Sharing the beauty of Washington is one of the reasons why I started this blog. It’s also where Tex and I logged the most miles, made the most mistakes, and had some of the most memorable days outside.
From the granite scrambles of the North Cascades to the mossy rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula, to the wildflower meadows around Mount Rainier, there is a little something for everyone.
Below you'll find everything I've documented, organized by region. Each page includes trail guides, trip reports, and everything I wish I'd known before going.
Adventures in Washington
North Cascades
The North Cascades is one my of favorite areas in Washington. This region has some of the state’s most dramatic and beautiful alpine terrain. Most adventures here are accessible via three main corridors: the Mountain Loop Highway out of Granite Falls, the Mount Baker Highway (SR-542) near Bellingham, and the North Cascades Highway (SR-20) through the national park.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
Many trails don’t fully open until mid-July and snow generally returns by October. The short window makes this region even more special.
A Northwest Forest pass or America the Beautiful pass covers most trailheads but always double check before heading out.
Tex is welcome on national forest and DNR trails but has restrictions in certain trails in North Cascades National Park. That being said, almost all of the following adventures are dog-friendly!
Get Inspired
I checked off a lot of bucket list hikes this past summer.
The first one being Gothic Basin, a dramatic alpine basin off of the Mountain Loop that I’d had on my for years before finally going. It is a difficult 9.2-mile hike with over 3000 feet of elevation gain, but the payoff is one of the most otherworldly landscapes I’ve encountered in Washington. The second hike I checked off was the Hannegan Pass Trail. It quickly became one of favorites in the entire state. This one has big views of the Nooksack Ridge and Ruth Mountain without the crowds of let’s say, the Heather-Maple Pass Loop.
But if you only have the time (and capacity) to do one hike, I highly recommend the Heather-Maple Pass Loop off the North Cascades Highway. Go in mid-September for the larches. However, this hike is extremely popular. I still recommend going on a weekday but be prepared to find a Plan B if there is no more parking available.
For those who have known me for a while know that I absolutely love the Mount Baker Wilderness and I’ve done a fair amount of hikes in this area too. Highlights include the Chain Lakes Loop near Artist Point, which is a great option for a day hike, the quieter Anderson and Watson Lakes provides a less-trafficked loop alternative. For backpackers, I highly recommend checking out Ptarmigan Ridge and Thornton Lakes, both round out some of the best overnight options I have done in this region as well.
In winter, the Mount Baker area transforms into one of Washington's best snowshoeing destinations. Snowshoeing to Artist Point is the standout. Views of Baker and Shuksan blanketed in snow and the alpenglow are hard to beat anywhere in the state. If you have time, I highly recommend backpacking up to Artist Point.
But if you want to experience the North Cascades from the water, kayak camping in North Cascades National Park through Diablo is one of those trips that doesn't feel real while you're doing it and coincidentally is one of the best beginner kayak camping trips anyone can do.
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympics can often feel like it has its own eco system going. Old-growth rainforest, wild Pacific coastline, and high alpine terrain and sometimes they can be on the same trip. It is remote enough that planning matters, but that remoteness is also the whole point. I haven’t explored this region nearly as much as the North Cascades yet but I love coming here during the often season.
The two trips that have stuck with me most are Royal Basin in the northeastern Olympics — a stunning backpacking route to an alpine lake below the Needles — and Enchanted Valley in the Quinault area, which earns its nickname as the "Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls" in a big way. For something completely different, Hole in the Wall is a coastal backpacking trip along one of the wildest stretches of Pacific coastline in the lower 48 — just make sure you check tide tables before you go. If you're newer to the peninsula and want an accessible introduction, the Quinault Loop Trail through the rainforest is a low-key, high-reward half-day hike through some of the most impressive old-growth trees in Washington.
Mount Rainier & Beyond
My favorite destination in this region might actually be Goat Rocks Wilderness — one of Washington's most underrated backpacking trips, with a ridge walk that puts Rainier to the north and St. Helens to the south simultaneously. For a shorter outing with an outsized view, High Rock Lookout in Gifford Pinchot National Forest gives you one of the best front-row Rainier views you can get without a permit, and it's dog-friendly. Inside the national park itself, Dege Peak is an underrated sunset hike with panoramic views and far fewer people than the Paradise trails. And if you want something quieter still, Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap near Crystal Mountain is a beautiful subalpine loop that most people overlook precisely because it doesn't have Rainier in the name.
