Waterfall along Lake 22 trail

Getting there: The trip to Verlot from Seattle is about 55 miles; allow 1.5 hrs. Take I-5 north to Everett and exit 194; go east on Hwy 2, shortly taking a ramp to the left onto Hwy 204 towards Lake Stevens; turn left onto Hwy 9, then right onto Hwy 92 to Granite Falls. Go through town and turn left at the stop sign; the road eventually follows the South Fork Stillaguamish River and reaches Verlot in about 11 miles.

Mt. Baker Mt. Baker is the northernmost volcano in Washington, and the Mount Baker Highway will take you to one of the most spectacular spots in the state-- the alpine crest between 8,268 ft Mt. Shuksan and 10,778 ft Baker. Don't forget your camera-- the alpine scenery here rivals that of Rainier. Many of the state's most memorable day hikes are centered around Baker. Favorites include the Chain Lakes Loop trail (moderate, 6.5 mi), Ptarmigan Ridge (4.0+ mi, moderate) and the Table Mountain Trail (3.5 mi, difficult), all of which leave from the Artist Point trailhead at the end of the road.

View of Mt. Shuksan from Mt. Baker

Skyline Divide (6 mi, moderate, off Forest Service Road 37 east of Glacier) is also gorgeous and known for its wildflowers. Keep in mind that weather conditions can change more rapidly here than in many other areas of the state and some trails are subject to white-outs. Carry a map and compass at all times.

Getting there: The Mount Baker Highway (Hwy 542) is 100 miles north of Seattle. Drive north on I-5 past Bellingham, take exit 255, and drive east. Stop at the Public Service Center just past Glacier for maps and trail information. The road ends in 58 miles at scenic Artist Point, elev. 5140 ft.-- it rarely melts out until August.. The drive (4-4.5 hrs each way) is almost too long for a single day. Consider camping (many campgrounds nearby take reservations) or finding accommodation near Glacier (book well ahead).

Mt. Rainier National Park Mt. Rainier dominates the U.W. Campus and Seattle skylines on clear days, and at 14,410 feet, is the tallest volcano in Washington state. Rainier is a popular destination for both climbers and nature lovers - there are few sights as stunning as the wildflower meadows juxtaposed against the enormous glaciers of Rainier in August, and driving and walking around Rainier on a summer afternoon can give you a sense of wilderness and exhilaration difficult to achieve so easily anywhere else in the state. There are several entrances to the park and 300 miles of trails once you get there. Both the Sunrise and Paradise areas have visitor centers and excellent short hiking trails which will take you out among the wildflowers-- you can visit both in a driving loop around the park.

Mt. Rainier

Sunrise is less crowded and arguably more beautiful; the trail here to Burroughs Mountain (7 mi, + 900 ft., moderate) is hard to beat for magnificent views. Likely wildlife encounters include marmots, mountain goats, and elk. Also highly recommended is the Naches Peak Loop (4.5 mi, + 860 ft., easy/moderate) at the Tipsoo Lakes area near Chinook Pass.

View of Mt. Rainier from Paradise

In the southeast corner of the park, the short easy walk through the Grove of the Patriarchs (1.3 mi) is worth checking out for some stunning old growth forest and possible dipper sightings on the Ohanapecosh River.  Those wishing to stay overnight can choose from lodges in the park (Paradise or Longmire-- book well in advance) or in nearby Ashford; there are also many campgrounds in and around the park.

Getting there: Mt. Rainier is a 21/2-3 hr drive from Seattle, making it a longish day trip. There are several entrances to the park. For most areas, drive I-5 south to Route 18 east (exit 142a), take 18 east about 4 miles to Route 164 (Auburn/Enumclaw), take 164 through Enumclaw to 410 until you reach the park. On the return trip, make sure you veer right at the second light as you come into Enumclaw, so you are taking Hwy 164 back to Auburn, instead of 410 to Buckley.

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument No written description can due justice to the experience of looking down into the gaping cinder crater of this volcano and imagining the 1980 explosion that unleashed 6.6 billion tons of mud, ice, and rock into the rivers and valleys below. The destruction was awesome, as is this monument. If you have time, this should be high on your list of Northwest sights to see. The primary access is via Hwy 504, the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, which can be reached by driving south of Seattle on I-5. Allow at least 3 hours from Seattle, and 4 hours minimum to explore the various interpretive centers (most are excellent) along the 53 mile long road. Make sure you reach the Johnston Ridge Observatory at the top: the view there-- straight into the gaping maw of the volcano-- will blow you away (we hope not literally). The best camping in the area is at Seaquest State Park, which takes reservations (necessary in August). There are also several lodging possibilities in Castle Rock.

Mt. St. Helens

North Cascades National Park The wildest mountains in Washington and perhaps in the U.S. can be found in North Cascades National Park, which contains over 300 active glaciers amid countless jagged peaks. Despite the grandeur of the scenery here, there are far fewer crowds than in the better known Olympic and Rainier National Parks. While the mountains here are best viewed on foot, the magnificent North Cascades Scenic Highway 20 transects the mountains and provides access to some great viewpoints. For information on park highlights and trails, start out at the National Park Visitors Center in Newhalem. On the man-made side, you can explore one of the most impressive construction projects in the Northwest-- the City of Seattle's extensive upper Skagit hydropower development, with several daily tour options.

North Cascades peaks from Sahale Arm

Once you pass this area, the real wilderness begins. At Rainy Pass and Washington Pass, short trails lead to wonderful vistas. Easy Pass is a popular and spectacular day hike (7.2 mi, difficult); also recommended is the Lake Ann and Maple Pass trail (up to 6.2 mi, easy-moderate) and the Rainy Lake Nature Trail (1.8 mi, easy).

Hidden Lakes Peak

Two other entrances to the park lead to equally spectacular areas. To get to the Cascade Pass trail(moderate, 7.4 mi), one of the truly classic hikes in the state, or equally beautiful but less crowded Hidden Lakes Peak trail (difficult, 9 mi), drive the Cascade Road from Marblemount. At the road's end you will be looking at the face of 8,065 foot Johannesburg Mountain, whose front face contains a glacier that frequently sends cascades of ice into the valley below. Backpackers can cross Cascade Pass and exit the park via Stehekin and Lake Chelan, the other major entrance to the park. Alternatively, you can come in from the opposite direction: the boat ride up Lake Chelan into the North Cascades is a magic journey. A National Park Shuttle service from Stehekin allows access to a number of beautiful hiking trails and small campsites in the Stehekin Valley.

Olympic National Park With one of the few large temperate rainforests in the world, alpine meadows, and long scenic beaches, Olympic National Park is probably the most diverse in the state. It is also a world-famous destination-- be prepared for crowds in August at the most popular sites. Unless you limit your visit to the Hurricane Ridge area, ONP is best done as a multi-day trip: driving distances are 3-5 hours (one way) for most destinations, and ferry crossings can be busy during the summer. Unlike many other National Parks, ONP has few roads leading into its interior. Thus, the park is best experienced with either a selection of short walks/hikes starting from various points around the peninsula, or with an extended backpacking trip that will take you into the heart of the park and the alpine regions.

Hurricane Ridge

As you explore the peninsula, be prepared for the grim contrast between the beauty of the park and the devastation of surrounding National Forest areas, which have been logged nearly to oblivion in the recent past.

Hurricane Ridge is a 3-31/2 hr drive/ferry ride from Seattle and offers the only easy access to the alpine regions of the park. On the way, you can stop at the main park visitor center in Port Angeles for maps and information. The views down into the Elwah River Valley are stunning, as are the alpine meadows and the line of Olympic peaks on the horizon. An enchanting, easy (3 miles, +700 ft.) hike is up the Hurricane Hill Nature Trail. 360°degree panoramic views (magic at sunset) make this one of the best short hikes in the Northwest. Your walk is likely to be accompanied by curious blue grouse, mule deer, and ravens. The first .5 miles of the trail is wheelchair accessible.

Shi-Shi Beach

Further north along the peninsula, the trail to Soleduck Falls (easy, 1.5 mi), leads you through old growth forest to a beautiful 40' falls. For bigger and wetter forest, try the trails on the western side of the park. The Hoh River Valley receives almost 140 inches of rain a year. The Hoh River Valley trail and nearby Spruce (easy 1.25 mi loop) and Hall of Mosses (easy .75 mi loop) nature trails all offer access to the justly famous Olympic rainforest. Less crowded but also showcasing magnificent old growth rainforest are trails in the Lake Quinault region, including the Lake Quinault Loop (easy, 3 mi) and the Rain Forest Nature Trail (easy 1 mi loop).

The west side of the peninsula is also the place to access trails to dramatic Olympic beaches-- all designated wilderness areas. Try Rialto Beach (with drive-up access), Second Beach, or Third Beach (access via short forested trails). Many of the rock stacks offshore are home to nesting seabirds, and the surf is a good place to spot diving birds and sea or river otters. If you have time, a short backpacking trip into Shi-Shi Beach (2 mi each way, plus the beach) is one of the most spectacular on the coast and usually full of wildlife. Access to the Shi-Shi trailhead is more involved than for the other beaches-- see local hiking guides for more details. Accommodation on the peninsula is often fully booked in August-- especially in the Forks area. Unless you are camping, it is best to book ahead. There are numerous campgrounds in and near the park, the largest being Heart O' the Hills (for the Hurricane Ridge area), Mora, Kalaloch, and Hoh. All operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tide pool at Shi-Shi Beach