Crazy in Love (with Hiking): Trails to Pair with Your Favorite Beyoncé Songs

Beyoncé beckons you to go hiking and see the fall colors! Photo of Cathedral Rock and Peggy Lake by Bryce Hill. Photo of Beyoncé by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood.

Beyoncé is bringing her Renaissance World Tour to Seattle on Thursday, Sept. 14. To celebrate, here are seven hikes to go along with seven iconic songs by Queen Bey.

With over 4,000 trails in Washington and hundreds of Beyoncé tracks, this list is far from comprehensive — so, tell us in the comments which trail you’d pair with your favorite song!

“Break My Soul” — Vesper Peak

A glowing view from Vesper Peak. Photo by Jason Prater. 

Fall in love, quit your job (you didn’t hear that from us 😉) and head to Vesper Peak. With an elevation gain of 4,000 feet, including some rocky scrambles, this climb takes a lot of motivation and a strong foundation (on your feet). Once you’ve made it to the top, definitely celebrate with a dance party.

> Plan your trip to Vesper Peak using WTA’s Hiking Guide. 

“Halo” — Sourdough Ridge

Mount Rainier’s “halo” (a.k.a. lenticular cloud). Photo by trip reporter seattlenativemike. 

• 
• Note: Lenticular clouds are also nature’s "Alien Superstars." Photo by turnerbot.

Want to see Mount Rainier’s “halo” (a.k.a. lenticular cloud) up close? Take to Sourdough Ridge for a short but satisfying hike with a magnificent view of the highest peak in the lower 48. Also known as “lens clouds,” lenticular clouds indicate approaching rain, snow or strong winds on high peaks — one of the many things you can learn from the clouds while hiking.

> Plan your trip to Sourdough Ridge using WTA’s Hiking Guide. 

“Upgrade U” — Swan Creek Park

A trail at Swan Creek Park before and after upgrades by WTA volunteer trail crews. Photos by Zachary Toliver.

• Leading The Way
• 
• WTA's Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) helped upgrade Swan Creek's trails. ELP is a paid career program that is building systemic change by increasing entry points to the outdoor field for young BIPOC professionals. Photo by Angelic Friday. 

Every year, WTA volunteer crews complete more than 150,000 hours of trail work to ensure that our state has a sustainable, accessible trail system for generations to come.

In recent years, WTA crews upgraded trails in Tacoma’s Swan Creek Park, an urban oasis with a wooded canyon, forested hills, a salmon-bearing stream and community garden. Our volunteers spruced up crumbling trail edges, removed brush, widened trails for accessibility and more. 

> Plan your trip to Swan Creek Park with WTA’s Hiking Guide. 

“Love on Top” — Mount dickerman

Summit Mount Dickerman for superb views of the Mountain Loop peaks. Photo by trip reporter skh.

While the climb may feel nearly as challenging as the queen’s key changes, the view from the top of Mount Dickerman will have you feeling on top of the world. The summit offers an incomparable panorama of nearly every peak in the Mountain Loop region. 

> Plan your trip to Mount Dickerman using WTA’s Hiking Guide.

“Run the World (Girls)” — Wonderland Trail

Participants on WTA’s 2023 all-girls volunteer vacation clear a log from the Wonderland Trail. Photo by Kesia Lee.

For over 15 years, WTA has held annual all-girls volunteer vacations — fun, teamwork-oriented trips where teens who identify as young women spend a week hiking, camping and maintaining trails. To see the amazing work our all-girls crew did this year, hit the Wonderland Trail near Mowich Lake, where the mighty crew restored tread, dug paths for water flow and literally moved boulders to ensure we can all hike safely in Mount Rainier National Park.

> Plan your trip on the Wonderland Trail using WTA’s Hiking Guide.

“Ring the Alarm” — Washington’s Fire Lookouts

With some advance planning, you can reserve a memorable stay in a fire lookout. Photo of Park Butte Fire Lookout by Isaac Day.

Did you know that you can spend the night in a number of fire lookouts across Washington? 

Before wildfire detection technology advanced, fire lookouts played an essential role in identifying fires and "ringing the alarm," per se, to mobilize firefighters. Now, some can be reserved or claimed on a “first-come, first-served” basis for an unforgettable stay. 

> Learn more about spending the night in a fire lookout.

“Sandcastles” — North Coast Route

The North Coast Route offers spectacular views of rocky islands, known as “sea stacks,” offshore. Photo by trip reporter pupptea.

With misty mornings, bright afternoons and dramatic sunsets, a trip down the Olympic Coast brings the poignant beauty and emotional depth of Bey’s piano ballad. Make sure to bring a tide chart so that you can build a sandcastle at low tide then watch it wash away as the waves roll back in (and, of course, to check out some tide pools).

> Plan your trip on the North Coast Route using WTA’s Hiking Guide.

Want to keep these hikes and 4,000 more in your back pocket? Join the party and download WTA’s Trailblazer mobile app! Full of local knowledge and trip reports with gorgeous photos, it’s an irreplaceable resource for planning hikes in Washington. Plus, thanks to hiker support, the app is free and always will be.