It’s Hiking Season!
I absolutely love, love, love hiking in the PNW. It’s one of my favorite things in life right now. It dispels my stress, it makes me strong, the views overwhelm me, my dogs think I’m the coolest, and it’s free! I’d love to share some of my absolute favorite trails within a few hours from Seattle.
First on my list are the Enchantments. Just outside of Leavenworth in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, these mountains offer many trails with stunning views of mountains and lakes. They definitely own up to their name. Providing a wide range of lengths and difficulty, the Enchantments are for anybody and everybody. For an easy but still gorgeous day hike, I’d recommend the Icicle Gorge Trail, it takes no more than 2 hours to complete and has hardly any incline at all. For something more intense I’d suggest the Colchuck Lake Trail. It is certainly a tough 8.5 mile hike but the breathtaking views of bright blue Colchuck lake at the base of the mountains are more than worth it. Plus it’s only a two-and-a-half hour drive out of Seattle to get there, making the Enchantments the perfect escape into some of the beauty this state has to offer.
Mount Saint Helens, another one of my favorites, offers a unique landscape as it is an active volcano. Located in Matha Lake, Washington, the trails here offer spectacular views of Washington’s other beautiful mountain ranges, such as Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier. My go-to hike when I’m here is the Boundary Trail that takes you to the Norway Pass. It’s very well maintained and takes a little more than two hours to complete. Providing incredible views without the expense of an exhausting journey make this one an absolutely ideal taste of Saint Helens.
In the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest are two trails I adore. First is Granite Mountain. This trail is certainly an exciting adventure with beautiful forest trails, rocky terrain, and breathtaking views from the summit. At 7.7 miles with 3,717 ft of elevation and a lengthy rock scramble at the top, this is definitely a challenge, but the effort is well worth it for the impressive vistas and the sense of accomplishment that comes with. Also in this forest, is the Annette Lake trail. Same length as Granite Moutnain but almost half the elevation making it much more moderate. This trail offers some of the most beautiful water I’ve seen. Lake Annette is nestled between the trail and the mountains. It sits clear and reflects the beauty of the surrounding nature in such a pristine way. Not only are these hikes absolutely spectacular, but it take less than an hour to get there from Seattle. Overall, it’s an invigorating experience that offers both natural beauty and a rewarding challenge.
Have you tried any of these hikes? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the mountains, I think it’s important to get your body moving when you’re healthy and have the ability to do so. And even if you don’t make it to the top, there’s so much beauty along the trailside that anyone can appreciate. So I encourage you to get out there and explore - you’ll be happy you did!