. The dog and I headed up here hoping for a casual leg stretcher after a big weekend of ski touring.
The trail was beautiful - well maintained and virtually mud free. It starts out pretty easy, then up some switchbacks that'll warm you up, then a nice stroll through a beautiful forest. Pretty much classic Tiger Mt. There were several trail junctions that weren't in the description. Just "stay straight" on the TMT, don't turn onto the signed ones. WARNING: The bridge over High Point Creek is out. The creek is running high right now, so crossing is a bit tricky. I just skipped across and the gore-tex boots kept me dry. DO NOT try to cross on the log just downriver of the bridge, it's extremely slippery and you will end up in the drink. Haha, my feet may have been dry, my pants, not so much. On this slightly drizzly weekday, we only ran into five other hikers - that was nice. I was disappointed that there was no specific viewpoint or destination, so we probably won't do it again. But for people living nearby, I would say it's a nice easy dose of woods. Also, with the high quality of the trail, no fancy gear is needed and/or it would make an excellent run. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
If you were out for a quiet Monday climb to Rattlesnake Ledge, you may have been in for a surprise. ...
If you were out for a quiet Monday climb to Rattlesnake Ledge, you may have been in for a surprise. Mike Owens, Washington Trails Association's iconic Puget Sound area crew leader, has retired after 13 years of work. In celebration of Mike, a group of more than 50 volunteers, land managers and staff hiked with Mike to the ledge.
Along the way, Mike regaled us hikers of the story of the Rattlesnake Trail. He was a crew leader back in the early 2000s when this trail was built. WTA constructed the bottom two-thirds of the new trail which is now one of the most popular hikes in the area. Around every turn, Mike told of us the heroics of the volunteers: those that pushed huge boulders off the path, constructed water bars and steps, and engineered curves and rock walls along the trail. This was all 10 or 11 years ago, and the fact that the trail is still in such great shape despite thousands of bootprints, is testament to the hard work everyone poured into the trail. It was fun to walk this trail slowly and appreciate the engineering. It was also great to see little signs of spring sprouting along the trail. I spotted a few trillium and several clumps of yellow evergreen violets. Sun made a sporadic appearance, illuminating the forest and showcasing just how beautiful this trail is. And the view from the top, where our enormous party had lunch, is one of the very best in the Cascade foothills. We returned to our vehicles after lunch, lingering to say thank you to Mike Owens. He has touched the lives of thousands of volunteers over his tenure and helped maintain probably 100 or more trails in his long, rich time with WTA. Rattlesnake Ledge is one of WTA's signature projects over the past 20 years. To read more about the 20th anniversary of this program, visit: http://www.wta.org/[…]/20-years-in-trail-maintenance-1993-2013 |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
It turned out to be a beautiful day for a hike. The sun made an appearance and the rain held off unt...
It turned out to be a beautiful day for a hike. The sun made an appearance and the rain held off until we were back in the car and headed home. Had a late morning start so we ran into a few groups of hikers on their way out as we were heading up. The waterfalls were pretty and it eventually opened up toward the top for some panoramic views. There is supposed to be a looped trail you can do but we somehow missed a trail turn off and ended up hiking along the equestrian trail. This meant we had to walk out to the road and walk along the shoulderless road back to the trail head parking lot or track back along the trail and end up hiking out in the dark. We opted for the road.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Wildflowers blooming
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Definitely a great hike. This was our first hike of the year. It was fairly strenuous, I had never d...
Definitely a great hike. This was our first hike of the year. It was fairly strenuous, I had never done this one before. A lot of uphill, with very small and infrequent relief points.
The trail was clearing up, however on April 13th it got some added rain. This caused the trail to be a bit muddy again (slight amounts of snow towards the top). Not as bad as some of the previous reports I've been reading. It was difficult to keep from getting in it, but it wasn't dispiriting. On the way down I didn't care anymore and trudged right through! Since it was a nice day, there were quite a few groups we passed. Children, dogs, trail runners, people of all ages (although not crowded). The view from the top was gorgeous and clear. You could see all the way to the Bellevue cityscape and beyond. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
South Cascades -- Chinook Pass - Enumclaw or Hwy 410 area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Still a lot of snow in the trees and on the trail. But also really starting to melt off. Very glad f...
Still a lot of snow in the trees and on the trail. But also really starting to melt off. Very glad for my oiled leather hat, saved my old noggin a few times. The hike was a definite Moderate+ with the snow on the trail and the elevation change, but the trail is in good shape. Angel had no problems until we got to the top. When we started up the last switch I could start to hear a roar, and just as we came to the last bend it was a definite roar. When I saw the falls I exclaimed "WOW!" before I know what I was doing. Absolutely stupendous.
The stream was rushing pretty hard and covered with snow. We could not find the path, and the snow was at Angels chest, so she wasn't too keen on trying to get across. So we turned back. We look forward to doing the entire hike later in the season. As it was, we added White River Trail, and Buck Creek trails to get some added yardage. Met an amiable young man and his dog Bailey. All in all a good spring hike. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
Mudholes
Expand report text
Hide report text
This is a nice easy hike, all in forest. About half the hike includes filtered views of the Sauk Ri...
This is a nice easy hike, all in forest. About half the hike includes filtered views of the Sauk River, with occasional full on "raging river" views. Be careful - falling in could be fatal. The trail was almost deserted. My hiking companion, her dog, and I met one other group of 5 joggers and a dog going the other way, and that was it.
There were indeed no signs for the parking lot at the trailhead. After the Clear Creek campground there is a bridge. Don't park at the wide spot in the road before the bridge. Instead go about a quarter to a half mile past the bridge, and the parking lot is on the left. We were not on horseback, but I do have a couple notes for equestrians. I noticed some rather deep hoofprints, like 5 or 6 inches deep. The trail was plenty firm for human walking, but it looks like your horse may dig in a bit. If your horse is skittish, that might be a problem. Also, some other comments mention blowdown problems. On foot, it looked like those were all cleared up, but there were a couple blowdowns about 7 or 8 feet above the trail that could be a problem for someone on horseback. I highly recommend this hike for people seeking a pleasant, easy hike. In the "about your hike" section, I checked the box for wildflowers blooming, but there was really only one of note. The mudholes issue I mentioned were minimal. You could successfully hike this trail in sneakers. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Eastern Washington -- Wenatchee
Wildflowers blooming
Mud/Rockslide, No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
Hiked from the trailhead up to 3200', 10 km round trip, further than the trail guide above says to g...
Hiked from the trailhead up to 3200', 10 km round trip, further than the trail guide above says to go and saw a 180 degree view. The trail guide says to only go three miles and you'll see the best, I disagree. Apparently if you go up to 4100' (I'd guess 14km round trip) there is a 360 degree view and you can see rainier and baker.
The trail was great, the weather was changing all day with some strange wind patterns that came and went. Bring a jacket for sure. The snow seems to be completely gone now below about the 5000' elevation in the canyon. We saw marmots, deer, and lizards. We camped directly across the river at Lincoln Rock State Park and found it to be very enjoyable and uncrowded, and a short 20 minute drive from this trailhead. The rain shadow of the cascades kept the valley weather nice all weekend. We were sweating at the beginning of the hike from the hot sun, and then had some surprise snow as we broke for lunch at our 3200' turnaround. This hike provides continuous epic views of Swakane Canyon and the Columbia River valley. At least as far as we went there isn't really any one particular "ooh, aah" summit, you just have to pick a point where you've had enough and turn around, or go all the way up to the 4100' point for the big view. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Expand report text
Hide report text
Wanted to check out Samish Overlook, so kept going on the gravel road past the Lilly Lake trailhead....
Wanted to check out Samish Overlook, so kept going on the gravel road past the Lilly Lake trailhead. A glorious day for views, pretty clouds and NEW snow on the high hills. And on the trail. I didn't realize that Samish Overlook is at the end of the road. It would be more fun (and less driving on pot holes) to take the Lilly Lake trail and then Max's short cut and Larry Reed trail and hike to the view point. Some mud on trail. Easy access to trails from I-5: Exit 240, head west, left on to Barrel Springs road, look for gravel road on the right, sign for Blanchard Forest Trail.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Well to avoid the avalanche danger this weekend and still enjoy a beautiful day out we went up tener...
Well to avoid the avalanche danger this weekend and still enjoy a beautiful day out we went up teneriffe. Was up here about 6 weeks ago and there was no snow until we got up on the ridge but this time snow started before kamakazi falls and it was a slushy slippery trip up. Looks as though the mountains got dumped on over the week/weekend. We were rewarded with clear skies and beautiful views however. Some sort of traction advice and poles are advised. Though you will survive without them just plan on slipping a few times and using trees as you descend.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Bugs, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
We are well into April and spring is finally here, right? Wrong! Joel and I set off on and ambitious...
We are well into April and spring is finally here, right? Wrong! Joel and I set off on and ambitious plan to summit Dirtyface Peak (North of Lake Wenatchee) but when snow began to stick on Highway 2 with more than 2000 feet to climb over Stevens Pass, we reconsidered. While we likely could have made it up and over, the snow was expected to continue into the night and we weren't interested in finding out what the return drive would bring.
Our backup was to head up Tonga Ridge to Mount Sawyer. We parked on Forest Road 68 a half mile past the one-lane bridge near a gated junction, where a 100'+ tree blocked the road. The gravel road was free of snow but that changed quickly as we gained elevation and the flakes grew larger. Snowshoes were not very helpful as every few steps the wet snow would cake up, tripling their weight. After turning onto the 6830 Spur Rd I hoped to find an decent route to bypass the long switchbacks, but the steep terrain did not look inviting. We passed several small waterfalls along the roadside. We turned around on Road 6830 at about 3200' due to footwear issues. When we returned to the car at 1200' there were 2-3 inches of snow across the road. Weather could have been better, of course it could also have been worse. Either way it was good to get out. ~ 9 miles Round Trip 2000 ft elevation gain 4 1/2 hours car to car Pics and Route map @ http://www.jebsjourneys.com/[…]/2013-4-13-mount-sawyer-attempt.html |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Wildflowers blooming, Fall foliage
Blowdowns, Overgrown, Mud/Rockslide, Water on trail, Bugs, No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
This hike is super easy and has a ton of options in various directions to keep you entertained for q...
This hike is super easy and has a ton of options in various directions to keep you entertained for quite awhile. Signs clearly mark how long each trail is in miles and who/what can go on each trail (foot, bicycles, or horses) (photo shown). I really love the forest and getting lost in the sound of silence. Birds chirped and there were a few bees heard while walking. Caution: there are A LOT of root trees exposed and turns throughout the hike but that makes is a lot more fun (at least for me). The trails are also very muddy with puddles but you can walk along the side of the trail just next to puddles (photo shown). There is also a nice little picnic area (photo shown). I like this hike a lot and it is very easy for anyone (novice or pro). We also saw leashed dogs of all sizes and people with mountain bikes and people walking with backpacks for 1/2 day hikes. I would gladly do this hike again in the future to explore more ground.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
South Cascades -- Lewis River Region
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
We started the hike just after the first Lewis River Bridge. The weather was pretty cold and it sno...
We started the hike just after the first Lewis River Bridge. The weather was pretty cold and it snowed on us for most of the hike. We hiked from the Lewis River Bridge to the Quartz Creek Trailhead, about 4 1/2 miles one way. There was a significant amount of snow on the trail between upper falls and the Quartz Creek Bridge/Trailhead (about 1/4 of a mile) up to 10 inches deep in spots. The trail between the upper, middle and lower falls was pretty clear and not too muddy. There were perhaps 5 downed trees across the trail, all fairly easy to get around. There was a large volume of water going over the falls right now, it's pretty impressive. We didn't see any other people on the trail all day.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Snow on trail, Bugs
Expand report text
Hide report text
Conditions are great for this time of year - and thank you to the person that positioned the logs ov...
Conditions are great for this time of year - and thank you to the person that positioned the logs over all the small streams. Along with the rocks placed just so, it's possible to do this hike in tennis shoes if you want - assuming you're not planning to go all the way to the lake. Heavy snow starts about a half mile from the lake, and it's thick but also somewhat patchy. I'm sure with the snow levels dropping and so much precipitatin this weekend that conditions have already changed. Low late spring snow melts much faster than packed winter snow, so I'm sure in a few days the melt will be back to half mile before the lake. The dead dog at the trailhead has been removed.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Expand report text
Hide report text
first hike of the year, why not stretch the legs on a quick jaunt up to the heybrook lookout. 1 mile...
first hike of the year, why not stretch the legs on a quick jaunt up to the heybrook lookout. 1 mile one way with modest elevation gain, weather breaking up as i drove east to the trailhead. there was one other car there as i started out mid afternoon. the trail was well maintained with evidence of wta work crews upgrades with log steps through steep inclines and through a wet area halfway up. upon arriving at the lookout the clouds were still bunched together so i couldn't see mt index. i sat on the step, ate my apple and the dog and i were off back to the car. i noticed a note from the forest service that some fool stole the copper wire used for grounding the lookout so stay off of it during unsettled weather.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands
Fall foliage
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Beautiful day for a hike. When I arrived at the trail head there were 2 cars already there, however ...
Beautiful day for a hike. When I arrived at the trail head there were 2 cars already there, however I only saw one person on the trail and one horse and rider. The horse had sleigh bells on its saddle and I think that was a great idea because I heard the horse way before I saw it. This set of trails offers many different loops off the main trail and most are labeled and there are maps throughout. Be prepared to run into the occasional water and mud on trail as well as the occasional manure pile. But all in all, great trail and great day!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- Kitsap Peninsula
Wildflowers blooming
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
We hiked 5.5 miles from the Gold Creek trail head up to the vista. Very few people out and about to...
We hiked 5.5 miles from the Gold Creek trail head up to the vista. Very few people out and about today, we only encountered 2 other hikers, one had two dogs off leash. Our dogs were off leash for most of the hike due to having most of the mountain to ourselves.
The trail is in good shape. No obstructions that haven't been cleared, and the incline is quite doable for a moderate hiker. There are several areas with water over the trail, but nothing impassable. Cloudy today at the top, but the views are still gorgeous. We love this hike. You need a Discover Pass to park. The trail head that starts to the left of the parking area is the easiest, but you can start on the trail to the right of the bathrooms as well for a steep beginning for an added challenge -- it doesn't really matter, they both end up at the same place. Once you cross the steel/wood bridge, make your next left up to the Gold Creek Trail, or Plummer's Trail -- they both will get you to the top although I believe the Gold Creek is steeper overall. If you don't want to climb, you can stay straight after the bridge and continue on a completely flat GM road for about 5 miles, out and back. You will see beaver ponds and beautiful old growth forest. Either way -- easy or hard --this is one of my all time favorite hiking spots! :) |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- East
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
The drive up surprised us with some fresh snow on the roads. By the time we drove back down the snow...
The drive up surprised us with some fresh snow on the roads. By the time we drove back down the snow had melted off the roads. This was a good day hike with the dog with a lot of intervals of elevation change, made it a nice change up from a steady climb up. There was a lot of water and snow/slush on the trail and it drizzled almost the entire hike but we were dressed appropriately so it didn't hamper us too much. Had to watch out for the snow dropping from the trees but that just added to the adventure. We saw some dirt bike tracks but no other signs of people. It was too foggy to really get any good views of the from the couple of areas that you could get a break from the trees but the trail follows the river for most of the hike and offered some nice views. It seems the driving directions have you start at the end of the Lower Dungeness trail and the beginning of the Upper Dungeness trail instead of at the trail head for Lower Dungeness.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Expand report text
Hide report text
Far fewer crowds today. Gave the hike another chance because today we brought along some novice hik...
Far fewer crowds today. Gave the hike another chance because today we brought along some novice hiker friends (and dog.) It started snowing about halfway up the mountain. Most of it didn't stick and it wasn't too cold. No real views to speak of though you could see some of the lake through the thick snowy clouds. :)
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Great but wet hike. Trail is holding up well to the rain. ...
Great but wet hike. Trail is holding up well to the rain.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands
Wildflowers blooming
Mud/Rockslide, Bugs, No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
The trail is super easy and relatively flat with very slight hills in a forest environment. The pros...
The trail is super easy and relatively flat with very slight hills in a forest environment. The pros about this route: there are numerous trails between the inner and outer loop that connect so this could take a few hours if you wanted to go on every little side trail, the trail is clearly defined and very easy to walk so people run and walk their dogs with ease. It is also close to the road where you park your car so if you get lost just listen for the sound of traffic. The cons: there are so many side trails that it is very easy to get turned around and there are no signs indicating where you are (except at the very beginning). Park is very limited and is exposed to the road so be sure to keep an eye out when you're near the trail head as it is easy to miss. I really enjoyed walking on this trail and would love to do it again.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands
Wildflowers blooming
Clogged drainage, Mud/Rockslide, Water on trail, No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
I loved walking on the trail! Note: there is a huge hill going down to the beach about 1/3 of the wa...
I loved walking on the trail! Note: there is a huge hill going down to the beach about 1/3 of the way into the trail that is made from wooden "stairs" which have been weathered so most people take the hill right next to the stairs. This is the tallest hill and going down is much easier than going up but thankfully there is a half-way point to rest and catch your breath and look at the forest. Other than the hill the trail is moderate going down and is clearly defined as you wind your way through the trees and creek.
As of today access to the beach from the tunnel was closed until further notice - I have included a photo of the tunnel. I would love to go back when the tunnel is open to walk on the beach and have lunch at the park where you can grill hot dogs, burgers and sit at picnic tables which is separate from the beach and available for use. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- East
Fall foliage
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Knowing the weather was going to be iffy, we decided to go up for the night anyway. The river was be...
Knowing the weather was going to be iffy, we decided to go up for the night anyway. The river was beautiful and we only had to deal with rain that began the middle of Saturday night and into Sunday. Saturday being pretty decent with a few sun breaks made setting up a dry camp a breeze. On the way out you could see the higher elevations and it had actually snowed a bit.
Even though there is only an 800ft elevation difference from start to finish there are many ups and downs so in total you are doing a lot more that 800ft. I'd say at least twice that much and the inclines on the way out are more severe as apposed to being gradual on the way in. Keep all of this in mind if you are packing in 40lbs. of gear. All in all, definitely worth the trip. p.s. My dog is in better shape than I am. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Nice & easy little loop hike, saw a few families with kids. Cottonwoods & Aspens flowering along th...
Nice & easy little loop hike, saw a few families with kids. Cottonwoods & Aspens flowering along the lower valley, early wildflowers starting to wake up further up on the ridge - expect peak bloom in a couple weekends. Birds and frogs signing away. Upper half of trail is shared by ATVs, got dusted by a few on the ridge.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Washouts, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
The falls were beautiful, but the snow on the steeper portions of the trail was sketchy. The winter ...
The falls were beautiful, but the snow on the steeper portions of the trail was sketchy. The winter trail has deteriorated to the point that it is dangerous to pass. We decided to take the 5800 road back, and happened on "stuck" jeep.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Expand report text
Hide report text
Finding parking on a sunny day can be tough near the Chirico trail. This hike is one of the easiest ...
Finding parking on a sunny day can be tough near the Chirico trail. This hike is one of the easiest and still helps you work up a sweat! Lots of people with their dogs and children. Often times you can see paragliders hiking slowly with their heavy bags. The view from the top is rewarding! For a quick hike - this one is totally recommended!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Expand report text
Hide report text
Just park a outside of gate, and follow the flat logging road right to the falls. Once you reach the...
Just park a outside of gate, and follow the flat logging road right to the falls. Once you reach the falls, cross the creek to see a trail on your right that will take you to the top. From there we crossed the creek to find a trail that ducked into the woods and ended up becoming a series of switchbacks to eventually come to a clearing with views across the tree tops to the sound. This made the hike, good workout and elevation gain, plus a sweet fort someone constructed is your endpoint.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
A quick, easy hike up to the lake. There was snow on the trail once you leave the greg ball trail an...
A quick, easy hike up to the lake. There was snow on the trail once you leave the greg ball trail and head up on the old forest service road. The snow got a little deeper up at the lake, maybe 1- 1 1/2 feet at the most. I did find an abandoned camp site, which I reported to the ranger. The tent I found under the snow was green. So if you find a green tent, cut open, it has already been reported. Photos are linked.
http://www.flickr.com/[…]/ |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Eastern Washington -- Spokane Area
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
I rate this one highly. Middle aged mom, 2 teenagers and a dog had a great time at this recreation s...
I rate this one highly. Middle aged mom, 2 teenagers and a dog had a great time at this recreation site. Although the gate is stated to be close on March 31, is wasn't yet. So we were able to drive right up to the trail head. It was a nice flat walk to the point where we saw the falls. Then we took the steep hill down for a closer look at the falls, lake and canyon. Beautiful area! Not a lot of wildflowers yet but we did not have to deal with muddy trail at all. As there is not a lot of shade, early spring was a great time of year for this hike.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
Looking for a mid-week, after work, evening outing. Look no further. This litte very well kept secre...
Looking for a mid-week, after work, evening outing. Look no further. This litte very well kept secret gem has a lot to offer. Its easy, acccessible while still enjoying the sounds of nature. I hiked this with some friends, my daughter and my dog. I ahve trying to expose my daughter more to the outdoors, hoping that she will one day love it as much as I do. And this hike did it for her. She found this orange "Easter egg" hidden along the trail. Inside was a note that said "you like coffee?". She was very excited, she put it back where she found out, and all of a sudden was very interested on the trail, and looking to see if there was anything else "she might find". There were birds chirping and the Trilliums were starting to bloom. The trail was in great condition, though a little muddy in some areas. And the bathroom was the cleanest I've seen in a park. Highly recommed!!!!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
Drove out of the clouds of western washington just east of stevens pass to hike up nason ridge. End...
Drove out of the clouds of western washington just east of stevens pass to hike up nason ridge. Ended up cruising up round mountain instead. We were the only three hikers that day and we could only drive about 1 mile up the road before we had to park and start hiking due to the snow covered road. I would say we hiked maybe about 3 miles on the road before reaching round mountain trailhead. The snow was very soft that day and we could not get away without having to use the snowshoes. Caught sights of cashmere mountain and glacier peak. Lake Wenatchee was easily seen below. Finished the day with a burger and shake at the 59er Diner..yum.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Started my hike with Beau Dawg around 1:30pm with one car in parking lot besides mine. Beau is my ad...
Started my hike with Beau Dawg around 1:30pm with one car in parking lot besides mine. Beau is my adventure companion, I am a young woman who doesn't carry a gun, but bring my dog for protection and companionship. She often barks to alert me someone is coming but usually stops if she doesn't feel threatened.
It was sunny, warm, and breezy. Trail conditions were good, with a couple creek crossings and muddy patches. Beau was able to run freely in and out of the creek and up and down the hills. After a short 45 minute stroll we reached the falls. There was still ice here and it was extremely muddy. I was wearing sandals and was glad because my boots would have been wrecked and heavy the rest of the hike. A couple more groups came to the falls and Beau was barking so I turned around to walk back, exploring some lesser traveled paths. Beau and I climbed some of the rocks and she chased some squirrels around the hills. I communicate with my dog often and loudly on the trail for a number of reasons, but mostly so she has to pay attention to me and to alert animals and other people that we are walking. A woman startled Beau when she was sniffing a rodent hole and she barked twice and ran around the lady. The woman got really mad at me for not having my dog on a leash (I always check this website and at the trail head before letting my dog off her leash and I carry it with me the entire hike) I apologized multiple times to the woman and she continued to lecture me condescendingly and patronizing. I apologized again and assured her that I researched before letting my dog off her leash. The woman continued speak rudely to me and started to raise her voice. As I was leaving I passed two groups of people with dogs off leash and two people on horses. I advise hikers that are scared of dogs to research where they can hike safely, just like dog owners research where to take their dogs safely. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Expand report text
Hide report text
Easy to moderate hike depending on your endurance level. Lots of people hiking. Parking can be tight...
Easy to moderate hike depending on your endurance level. Lots of people hiking. Parking can be tight depending on the climate. I would say if you want an easy workout, Little Si is a good option.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
It was nice to go hiking again after having a baby. My cousin and I started the hike at 8am. The 'pa...
It was nice to go hiking again after having a baby. My cousin and I started the hike at 8am. The 'parking' area had about 8-10 cars already there (small bus turn around). But we found a spot and started our hike around the gate. The first couple of miles you're just walking along an old service road (?) until you come to the fork, then you take a right. IMO, the hiking doesn't began until you see the 1 mile marker for Teneriffe Falls. Before that you're kinda wondering if you're even in the right area until you see the sign (which wasn't for another 1.5 miles). This is a work out! A work out I'm more than willing to take on. Towards the top you're hiking on what looks like a rock slide, I can see if/when there was snow it'd be hard to see the trail, luckily we saw no snow and the trails were visible. We only ran into 2 groups coming down while we were up there. Its hard to tell where the trails 'ends', but we stop when we got to the fall (don't know if this was the upper or the lower) because it looked like there wasn't a trail anymore but where we were at the fall still looked TALL starring up at a it. We took some pictures and headed back down and ran into alot of people heading up. When we got to the car, some people were pulling in... it was about 11am. I'm an early riser and I think it's crazy when people start a hike in the afternoon and expect to find a parking spot, but to each their own.
This was fun hike, I enjoyed it and it was the perfect workout I needed. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Mudholes, Water on trail, Bugs
Expand report text
Hide report text
Easter Sunday was a beautiful day, and the hike up to the lookout was a great way to enjoy the weath...
Easter Sunday was a beautiful day, and the hike up to the lookout was a great way to enjoy the weather and the scenery. We had initially thought to hit up Barclay Lake, however there was so much snow we couldn’t even reach the trailhead! We arrived at Heybrook trailhead around noon with the parking about a third full. No snow to be found although there was a bit of mud/water at the beginning. We also encountered a handful of mosquitos. Moderate traffic (4-5 groups) on the way up and about double that by the time we started heading down around 2pm. We really could not have asked for better weather as it was perfectly warm in the forest and even in full sun near the top it was very pleasant. Lots of birdsong as well! Although we’re just getting back into shape, this hike is very doable and well worth the climb to the top.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
Hike times: Sunday 3/31/13, from 2:00 to 5:00.
Trail conditions: dry, occasional moisture but not...
Hike times: Sunday 3/31/13, from 2:00 to 5:00.
Trail conditions: dry, occasional moisture but nothing too muddy. This was my first time on this trail, and it was beautiful 70 degree weather with sun, no clouds and a light breeze. The lot was full of cars but the trail was not crowded at all. I encountered about 30 people the entire trip. The trail down the canyon is beautiful, following the Stillaguamish river the full length. There isn't much of an ascent, so it's more of a good walk than a mountainous hike, and I'd rate it easy to moderate as long as you have the right footwear. There are a lot of rocks in and around the trail - lots, so high-top hiking boots with good ankle support is highly recommended. No need for trekking poles as it's pretty flat. Beautiful moss-draped Maple trees, Cottonwoods and lots of Cedars cover the trail so even though it was sunny, it wasn't hot. Springs and runoffs abound and you can hear waterfalls and rapids all along the trail. Near the end of the trail there is river access with a rock beach. The river was really cookin' and moving fast so it's not place to swim or let children or dogs loose - one could easily slip in and be carried down river and into the rocks very quickly, so be careful. Overall, it was a beautiful hike, easy to do at a moderate pace. The lack of people made it even nicer. I'll be going back for sure and recommending this one to others. Great trail for dogs too. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Wildflowers blooming, Fall foliage
No water source
Expand report text
Hide report text
This was the first hike for my husband and I this year! It was a great way to spend Easter the wheth...
This was the first hike for my husband and I this year! It was a great way to spend Easter the whether was perfect not a cloud in the sky. The hike is probably round trip 4 miles. It jumps in elevation pretty quick. There were plenty of kids on the path so I am assuming kids are very capable of doing this hike. We also brought our 2 year old lab on the trail with us :) the terrain was rocky so definitely need to wear hiking boots or a good pair of tennis shoes. About half a mile from the top you come to a grassy hill with a gorgeous view of mt. Rainer great place to have a picnic get some pics and rest.... Continue on up and you hit the top which is the take off place for paragliding! There were a ton of them taking off very fun to watch! The trip down is rather steep but went much quicker for us... Our pup likes to set the pace.. Which is fast. There was no water on this hike so make sure you pack plenty you will want lots on the way up. All in all great hike and would definitely recommend this one to any one who wants to see a breath taking view!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Wildflowers blooming
Mudholes, Bugs
Expand report text
Hide report text
Our family, two adults, two teens, & two dogs, took the upper trail to Sares Head. After enjoying th...
Our family, two adults, two teens, & two dogs, took the upper trail to Sares Head. After enjoying the views from the bedrock summit we adventured around the head to where we could see Deception Pass Bridge. Yellow flowers were in bloom. We encountered biting ants, bees, and ticks (even took one home with us).
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
North Cascades -- Baker Lake
Blowdowns, Washouts, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
This trip report is for Noisy Creek Trail which is accessible from the East Baker Lake Trail. This N...
This trip report is for Noisy Creek Trail which is accessible from the East Baker Lake Trail. This Noisy Creek Trail (as opposed to the onle in eastern Washington is not an option on the dropdown menu) We paddled the canoe across the lake to Noisy Creek Camp. There are at least 20 trees over the trail. Some of the blowdowns are massive since they are huge, punky old growth that exploded when they hit the ground. Some of the blowdowns are just huge limbs from humongous old-growth trees. There are 2 big blowdowns over the trail where it sidehills a small ravine and the trail is lost here so requires a bushwhacking detour. Piles of snow start at about 1500' elevation as the trail enters Noisy Creek's shaded canyon. Snow is 2 feet deep in spots. Made it to the end of the trail where it meets the creek. With so many big, messy blowdowns this trail is almost a bushwhack for about half of the route.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Expand report text
Hide report text
It was just the right length hike with kids and a pet. We did not find the cairn village - that was ...
It was just the right length hike with kids and a pet. We did not find the cairn village - that was the only disappointing part. Trails are narrow - which makes it exciting until you run into bikers. Over all fun hike for families.
Don't expect picnic spots except in the Clearing - just sit down to snack when you fell like it. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
Very easy trail, perfect for jogging. Follows old railroad tracks and crosses/follows a small stream...
Very easy trail, perfect for jogging. Follows old railroad tracks and crosses/follows a small stream. Only encountered a few people on the trail, quite a few dogs though. Bring sunscreen if it is a sunny day, as there is very little shade and tree coverage. The road leading up to where we started is a dirt road so be prepared for that. Otherwise I highly recommend for a sunny cloud free day and to escape the rain of Seattle!
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Water on trail, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
Attempted a family hike (toddler in a backpack) everyone else on foot.... Road to the trailhead is i...
Attempted a family hike (toddler in a backpack) everyone else on foot.... Road to the trailhead is impassable to cars about 1-1.5 miles short of the trail head (snow varies between 12" and 4') - Snowshoes would have been a good idea.
We just hiked up to the trailhead (by then the toddle had had enough); other hikers that were there continued onto the Barclay Lake Trail (no snowshoes). I would come back again, but I'd bring snowshoes for the approach... and probably plan on using them at least occasionally on your way to the lake. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Mudholes, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Hiked up from the mountain lake campground which had plenty of space when we arrived Friday night. W...
Hiked up from the mountain lake campground which had plenty of space when we arrived Friday night. We hiked from the south up to Mt. Constitution and then down to twin lakes and back to the campground.
At the summit there were epic views of Baker, Vancouver, Rainier, and the surrounding San Juan islands. Couldn't have asked for better weather. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Beautiful day and a beautiful hike. Most of the trail probably 4 miles of it still has snow on it. ...
Beautiful day and a beautiful hike. Most of the trail probably 4 miles of it still has snow on it. Going in was awesome, both falls were beautiful. The dog was having a great time in the snow. Getting to otter falls was a little bit of a challenge, you have to look for the footsteps of others to find the path. Fell through the snow a few times but was well worth it. Big creek falls was also amazing. We started to cut a path to Snoqualmie Lake, but our feet were so wet by the time we got to the first sign about a mile past Big Creek Falls, we turned back. Going back once the sun had hit the trail made it slick, and a little harder to walk out.
One other note the rode in; is full of pot holes. Which we scraped the bottom of my friends poor Honda a few times. Hopefully, they level that portion of the road out sometime soon. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Beautiful day for a hike. Got to the main parking lot around 9 AM, was already 80% full but I found ...
Beautiful day for a hike. Got to the main parking lot around 9 AM, was already 80% full but I found a spot pretty easily. The hike up wasn't very crowded, I passed some slower groups but for the most part my dog and I were alone. Coming down was a different story, I probably spent 20 minutes alone just standing by the side waiting to let people pass. The trail itself was in fantastic condition - a bit of mud near the streams at the bottom, but the middle portions were dry and firm. 3/4 of a mile from the top the snow started up, but it wasn't a problem until the very end, when you basically have to kick footholds into the snow. I saw a half dozen people sporting crampons or spikes, but they're pretty much overkill. I wore my Timberlands, but you probably could have gotten away with sneakers. Only really need boots for the last push, but you might end up with wet feet for the trek back down. Got back to the parking lot at 12:15 and it was overflowing. Definitely worth getting up early and getting a head start on the crowds. Today was epic, not a cloud in the sky and perfect views of Raineer.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Bugs, Avalanche danger
Expand report text
Hide report text
I have been trying to get to this one since spotting it on a recent trip up Philadelphia Mountain, s...
I have been trying to get to this one since spotting it on a recent trip up Philadelphia Mountain, so when I saw that a few other NWHikers had made it up recently I jumped on the opportunity to poach their trench in some good weather. 68 degree temps were in the forecast and while I don't think it quite got there surrounded by snow a few thousand feet up, this was no doubt the warmest hike I can remember since last October.
I parked at the small makeshift campsite less then 100 feet up the spur road just before the bridge over Money Creek. On a side note, signs indicate that Miller River road is closed after Money Creek, and detours lead further East on Highway 2. I planned on taking the spur road to it's end but within 1/2 mile I noticed some red and orange flagging near a bootpath heading directly East, and could not help but check it out. Heading off trail is always a risk but this one came with a reward: a few hundred feet up the path seemed to come to and end at an old mine. I ventured no more than 20 feet in with a headlamp, and could see no sign of an end. As exciting as it would be to explore further, my best judgement prevailed and I chose to return on a later date with some company. I bushwhacked to climbers right of the mine and the exposed rock surrounding it trying to pick up the path. Eventually I worked my way climbers left (Northeast) where I ran into a bootpath near the crux of the North ridge around 2400 ft. This may or may not be a completely separate path from the one I started up. Snow patches soon began to appear and it was mostly solid above 3200 ft as I crested over a small bump labeled "Temple Mountain" on my green trails map. Just above 4400 ft I encountered a few pairs of snowshoe tracks from NWHikers EastKing, flatsqerl, and R3H - Thanks fellas! I followed the tracks up a small knife-edge and stopped for lunch above a small pond hidden under several feet of snow. From where I rested, I could see the snow-draped summit bathing in warm sunshine. It was clear I would need to approach from the south, which motivated me to hurry up before it got too soft and sticky up there. The last push to the top took a lot out of me, and the dogs were both panting harder than usual. I'm not sure if I am just a bit out of shape from a lack of regular hiking recently, or if the higher temps today were really taking such a toll on us all. The summit views greatly surpassed my expectations. Lennox Mountain looked stunning from this perspective, as did Baring and Index. On the descent we followed the NWHiker tracks until the snow thinned enough on the road to remove snowshoes. With one more summit down and both dogs exhausted, I went home satisfied! More pictures and Route Map @ http://jebtastic.blogspot.com/[…]/cleveland-mountain-3-30-2013.html |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Expand report text
Hide report text
I got to the trailhead around 9am and there were a handful of other cars already in the parking lot ...
I got to the trailhead around 9am and there were a handful of other cars already in the parking lot - many hikers I saw had dogs with them as well.
I took the "woody trail" to the lower falls and only encountered a couple of other hikers. There were quite a few different spots on the woody trail to stop and take in the view. They even have benches or logs to sit on if you need to take a break. Stopped at the lower falls for a quick break to enjoy the view and then headed back via the "railroad grade". Both trails were clear, mud-free and easy to hike. My dog had never been on a trail hike before and she handled both of the very well and there were lots of other people out with dogs. Right as I was coming back to the trailhead I started to pass alot of large groups of people. It was one of the first clear sunny days in awhile and it seems that alot of people had the same idea I had. When I was leaving a little before 11am the parking lot was packed and people had to park about a mile away on the side of the road. I would strongly suggest getting there early to secure a closer parking spot and avoid alot of other hikers. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Expand report text
Hide report text
I knew the trail would be crowded, given that it was a Sunday and also an absolutely amazing weather...
I knew the trail would be crowded, given that it was a Sunday and also an absolutely amazing weather day.. but I didn't expect it to be THAT crowded. There were times when it was like waiting in line for a theme park ride when going up and down the trail.
Thankfully the payoff was worth it. Not a cloud in the sky! I wanted to go further on up to the East summit, but my fat, lazy dog was not having it. There were a lot of dogs on the trail, and quite a few of them off leash. As a dog owner, I love being places where I can let her off a leash to run around, but a crowded trail with steep drop offs is not one of them. There were also a lot of people who were going up in flip flops, full on Easter dresses (really?!), and quite a few who didn't know that the hike was going to be 2 miles ALL uphill and didn't bring any water with them. If you can go, try and stick to a weekday to avoid the crowds. And pick up your trash! |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Perfect Saturday weather provided no excuse to not get outside, and I wanted a workout. This hike al...
Perfect Saturday weather provided no excuse to not get outside, and I wanted a workout. This hike always delivers.
Knowing how small the parking lot is at the school bus turnaround, I was the third car in the lot at just before 7AM. By the time I got back after 1PM, the lot was overflowing, with a ticket or two on cars that were parked too close to the road. Though the parking may seem like a challenge, it's nothing compared to the hike ahead of you. I was unaware of the more direct and steeper Old Trail, so I made my way up to Kamikaze Falls the easy and long way, turning right off the road and then looping back around. I was told by a more experienced hiker about the old Kamikaze trail. If you don't turn right and continue straight a ways, you'll find the old trail peeling off to the right and steeply up the slope. I would have preferred that as it saves time and gets down to business. Acquiring the falls was straightforward and snow-free. I then took the route that starts up close to the right side of the falls. It's a steep scramble through all manner of roots, rocks, logs, and dirt. Traction from good footwear is a must. The relentless 30-50% grade continues all the way to the top, and I hit patches of snow around 3,500 at the 3.5 mile mark. Soon after I put on my Microspikes; the crusty/icy snow in the morning would have been all but impossible to manage otherwise. The only navigation you need at this point is to follow the ridge up, up, up. You can make your own switchbacks, but that only extends the burning in your thighs. At about 4 miles from the trailhead, the snow deepens and the consistency varies quite a bit, especially in the morning. It alternated between crusty snow and frozen, collapsing slush, making progress slow. Because of the inconsistency, I put on my snowshoes to make the slog more efficient. There is a confusing criss-cross of tracks as you approach the summit, somewhat dependent on the footwear used by the folks from previous days. I meandered a bit too far to the left (northwest) and found myself on a super-steep ascent in the trees. I probably should have stayed more right. Ultimately you just have to get down to business and head up anyway you can. Eventually I broke out of the treeline and made the final 200 ft. to the summit. The summit is one large snow mound; best to keep away from its eastern edge and its dangerous vertical drop. I rested on the rocky outcropping on the southern edge, with clear views of Rainier, Mailbox, Rattlesnake, McClellan, Washington. It's also nice to look down to Mt. Si to the west. Soon after my summit at 9:40, several others appeared; some saying they were going to make the traverse loop over to Si and then back down. Heading down over the changing snow conditions required a lot of patience and a few re-routes, again depending on the time of day and traction you have. I slipped once and did a somewhat controlled 100ft glissade. Leaving the snow behind, you have a fun descent ahead; avoid stepping on roots, as the steep slope will ensure a slip or two onto your back. Don't feel bad if you fall once or twice -- I did. Including a 45 minute rest and snack at the top, I was back to my car by about 1PM, so six hours car-to-car. GPS logged 3,800 ft climb & descent over 8 miles. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Puget Sound and Islands
Expand report text
Hide report text
Today was a great day for a hike but I waited way too long to leave and by the time I got to Walla...
Today was a great day for a hike but I waited way too long to leave and by the time I got to Wallace Falls State Park near Goldbar the whole parking lot was full. A reminder to get there around 8:00 am for a guaranteed parking spot. I will try this another day and get there early or maybe play hooky from work and go on a weekday!
Due to my error I turned around and headed north up Interstate 5 to try a trail I have not hiked. The trail is called the Tommy Thompson Trail near Antacortes Washington. The trail actually starts at The Port of Antacortes heading in a south easterly direction to March Point near the Tesero and Shell Refineries. This trail is all black top and flat but has spectacular views of Mount Baker, Fidaglo Bay, San Juan Islands as well as the refineries. The trail is 3.2 miles roundtrip and is wide as a one lane road so it works well since you will encounter lots of bicycles, joggers, kids, dogs and even some whellchairs. Along this trail you will cross over and old abandon railroad trestle that has been converted to a boardwalk crossing over a portion of Fidalgo Bay. If you get there when the tides is down you will see lots of Blue Heron hunting for food in the shallow areas of the bay around the trestle. Checkout my videos of this hike on my youtube channel at "lmm3181" or click on these direct links for this hike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8EBDPlNFKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq3RJ4H4C88 As always get out and see this beautiful state and enjoy your hiking! Take Care Mike |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Expand report text
Hide report text
Seeing as this is a great rainy day hike, I have hiked this trail several times in rainy or cloudy c...
Seeing as this is a great rainy day hike, I have hiked this trail several times in rainy or cloudy conditions. Today, however, it was sunny and clear and there are great views to be had at certain points along the trail that I have never had a chance to see before.
The falls are as spectacular in the sun as in the rain, but the sun does cast a different light upon the trail and through the mossy trees. As expected, on a sunny, fee free Saturday the trail had many hikers on it. After lunch at the upper falls we headed down the Woody Trail but detoured up to the railroad grade and enjoyed a much quieter hike back to the parking lot. The trail is in great shape. No snow, no mud no blowdowns. Just be prepared to step aside often for hikers passing you both ways. Fun to see the falls in the sun, but I think I prefer a quiet, rainy, winter day on this hike. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway
Blowdowns
Expand report text
Hide report text
Since it was a beautiful day we decided to get up into the North Cascades and check on snow levels. ...
Since it was a beautiful day we decided to get up into the North Cascades and check on snow levels. There were some minor snow patches down low walking through the campground as well as crossing the old old Thunder Creek bed (nothing sneakers couldn't handle), but otherwise the trail was clear of snow. There were numerous small blowdowns throughout the hike, all easily crossed, but the numbers did get on my nerves only because I was hiking with a leashed dog. Tread is in great shape, but I do question the "wheelchair accessible" description in the guide. All in all a wonderful short hike.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Beautiful day.The trail was extremely busy, lots of families, and dogs. Only a few we're on leashes....
Beautiful day.The trail was extremely busy, lots of families, and dogs. Only a few we're on leashes. But that didn't bother us but may bother others. Wasn't expecting immediate elevation climb. It wasn't bad but you started rising from the get go. There was a section of snow covering the last.2 miles to the falls.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Clogged drainage, Mudholes, Washouts, Water on trail, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
Original intent was to hike the Pete Lake Trail, but were unable to access Road 46 by vehicle. Near ...
Original intent was to hike the Pete Lake Trail, but were unable to access Road 46 by vehicle. Near the Cooper River Campground we passed an abandoned vehicle stuck in the snow. We hiked sans snowshoe, but there were definitely some areas were they would have been helpful. The views were unbeatable, and near Cooper River we spotted some cat tracks. We took Road 46 back, which totaled 10.6 miles. Navigational skills a must, as there are no trails to follow.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Olympics -- East
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
LOST - pink Olympic Hiking Club hat on Big Hump - if found please call or text 206-719-8559 THANKS! ...
LOST - pink Olympic Hiking Club hat on Big Hump - if found please call or text 206-719-8559 THANKS!
The road was easy to drive with our two wheel drive pickup, not a large number of pot holes to maneuver. The trail itself was overall dry, with one spot with water on the trail. There was plenty of water in the creeks for our dogs to drink amply after Little Hump. Lilies were almost ready to bloom on the switchbacks and the trail was in good shape all the way to Big Hump. Only one blow down covering the trail but it was easy to walk over. It was overall a beautiful day for a hike, with exception of the lost hat. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Olympics
Water on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Spring was great there are flowers starting and lots of birds. But, I left my pink Olympians Hiking ...
Spring was great there are flowers starting and lots of birds. But, I left my pink Olympians Hiking Club hat at 6.2 miles on the big hump of the Duckabush River Trial yesterday (Friday 3/29/2013).
Please let me know if you find it. Thanks, Crystal 206-719-8559 |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
The path was pretty snowy higher up I would have reached the top but I didn't want to fall on the wa...
The path was pretty snowy higher up I would have reached the top but I didn't want to fall on the way down on the snowy path if my dog pulled me a little too hard, this is the second time have done this hike and I enjoy it. Going this early in the water falls and water ways are much higher and stronger flowing then later in the season so be prepared for that aspect of it. And I recommend hiking poles if you are going there this week or next.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
I started from the hotsprings resort and took the one mile trail to Aldrich Butte Road. The table mo...
I started from the hotsprings resort and took the one mile trail to Aldrich Butte Road. The table mountain trail splits off from the road in about 100 yards. Most of the hike is through the woods with minimal views, but there are a few things to take your mind off the climb. I passed the heartbreak ridge trail and continued on to the steep trail at the second information booth. This trail is very steep and I could barely hike it on my previous attempt at the summit on February 25th. This time the snowline was much higher and I was able to scamper up the trail and wind my way up the rocky ridgeline. I could see a group of hikers slowly ascending the steep talus slope on the heartbreak ridge trail. There are good views of the summit, the hills to the north, and Bonneville Dam to the south. I eventually reached the snow line and the trail disappeared but I spied two people hiking above me and decided to make a quick ascent through steep, deep snow to reach the trail. They turned out to be a young kid and his dad with a dog and they had made a different approach from the north. Our dogs played in the snow for a bit and then I made my way through the trees until I found the trail along the flat to the cliff edges. Here I met the group of hikers who I had seen going up the talus slope. I took some pictures and then made my way down using the heartbreak ridge trail.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Expand report text
Hide report text
The recent warm spell has melted all of the snow on the trail and the beautiful weather provided fan...
The recent warm spell has melted all of the snow on the trail and the beautiful weather provided fantastic views of the surrounding area. The trail was in good condition and the rocky section leading to the falls was easy to navigate. We set out in a group of 4 with a dog around 11 and made it back to the trail head shortly before 2. There were a few cars in the parking lot when we arrived and we encountered 3 other groups on the trail.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Expand report text
Hide report text
With a promise of a full moon, mostly clear skies, the weather being warmer and the days getting lon...
With a promise of a full moon, mostly clear skies, the weather being warmer and the days getting longer we decided to try this hike. it was a beutiful evening for a mid week evening hike. The trail is in excellent condition. We got some views of the lake along the trail. There were geese playing in the water. It was sooo pretty. We went along the bus road and took some pics. We found solitude and enjoyed the sounds of nature. It was a great little hike.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Olympics -- Kitsap Peninsula
Wildflowers blooming, Fall foliage, Ripe berries
Expand report text
Hide report text
This little gem of a park is located in Kitsap County, at the west end of Newberry Hill Road right b...
This little gem of a park is located in Kitsap County, at the west end of Newberry Hill Road right before the T to Seabeck Highway. You pull into the entrance of Klahowya Secondary School, and you will see signs for parking at NHP. If you to to the west trails, there is a three mile little winding trail that goes very close to the road. However, if you continue (follow the signs) on the east side of the road to "Deer Fern" trail, you will be rewarded by a wonderful, easy hike through beautiful, well-maintained trails.
Deer Fern trail leads to Old Loop. You can go right or left, it will loop back around. From the parking area to Deer Fern, around the whole loop and back is 4.25 miles. There are maps at the trailheads and online http://www.friendsofnhhp.com/ that are helpful if you would like to extend your hike. Rhodie Hill, Salal Ridge and Whisper Ridge are all pretty steep climbs, but definitely doable and short lived. Take the Wildlife or Foot Traffic Only trail to see the gorgeous lake/wetland preserve that even after 20 years in Kitsap I had not known about! Great trail, great hike -- dog friendly and very well kept! |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
The road in is horrible. The trail is covered in well packed snow starting a half mile from the trai...
The road in is horrible. The trail is covered in well packed snow starting a half mile from the trailhead. Microspikes & goretex are a must, gaiters if you're gonna run any of it.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Two of us went for a day hike. Tons of people, few of whom seemed aware of the need for proper hikin...
Two of us went for a day hike. Tons of people, few of whom seemed aware of the need for proper hiking footware. Lots of kids in flimsy tennis shoes and thin t-shirts, all complaining about the cold, ice and slush.
3/24/13 - Sunday Time of hike: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Conditions: Sunny, no clouds, windy - Trekking poles are a must. Lots of ice and slush. Very slippery the higher you go. About 80% of the hikers were using broken tree branches to aid in their hike. Not a good idea, as they are crisp and break. - Proper footwear is highly recommended. It's slushy and very wet near the base of the trail, to about 1/3 of the way up, then is icy and slippery. We went further than the summit, continuing on to the ridge trail extended Westward, for several miles, then turning back down. It was much quieter with few people (which was very nice) but had 4" of snow. Gators and poles recommended. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Expand report text
Hide report text
We worked in a quick hike here on the way home from a weekend of camping and hiking in the Yakima Ri...
We worked in a quick hike here on the way home from a weekend of camping and hiking in the Yakima River Canyon. On a Sunday morning, there were quite a few cars parked at the trailhead parking lot/campground. It looked like some folks were fly fishing and others were just enjoying a sunny day playing in the creek.
Since we only had an hour, we opted to head up the trail that branches off of the main trail just after you cross the river and come up from under the train tracks. We followed the trail on the eastern wall of the smaller canyon south of the main Yakima River Canyon and got some lovely views back down onto the canyon before it disappeared from view. The trail was in pretty good shape, with only a few spots where it had eroded down the hill. The tread was pretty soft for dog paws and muddy in a few spots where the trail neared the drainage creek. We ran across a few other hikers, but not as many as on the main Untanum Creek Canyon. We were hoping to climb up to more views, but had to turn around before we topped out on the ridge. If you lived in Ellensburg, this would make a great little early morning training hike. |
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail, Avalanche danger, Road to trailhead inaccessible
Expand report text
Hide report text
Snowshoe attempt to Annette Lake attempt number 2. We went in mid January but had a late start and ...
Snowshoe attempt to Annette Lake attempt number 2. We went in mid January but had a late start and had to turn back before the lake due to dwindling daylight. Committed then and there to return in March for another shot at getting to the lake, which we had hiked to in the summer. This time got a good start at noon, had to park on the bridge along with other cars as the road to the trailhead was impassable due to snow. The trail was well packed for 80% of the way up, multiple switchbacks, waterfalls, streams, winter wonderland. Encountered a party of 5 on their way down and informed us they weren't able to get to the lake due to avalanche concerns about the conditions at the "chutes" along the way. There are 3 main chutes the begin about 2/3 of the way up, and the first two give you pause as you go across, but were fairly well packed and if you proceed with caution don't seem to be unstable (however who really knows what lurks beneath), but the third chute was way too sketchy and we understood the previous party's concern. I ventured maybe ten feet onto the chute area and when I stopped and did the slightest movement to turn, the downward side of the slope broke out from under me. That was all it took for me to not want to be an evening news report. We were extremely close at that point, but Annette won that one. Nonetheless, it was a great snowshoe hike, absolutely gorgeous sunshine filled day.
|
||
|
|
|||
|
No image submitted
|
Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
This was an accidental hike, meaning I had no plans of doing this today. While I have been to the Oy...
This was an accidental hike, meaning I had no plans of doing this today. While I have been to the Oyster Dome once before (in January) my intent today was merely to drive up to the Samish Overlook and walk around the area to get my labs out of the house on a sunny day.
Once there, I noticed the sign that pointed to the Oyster Dome trail and decided to walk a little ways down the trail. Well, on a day that is as beautiful as this who could just walk a little ways? The connecting trail (Larry Reed, I believe it's called) to the main trail to the dome is an easy down hill jaunt, peppered along the way with great views of Samish Bay. Once you reach the junction, the main trail is also in pretty good shape for the amount of rain we've had. I noticed there was a little more water crossing the path in a few areas, and the sections that are usually muddy were a challenge to cross if you wanted to keep your boots clean. (While I managed to log-hop my way across, my two labs went right through the middle and ended up sinking about 5".) But all in all nothing that would stop even beginners from crossing. Other than a little snow at the top, the trail was clear and in decent shape. As usual, the view was breathtaking. I recommend this route for folks who want to do the dome but don't have the usual amount of time it takes. I'm a slow hiker (ref. age, arthritis, stopping to take pics) and it took me 1 1/2 hr to reach the dome from the parking lot. The people you meet on this hike are wonderful. No one seems to mind off-leash dogs. It's nice to have a trail where dogs can just be dogs and run and play. We will definitely be making this hike again. |
||
|
|
|||
|
|
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
It was a beautiful day to be on the trails. Weather was perfect. The trail was in normal spring cond...
It was a beautiful day to be on the trails. Weather was perfect. The trail was in normal spring conditions. Some water on trails, minor snow, minor stream crossings, some muddy spots, but easily navigated with no special equipment except maybe waterproof boots as a recommendation. This is a great family hike and the falls are running full right now.
|
||
|
|
|||
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
