12 sparkling hikes during the shortest, darkest days of the year
When the days grow short and darkness hangs heavy, getting outside may seem tougher than usual. But there are benefits to even getting outside for a little bit of time each day, so there's plenty of reason to make it a part of your (short) day.
Below you'll find a handful of quick-fix hike ideas for the shortest days of the year, many of which help you take advantage of as much light as possible during these dark days.
Pro tips for winter hiking
Seek out lakes, ponds or wide open beaches that bounce winter light for a brighter hike. Photo by TrailKat during a January hike around Turnbull Wildlife Refuge.
Hikes that light up the night
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Location: Puget Sound > Bellevue
Length: 1.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: minimal
Expect to see some fun light flora and fauna at the garden! Photo by tiffanyc.
For the month of December, the Bellevue Botanical Garden becomes a swirl of lights, where you might see a glowing dragon, a ladybug, a field of corn, herons and more. It’s great nighttime fun for folks young and old, and a fun way to experience the gardens if you have visited before in the daytime. Buy tickets online before visiting.
> Plan your visit to Bellevue Botanical Garden using WTA's Hiking Guide
Fort worden state park – Point wilson
Location: Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Length: 2.5miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 0 feet
Lighthouses: The original light in the darkness. Photo by Mancunian_hiker.
Fort Worden State Park, on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, can bring brightness to your winter day no matter what time you visit. Go during the day and you can catch some vitamin D with stroll on the beach, watch waterfowl dive or play fetch with your pup. Or, go in the morning or evening and see the lighthouse aglow.
> Plan your visit to Fort Worden State Park — Point Wilson using WTA's Hiking Guide
Ladder Creek Falls
Location: North Cascades > Newhalem
Length: 0.5 mile, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 360 feet
Lights illuminate the falls all year round. Photo by multivariablespace.
If you’re seeking light in the dark, Ladder Creek Falls near Newhalem is a lovely short hike, great for hikers of all ages, that doubles as a nighttime light show. Every night, the falls are illuminated on a 15-minute repeating program between dusk and midnight.
> Plan your hike to Ladder Creek Falls
Hike wide open skies to gather every last drop on sun
Beach 4
Location: Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
Length: 0.4 mile, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 150 feet
This beach is the perfect place to squeeze as much sun out of the end of the day as possible. Photo by ejain.
When the days are shorter, many of us want to squeeze as much sunlight as possible out of each day. Head to Kalaloch Beach via the Beach 4 trail, where the wide open west-facing skies will offer you as much daylight as you can get. If you’re looking for an evening stroll, it’s also a great place to catch the sunset.
> Plan your hike to Beach 4 using WTA's Hiking Guide
Wilson Creek Cottontail Trail
Location: Central Washington > Moses Lake area
Length: 1.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 11 feet
Look no further than the Wilson Creek Cottontail Trail for wide open skies. This trail is paved and relatively flat, so it’s great for hikers of all ages and experience levels, and good for a quiet post-dinner walk or jog.
> Plan your hike along the Wilson Creek Cottontail Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
Captain William Clark Regional Park at Cottonwood Beach - Dike Trail
Location: Southwest Washington > Washougal
Length: 2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 20 feet
The trail gets great light even on a cloudy day. Photo by BeaverDawg.
In the Columbia River Gorge, walk along the water on this open dike trail where you'll get lots of light, whether it's a clear day or not. The trail itself is quite flat and wide, so it makes for a great trail run, post-dinner stroll or family outing.
Kamiak Butte
Location: Eastern Washington > Pullman area
Length: 3.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Views from the butte with a light dusting of snow. Photo by RichP.
A hike at Kamiak Butte is lovely any time of year, and in wintertime, the butte's summit offers delightful views of the rolling farm hills all around. It's a beautiful place to visit when there's a dusting of snow, and you're looking for a shorter hike for a shorter day.
> Plan your hike to Kamiak Butte using WTA's Hiking Guide
Pack your binoculars for a winter wildlife fix
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Eastern Washington > Spokane
Length: 5.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 0 feet
If you're quiet and patient, you can expect to see all sorts of wildlife at the refuge. Photo by Gabi Sciuchetti.
For many of us, shorter days mean less time for hiking, but it can be a great time to pull out the guidebooks and binoculars for some lower-key wildlife watching. The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is known for the cool wildlife you could see there, which includes moose, porcupine, beaver and birds galore.
> Plan your visit to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge using WTA's Hiking Guide
Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve
Location: Olympic Peninsula > Port Orchard area
Length: 3.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 50 feet
Don't forget your birding book! Photo by Laura Carter, courtesy of iamsarahshu.
There are more than 3 miles of trails here, but if you only have a short window of sunlight, consider staking out a spot on the boardwalk with your binoculars and keeping a quiet eye out for the many waterfowl you may see here.
> Plan your visit to the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve using WTA's Hiking Guide
Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
Location: Southwest Washington > Long Beach
Length: 2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: minimal
Winter is a quiet time at the refuge. Photo by FilthyCasualHiker.
Though there are two trails at the refuge, only the 2-mile White-tail Trail is open between October and May. But don't think that means there's less to see! Pack your wildlife-watching materials and cold-weather gear, and be prepared to see wintering birds and other quiet animals.
Maximize daylight by camping near the trailhead
Field Springs State Park - Puffer Butte
Location: Eastern Washington > Walla Walla and Lewiston area
Length: 2.1 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Get beautiful views of Eastern Washington from Puffer Butte. Photo by Jennie.
A hike at Puffer Butte is lovely in the wintertime — though you might want to pack some snowshoes if you want to reach the top and there's snow! What makes it extra convenient for winter adventuring is that Field Springs State Park, where Puffer Butte is located, is open for camping all year, so you can camp out before or after your hike and spend all day outside.
> Plan your hike to Field Springs State Park - Puffer Butte using WTA's Hiking Guide
PAlouse to Cascades TRail - Crab Creek
Location: Central Washington > Vantage area
Length: 6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 0 feet
A snowy Central Washington scene. Photo by DRDana.
Explore coulee country along this trail, which takes you along the bluffs above Nunnally and Merry Lakes. You'll see large, signature Central Washington basalt outcroppings and striking views of the Saddle Mountains. And, once you're done adventuring for the day, head to the Grant County PUD Sand Hollow Recreation Area for first-come, first-served camping, just a 20-minute drive away.
> Plan your hike along the Palouse to Cascades Trail - Crab Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide