Seattle Trails

Rescuers were unable to find a skier who plunged through a snow bridge into Pebble Creek.

Rescue swimmers medevaced a 17-year-old who fell while hiking last weekend.

Crews responded after a hiker fell from a Carbonado-area trail.

Washington's state parks reversed course and will remain open for at least one more day, even without a finalized state budget.

Three fires near Wenatchee have grown to more than 23,000 acres.

The Sunrise and Mowich Lake roads are set to open Friday.

Lingering snow continues to get unprepared hikers into trouble on the Cascade peak.

The access point into the Glacier Peak Wilderness is finally cleared after three years of wildfire- and mudslide-related closures.

The lifetime pass for those 62 and older will jump to $80 from $10 this year.

65 Search & Rescue crew members rallied to help save a severely injured hiker.

University of Washington researchers helped identify North America's third known type of the tree-dwelling animal.

Rescuers say good preparation was the key to the happy ending of this paddling tale.

After a weekend responding to calls of hikers in distress, rescue teams urge people to prepare themselves better for wilderness conditions.

Search & Rescue crews helped two unprepared hikers who got into trouble in the Central Cascades' early-season snowpack.

The national park is calling for public input on a proposed plan for expanding wireless at Paradise.

Busy night for Search & Rescue on Mt. Pilchuck as officials respond to two separate incidents.

Snag one of these rental cabins for the perfect (cheap) Washington weekend getaway.

Local advocates look to promote tourism in Sultan and Monroe with better access to the Cascades' big rivers.

The scenic pass to the park's eastern entrance should be snow-free for the weekend.

Collect wild berries; steal amazing views of Mt. Rainier; or camp in the shadow of twin mountains in some of Seattle's best local hikes.

Explore 4.4 miles through old growth timber to a glacier-carved lake on this family-friendly hike in the Cascade Mountains.

Only minutes from downtown, this easy 4-mile hike into the Issaquah Alps passes near a charming waterfall en route to a memorable view of greater Seattle and the Olympics.

This 6.6-mile loop features a coastal bluff with dazzling wildflower displays and a wild beach with exceptional views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Trace the abandoned Great Northern Railroad to remarkable stone tunnels, collapsed avalanche sheds, and super views of the Cascades on this 12.2-mile, out-and-back historical hike.

The 4.3-mile climb to McClellan Butte is steep and rugged, but the payoff on top of this strikingly sharp summit is nothing short of spectacular. Wear sturdy boots for extra support.

A good spring hike, this 5.2-mile out-and-back strolls through the shade of old-growth forest to the peaceful banks of Lena Lake. The trail is snow-free most of the year.

Solitude rules on this 9.4-mile out-and-back hike along Little Kachess Lake to rock gardens ablaze with wildflowers,giant green forests, and a quiet lakeside hideout.

Hike 8.6 miles along a rippling creek and past high cliff walls to pockets of old-growth forest, birding hotspots, and a bonanza of wildflower patches.

Switchback 1,800 vertical feet to a sapphire-blue glacial lake in the shadow of Mt. Index on this moderate 6.4-mile round trip- with a killer picnic at Bridal Veil Falls.

A steep climb of 3,700 feet in 3.6 miles gains a firetower lookout with spectacular views of Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Mount Stuart.

Enjoy stunning views of Mt. Rainier, old-growth forest, and colorful summer wildflowers on this 2.8-mile hike to a pair of high alpine lakes.

Mountainsides of wildflowers and alpine larches will excite all five senses on this 6-mile out-and-back mountain trek in Wenatchee National Forest.

This challenging 2,000-foot climb coils through 7.9 miles of mixed forest then unloads killer views from the tops of two favorite local peaks.

This all-season, 7-mile loop in the Boulder River Wilderness gently ascends through fast-growing (and fast-falling) alders, fragrant cedars, and rugged Douglas firs.

A stiff climb is rewarded with Lord-Of-The-Rings-like views on this 8.6-mile, berry-strewn trek.

This 6.2-mile out-and-back follows the new Ira Spring Memorial Trail, which winds for 3.2 miles above Snoqualmie Valley, ending at picturesque Mason Lake.

A 7.4-mile hike with nonstop views of the Olympics, leading to a summit on the eastern edge of Olympic National Park.

Explore wildlife-rich salt flats and marsh in one of the last undeveloped deltas in the Puget Sound Region.

This 7.4-miler scrambles the best of the eastern Cascades: waterfalls, fragrant forests, and a sprawling alpine lake.

This 9.4-miler leads to a serene mountain lake and a ragged peak in Snoqualmie National Forest. Earmark a weekend to explore both, or divide it into two shorter dayhikes.

This stunning 12-mile romp visits one of the most beautiful and rugged desert shrub-steppe areas of central Washington and is well worth the 2-hour drive from downtown.

Satisfy your wanderlust on this 5.4-mile out-and-back, which offers stop-and-gawk panoramas of the jagged Cascades blanketed by glaciers.

This 8-mile backcountry trek serves up two mountain lakes, intimate views of Mount Rainier, and some off-trail scrambles in the Tatoosh Range.

Hike the vibrant meadows of the Olympics on this 17-mile out-and-back, passing a warplane crash site and old mining town in Buckhorn Wilderness.

Set aside 2 days to explore the Wenatchee Mountains on this 16-mile out-and-back, which features alpine lakes, glacier-draped peaks, and lots of solitude.

This 4.6-mile round-trip takes an old mountaineers' route past cascades and through alpine meadows to a classic peak in the shadows of Rainier.

See a remote part of the Goat Rocks Wilderness on this 16.8-mile loop, which passes a fine array of giant fir, Alaskan yellow cedar, and a smattering of larches.

Climb to a pass high in the Wenatchee Mountains with colorful wildflower meadows, campsites, and eye-candy panoramas on this 5.4-mile out-and-back.

Get climbers'-eye views on this adventurous ramble to the peak's base--or summit--on this 3- to 5-day trip.

Hike into a vast, volcano-crafted moonscape in the (much-reduced) shadows of Mount St. Helens on this 10-mile out-and-back.

A bit of rain will only enhance your 6.1-mile out-and-back trek to foggy forests, misty waterfalls, and a nearly 6,000-foot peak in Mt. Rainier National Park.

This 13.2-mile PCT out-and-back is resplendent with mountain scenery, including big panoramas, heaps of wildlife, and a blissfully blue alpine lake.

Enjoy a soundtrack of whistling winds on this rolling 7-mile hike through virgin forestland to a large alpine lake in William O. Douglas Wilderness.

In a mere 5.2 miles, you'll rise 2,200 feet for a sky­box view of Mt. Stuart's wrinkly south face dominating a tawny valley, then descend back to earth again.

This 8-mile out-and-back to a pair of volcanic Cascades cones comes with dozens of colorful wildflower meadows and chilly alpine tarns.

Gain more than 2,500 feet on this steep 7.6-mile hike though an open evergreen forest to a view-blessed peak in Wenatchee National Forest. An exceptional wildflower hike in late spring.

This romantic 6.1-miler follows Lovers Lane Trail to four waterfalls and countless cool swimming holes set in the deep forests of Olympic National Park.

This pleasant 7-mile round-trip hike into Norse Peak Wilderness offers sublime views of volcanic summits without the area's usual knee-breaking ascent.

From river valley to alpine meadows, this 10.8-mile hike features a brilliant flower display in midsummer and stunning Olympic Range views year-round.

This 11-mile out-and-back hike heads up Dungeness Spit, a sandy coastal bar decorated with giant driftwood and the occasional deer, to an old lighthouse.

Climb up 2,200 feet to breathtaking views of Washington's most prominent mountain ranges--the Olympics and Cascades--on this 4.8-mile out-and-back.

This out-and-back 4.4-miler gently wanders under the shade of giant cedars and firs, then circles a peaceful lake.

Grab shotgun views of four volcanoes on this lonely 6.2-mile out-and-back in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Hike a lonely ridge to a lovely meadow campsite on this fairly modest 9.2-mile hike with postcard panoramas of Mount Adams.

Explore a wild kingdom of birds, elk, and black bears on this 5.4-mile, moderately challenging dayhike in the William O. Douglas Wilderness.

This 7.4-miler boasts unmatched views of Mount Rainier, not to mention wildflower meadows and campsites by a mountain lake.

This 8.2-mile out-and-back is rarely hiked. If your legs can take a stiff, 3,434-foot climb, the payoff is best-in-show vistas of Rainier and its neighbors.

This 5.8-mile hike passes the Mount St. Helens blast area, then enters old growth as it ascends Goat Mountain's ridges to several stunning overlooks.

This rugged 7.7-mile dayhike in the park's wild, remote northeast corner climbs more than 3,000 feet to five-star views unfolding in all directions.

This 6.8-mile day or overnight is part Northwest forest and part desert, highlighted by a host of birds and cliffs rising above a rushing creek.

During this 8.4-mile hike, you'll see lush moss, forest wildflowers, rushing rivers, and roaring waterfalls on your way to a low-elevation lake.

This multiday paddle tours a small island, scenic coves, and tops things off with a 4.8-mile hike to a lake in Larrabee State Park.

This mostly forested loop climbs 1,250 feet to three misty waterfalls and dynamite views of the Olympic Mountains.

Pack light: This strenuous dayhike gains 3,000 feet in less than 3 miles, and offers in-your-face mountain views in Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

This 8.6-mile out-and-back is packed with attractions: roaring waterfalls, an alpine lake, and mountain views so awesome you'll go trigger-happy with the camera.

Hike 9.6 miles over a panoramic ridgeline serving up big views of Glacier Peak, and across wildflower meadows to a lookout tower.

This dayhike quickly gains 3,000 feet in 2.5 miles and ends on top of a summit where mountain views extend in every direction.

This 13.6-miler traces a treeless ridgeline speckled with seasonal wildflowers and endless mountainous views, then ends at a lakeside lunch spot.

This half-mad dayhike requires a stiff climb through overgrown brush, then rewards hikers with miles of wildflowers backdropped by alpine peaks.

Hikers are rare but solitude isn't on this 9-mile ridgeline hike to a secluded lakeside campsite in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.