hike of the month
November 2019 Hike of the Month: Licorice Fern Trail
This fall wonderland of a hike is full of mossy trees and crunchy maple leaves
It’s November and shorter daylight hours mean shorter hikes. If you’re not quite ready to bring out the snowshoes and full winter gear, it’s also a good time to explore the lower elevation hikes. Late October brought a round of early snow to the mountains, and closed off a lot of trails close to Seattle…
October 2019 Hike of the Month: Granite Mountain
This hike is a tough climb, but a great swan song for the general hiking season
October is the greatest month for hiking. A hike on a beautiful fall day in the Pacific Northwest is the payoff for all the summer hikes leading up to it, and the incentive that keeps you dreaming all winter of getting back on the trail, if you’re not into the snowy and cold variety of…
September Hike of the Month: Heather Lake
This all levels hike has endless photo ops
It’s September and time for a spectacular early fall hike. Look no further than Heather Lake, an all-levels trail on the road to Mt. Pilchuck, for the best bang for your buck. It’s a hike that has it all: a wealth of varied terrain and a smorgasbord of Pacific Northwest trees and vegetation, all wrapped…
July Hike of the Month: Denny Creek and Melakwa Lakes
This hike takes you from a beginner hiker to alpine expert
It’s the peak of summer—all those spring and early summer hikes prepared you for the main season of hiking. This month, try Denny Creek to Melakwa Lakes for a hike that takes you from beginner hiker to alpine expert in just under nine miles round trip. The first part of the hike is flat and…
May Hike of the Month: Watch the Sunrise at Rattlesnake Ledge
This classic Seattle-area hike is perfect for an early riser
There are so many classic Seattle-area hikes, but few are as popular as Rattlesnake Ledge. In fact, it can be too popular on nice days. But regardless of crowds, the four-mile round trip hike is definitely worth doing —and to make it extra special, we suggest doing it as a sunrise hike—a bucket-list item for…
April Hike of the Month: Dirty Harry’s Balcony
This short two mile hike up to Dirty Harry's Balcony is well worth the views
Dirty Harry’s Peak is named after a logger of questionable repute—his logging in the North Bend area earned him the moniker. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the short two mile hike up to Dirty Harry’s Balcony; it’s about an hour’s trek from the trailhead. Those who wish to go further can hike…
March Hike of the Month: Heybrook Lookout
It’s a short gorgeous hike, but it’s all about the views
This one REQUIRES a clear day. It’s a short gorgeous hike, but it’s all about the views. You’d be hard pressed to find a better “bang for your buck” view hike than Heybrook Lookout. It’s one of Washington’s famous fire lookout towers. These towers are built for maximum visibility — that means views! Luckily, you…
February Hike of the Month: Cedar Butte Trail
The Cedar Butte trail offers a less crowded experience
We’ve been having an unseasonably warm winter in Seattle, which while frustrating for some skiers, has made for some great winter hiking days. This month, try hiking nearby Cedar Butte, a 3.5 mile round trip hike that leaves from Iron Horse State Park, just out at exit 32 on I-90. It starts out as a…
January Hike of the Month: Gold Creek Pond
Time to break out the snowshoes
It’s January, so we should stay inside and dream of springtime hikes, right? Wrong. It’s a perfect time for snowshoeing, aka hiking in the snow. If you can hike, you can snowshoe, and with Snoqualmie Pass less than an hour from Seattle, it’s time to get outside. Gold Creek Pond is a top choice for…
December Hike of the Month: Wallace Falls
Located in Gold Bar, a relatively short drive up U.S. Route 2, this gorgeous hike is a cattle trail in summer and fall, but is perfect for a winter hike
Don’t pack up the hiking boots yet. There are still some lower elevation trails out there that are usually snow-free and are perfect for a December hike. It’s also the perfect time to take on some of the trails that are so packed in the summer, you need to be at the trailhead by dawn…