Northwest TripFinder

Where the Wildfires Are

Lauren Braden — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:54:45 +0000

Where the Wildfires Are

The Staircase area and campground as well as Big Creek Campground in Olympic National Park are currently closed due to the Bear Gulch Fire (click for the latest) in the park and surrounding Olympic National Forest. This fire is burning on a steep and rocky slope near the Mt. Rose Trailhead at the north end of Lake Cushman. At the time of this writing it’s burned over 5,000 acres and is 3% contained. ALL campfires are banned in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest as of August 1, 2025. This summer so far, wildfires have also forced evacuations at Lake Spokane, and the Cram Fire in Central Oregon burned nearly 100,000 acres, tanking air quality in the Bend area for several days.

Last summer we were camped up one of my favorite spots, Colonial Creek campground in North Cascades National Park, and the air quality was so compromised from a nearby wildfire that we were hiking in N95 masks. Conditions had worsened quickly as the wind shifted, and I was glad to have a stash of masks in my car. (It’s super unhealthy to hike or do any kind of exercise in poor air quality). The summer prior, our entire trip to the campground was cancelled when the campground closed due to a different wildfire.

Over the past decade or so, it’s become clear that “wildfire season” is our new normal in the Pacific Northwest, from spring through fall, and this is impacting our access to wild lands. Do you know where the wildfires are? How is the air quality at the campground or trailhead you’re headed off to? Are you allowed to build a campfire at the campsite? These are all great questions to get answers to before you head out to the Northwest outdoors.

Here are the resources I use to keep tabs on where the wildfires are, air quality, and campfire regulations.

Check wildfire status before you head out for a hike or camping trip. Inciweb is a good source for the location, size and percent containment of wildfires in the U.S. (https://inciweb.wildfire.gov). BC Wildfire Service is a good resource for British Columbia https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map. If there is a wildfire in or near an area you plan to visit, hike or camp in, expect closures of access roads, campgrounds and trailheads. So your next step is to go to that land management agency’s website and their social media channels to see if there are any alerts about closures, or just pick up the phone and call them.

Check real-time air quality on Purple Air. Just go to map.purpleair.com and zoom in on your destination’s location. Every ten minutes, the map auto-updates with readings from thousands of air quality sensors. Each reading has a number and a corresponding color, so it’s easy to assess quickly what the air quality is like. Bright green readings are low numbers of particulates – that’s good! Yellow is acceptable. If the readings for your area are orange or red, you may get symptoms if you are sensitive to air pollution. For me, anything over 100 (dark orange) and I will start to get a headache if I’m outside for too long. Note that smoke can degrade air quality hundreds of miles from the source wildfire; it all depends of wind patterns or inversions. I highly recommend keeping tabs on air quality before you head out and throughout your trip, and have some good air-filtering masks with you in case air quality unexpectedly degrades.

Check for campfire restrictions. Bans or restrictions on campfires can happen at the land agency level (for example, a specific state park, all state parks, or a specific national forest) or it can happen by county or even an entire state. You may see that fires are restricted to designated campfire rings at developed campgrounds, and when wildfire danger is high or air quality is very bad there may be a ban on all open flames. There’s no central location for seeing all up-to-date campfire restrictions, but here are some handy links:

Washington DNR Burn Restrictions

Washington State Parks Campfire Restrictions

Oregon State Parks Campfire Restrictions

In addition, check in with the specific national park or national forest you will be traveling to. For example, as of August 1, 2025, ALL campfires are banned in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest.

PHOTO: Bear Gulch Fire, Olympic National Park, courtesy of the Bear Gulch Fire Interagency Response.

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Northwest Bucket List: August

Lauren Braden — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:20:00 +0000

When you’re a hiker and it’s August, the days are just packed. Blooming wildflowers carpet alpine meadows of nearly every peak in the Cascades and Olympics, and their window of peak beauty is only open for a few weeks.

But it’s not just trails of the high country competing for attention on your days off. August is also the best month to cool off in a swimming hole, take a ride on a ferris wheel, and pick berries. I hope you’ve saved some vacation days!

Here’s a little bucket list of cool Northwesty stuff to get into throughout the month of August.

Pick wild blackberries. One August day I arrived home to two quarts of fresh-picked trailing blackberries on my front porch with a note that said “love from Vashon Island!” They were from a friend lucky enough to live on that nearby pastoral island filled with wild blackberry patches. You can surely find your own berry patch in some urban woods near you. Most city parks will have good patches near open areas (Magnuson Park in Seattle is a local favorite) and blackberry brambles are often abundant in edge habitat (bike trails, city stair climbs, etc). Just grab a bucket, wear long sleeves (blackberries have thorns – ouch!) and arrive early in the day before the crowds pick over everything and warm sunshine wakes up the bees.

Late August begins huckleberry season in the Cascades, and a huckleberry hike with bucket in tow is a must (alternatively, those old-style screw-top Nalgene bottles make great storage containers for gathering huckleberries on the trail and fit nicely in the side compartments of backpacks). Open meadows of huckleberry bushes are found on most trails above 2,000 feet in the Cascades, especially those with southern exposures. Our favorite huckleberry hike also happens to be beginner and kid-friendly: Tonga Ridge near Stevens Pass. This easy ridge walk has a plethora of huckleberry meadows, and you don’t have to hike in too far to reach them

Now about those wildflower hikes. When lingering snow fields finally melt out in the high country of the Cascades and Olympics, you know what they leave in their path: colorful carpets of wildflowers. Here are five trails to see them.

What are you doing the night of August 12? Looking up! The biggest meteor shower of the year, the Perseid Meteor Shower, will peak that night. In 2025, the waning gibbous moon (that means a few days past a full moon) will reduce visibility for the shooting stars somewhat; the best time to spot them might be in the Eastern sky in the hour or so before dawn. If you can, get yourself away from city lights. We’ve spent the past few Perseid showers in national parks where light pollution is at a minimum. A remote part of the Oregon or Washington coast will never disappoint, in fact the best Perseid meteor shower we’ve ever seen as while camping at Shi Shi Beach.

August is county fair month! In Northwest rural communities, county fairs are a celebration of community agriculture and heritage, with a whole bunch of cotton candy and bluegrass mixed in. Find a county fair near you in Washington or Oregon.

This article was originally published in 2018 and has been updated.

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Five Great County Fairs in Washington State

Lauren Braden — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:46:00 +0000

It’s August, otherwise known throughout America as County Fair Season!

My childhood memories from the fair where I grew up in rural Illinois are coated in sugar. Puffs of blue cotton candy, popsicles colored like the American flag, a plate of funnel cakes dusted with a heavy coat of sweet powder. Go to any county fair in America and a staple of decades-old culinary traditions like these will greet you and your sweet tooth.

Of course, some of the culinary delights of the American county fair have evolved. The strangely delicious corn dog has had to make room in the food vendor row for an odd array of items served to you fried on a stick, from twinkies to butter. That’s right – they serve deep-fried butter on a stick in Iowa. And deep-fried chocolate cheesecake on a stick in Colorado. California’s Sonoma County takes the concept high-brow by putting locally-grown artichoke hearts on a stick, dipping them in herby batter and frying them to a golden crunch.

The downside to eating fried, sugary foods for every meal at the county fair? No, it’s not the eye-popping calories. It’s that you have to try and keep it all down after a wild ride on The Scrambler. Not always possible, as I can attest.

From the best pig races to the crunchiest kettle corn, here are five great county fairs in Washington state that all take place over the next few weeks. Which is your favorite fair?

Four Great County Fairs in Oregon

Skagit County Fair

Mt. Vernon. August 7-10, 2025, 10am-10pm. Map.

“All the Cool Cats are at the Skagit County Fair” this year, set in the heart of one of Washington’s most fertile agricultural regions. Entertainment includes chicken races, a dog costume contest, spotted dairy cows that want you to hand-feed them grass, sheep and pigs, dogs that perform aerial tricks, archery, a performing circus, fluffy balls of cotton candy, deep-fried twinkies on a stick, funnel cakes (YUM), corn dogs, fun carnival rides (YES there’s a Ferris wheel!), and live music including lots of bluegrass, magic shows and juggling!

Admission: Thurs: admission is $10. Fri/Sat: $14 for adults and $11 for seniors and youth. Kids 5 and under always FREE. Save if you get tickets in advance at Kaptein’s Ace Hardware in Mount Vernon. Contact: (360) 416-1350.

Piper petting a sheep through the fence at the Jefferson County Fair, by H2OChick.

Jefferson County Fair

Pt. Townsend. August 8-10, 2025, 10am-8pm (6pm Sunday). Map.

The Jefferson County Fair kicks off Friday August 8 in Port Townsend, and the theme is “EXPLORE more”. This beloved fair is all about celebrating the accomplishments of its citizens ranging from agriculture to music to crafts. Come dressed for the farm–fun agri-attractions include mud drags, a llama show, and horse pulls. Livestock like sheep and swine are joined by rabbits, dogs and other domestic animals for competitions through the 4-H. Kids will enjoy crafts, bingo and a lego contest. Bring your appetite of course – there’s a beef BBQ on Sunday. Make it a whole weekend by camping at the fairgrounds.

Admission: Adults $12, students and seniors $9, ages 5 and under FREE. Contact: (360) 385-1013.

Grays Harbor County Fair by Mickey Thurman

Grays Harbor County Fair

Elma. July 30-August 2, 2025. 10am-10pm (11pm Sat). Map.

Come to Elma for a hefty dose of rural nostalgia and make some great memories! This popular community fair features dozens of carnival rides and games, animal exhibits and contests, a variety of fair food (pulled pork, deep-fried oreos, funnel cakes–ok now we’re hungry!), car races, floral displays and lots of live music.

Admission: $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and youth. Kids 5 and under FREE. Contact: (360) 482-2651

Thurston County Fair

Lacey. July 31-August 3, 2025, 10am-10pm (8pm Sunday).

How tasty is your berry pie? Enter your best – prizes awarded for the most delicious. Other fun festivities at the Thurston County Fair include watermelon-eating and hula hooping contests, a carnival with rides, blossom viewing, live music, plenty of food and so much more. “Boogie on over to the Thurston County Fair!”

Admission: $9 for adults and $8/$7 for seniors and youth. Kids 5 and under FREE. Contact: (360) 786-5453.

Kitsap County Fair and Rodeo

Bremerton. August 20-24, 2025, 10am-9pm (6pm Sunday). Map.

Barn in the USA! Git yer deep fried oreos and curly fries! Cool events at the Kitsap County Fair this year include lumberjack contests, hay scrambles, pie-eating contests and diaper derbies. Food vendors will serve up tacos and pierogies, and along with live rock n’ roll expect performers like fire-eaters, jugglers and magicians. Sounds like American country heaven.

Admission: $12 for adults, $5 for kids an seniors. Contact: (360) 337-5350

Live east of the Cascades? Many Eastern Washington county fairs take place in September when temperatures cool down a bit.

Don’t miss the Washington State Fair (aka “The Puyallup”) – it’s August 29-September 21, 2025 in Puyallup.

GOOD TO KNOW: This article was originally published in 2012 and is updated every summer because we love county fairs! County fair photos: Wlashbrook, George Thomas, KHardy, Presidio of Moneterey.

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Great County Fairs in Oregon

Lauren Braden — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:42:00 +0000

I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois that had been settled by German Catholic farmers a few centuries ago. Instead of a county fair, we had a festival every August called Kirchenfest on the sprawling church parking lot, and my Dad was in charge of making the funnel cakes–platefuls of sweet fried dough with a generous sifting of powdered sugar. SO GOOD.

But there is more to the county fair than powdered crispy bits of dough, or deep-fried food on a stick. There’s the community celebration of the accomplishments of ordinary citizens, like the tastiest apple pie, best home-brewed beer or crunchiest preserved pickles. I’m talking about Blue-Ribbon recipes, of course.

And then there is the fair at night… spinning lights on carnival rides and first kisses on the big wheel. There’s something exciting and just a tiny bit dangerous about the fair after dark, at least in our dramatic imaginations.

In August, Oregonians have their pick of great county fairs. Which is your favorite?

More County Fairs!

Five Great County Fairs in Washington!

Tillamook County Fair, Tillamook.

August 6 – 9 2025, 10am-10pm Map.

When I think of Tillamook I think of its famous cheese… perhaps that’s why this fair has more dairy animals on display than any other county fair in the state. The Tillamook County Fair is recognized as one of the top ten Blue Ribbon fairs in the nation for its unique offerings. But that’s not all that’s unique to this county fair. This year’s theme is Find Your Fair Fun! Come for the horse races and milk chugging contest, and stay for the Pig ‘N’ Ford race, where folks drive around the track in stripped-down Model T’s with pigs under their arms. In 2025 one of the musical highlights is teenage country singer Waylon Wyatt. Admission: $10-$15, ages 5 and under FREE. Contact: (503) 842-2272

Photo courtesy of Umatilla County.

Umatilla County Fair, Hermiston.

August 6 – 9, 2025, Map.

“Cowbells and Carousels” is the theme of the Umatilla County Fair, where you’ll enjoy a patriotic parade, carnival rides, a hypnotist, comedic magician, live music and LOTS of livestock. Got a baby? If you’re feeling competitive, enter your little cherub in the Pretty Baby Contest or pucker up for the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest. Special musical guests are Chase Matthews and Waylon Wyatt. Admission: $12 for adults. Kids 10 and under FREE. Contact: (541) 567-6121.

Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo, Canby.

August 12-16, 2025 Map.

Step right up for blue ribbons, classic carnival rides and family-friendly rodeos, all at a price you can afford! Moo with the plethora of livestock, then head over to the talent show and shoe ’em what you’re made of, whether your talents lie in hog calling or break dancing. Admission: $9 for adults and $5 for seniors and youth. Kids 7 and under FREE. Contact: 503-266-1136.

Did you miss your local county fair? Oregon’s biggest fair, the Oregon State Fair, is August 22— September 1, 2025 in Salem.

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Tide Pool Party: Where to Spot Cool Marine Life Near Seattle

Lauren Braden — Mon, 26 May 2025 08:28:00 +0000

Grab your rubber boots and low tide field guide–there are some fantastic minus tides in Puget Sound this summer!

There are a few things in life that you can rely on with absolute certainty. One of those is the rhythm of the sea. Twice a day, the tide will come in (high tide!) and twice a day, the tide goes out (low tide!).

A few times per year, usually in the months around the summer solstice, we get super low minus tides at midday, say anywhere from -2 to -4. This pattern lasts for a few days each month. (A “minus tide” is any tide below zero, and zero is defined as the local mean lower low tide.) The minus tides are when you’ll get exposed tidepools for exploring the cool critters that live in them, and when you want to go digging for clams and oysters. (By the way, in the months around the winter solstice we also get low minus tides, but those low tides occur in the middle of the night, hence why winter razor clamming on the coast is often done by headlamp!)

When the tide goes out, it leaves behind small saltwater pools in the depressions and crevices of rocks and sand, resulting in a diverse, albeit temporary, aquatic ecosystem. Tidepooling is when you head out to a beach during a low tide and poke around the rocks, nooks and crannies to spot exposed aquatic life. It’s easy, fun, and free! Anyone can go tidepooling with just a little bit of knowledge and some basic gear you probably already have. And at many beaches throughout Puget Sound, experienced marine naturalists are on hand during low tides to help you discover cool critters.

You really just need three things to go tidepooling:

A tide chart. You can pick this up for a few bucks at any hardware store, or find a tide chart free as an app or online.
Some waterproof boots. The best rain boots for tidepooling are high (up to your knees ) and have great traction on the bottom to keep you steady on wobbly rocks. For me, these tall Kamik rain boots are perfect. My kiddo really likes his Bogs which are a few inches taller than the average kids’ rain boots. If you wear ankle rain boots you risk flooding them if you misjudge the water depth when taking a step (yes, this has happened to me!) Personally, I find our Salish Sea waters to be too chilly for wading around in sandals unless it’s a scorching hot day.
A field guide to help you identify marine critters. The most basic guide is the waterproof Mac’s Field Guide to Northwest Coastal Invertebrates. This is the guide my son uses (see the photo); he’s very into marine biology and still it’s sufficient for him. For a more comprehensive guidebook, check out the Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest.

Ready to spot some vibrant sea stars and scurrying crabs? Here’s how you can make the most of our awesome minus tides this summer!

When to Go Tidepooling

You’ll find lots of resources for viewing current and future tide times. On my phone I use a free app called Tide Alert. Online I use tidetime.org, then click on the state and city/region to get a tide table for the current month, and scan for minus tides.

The lowest tide in the summer of 2025 is -4.1 feet at 12:19pm on Wednesday, May 28th; it’s the lowest in a week of minus tides. There are similar patterns in June and July, with low minus tides at midday for several-day stretches. These minus tide days are the best times to go tidepooling.

Summer 2025 Low Tides for Seattle

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

-2.0

-3.0

-3.7

-3.9

-3.7

-3.1

-2.2

-1.7

-2.1

-2.3

-2.0

-2.1

-2.7

-2.9

-2.6

-2.0

9:00 am

9:46 am

10:33 am

11:19 am

12:06 pm

12:52 pm

1:37 pm

10:24 am

11:20 am

11:59 am

12:38 pm

1:18 pm

8:37 am

9:30 am

10:20 am

11:07 am

11:52 am

12:35 pm

When there are super low minus tides during the day, beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Parks Department are stationed at popular tide pool beaches throughout Puget Sound to help you find cool critters.

Arrive on the beach at least one hour before the low tide time. (We usually arrive about two hours before low tide because my son really loves tidepooling and likes to see as much as possible!) Follow the waters’ edge as it recedes, exploring tidepools as they are revealed. After the low tide time has passed, you should move toward shore and maintain a safe distance from the water’s edge as incoming tides can be swift and unpredictable. Never turn your back on the ocean.

Fun Fact: The lowest tide ever recorded on a Seattle beach was -5 ft in 1916.

Tips and Etiquette for Exploring TidePools

The intertidal zone is an incredibly fragile habitat. While the critters here are adapted to pounding surf and frigid temperatures, they aren’t used to stomping boots and prodding fingers. Follow these basic tips to help you explore safely and without harming the aquatic wildlife.

Step with care. Avoid crushing anemones and tiny crabs by stepping instead on bare rock or sand. Walk very slowly on seaweed which can be hazardously slippery.
Don’t move animals from one place to another. Don’t pry critters off of rocks or overhandle crabs. You will see naturalists take great care when picking up critters to show them to you, and they’ve been trained how to do this with minimal impact to the animals. Watch and learn.
Touch very gently, and use wet fingers. If you wish to touch a sea star or feel the fringe on an anemone, a soft touch with a wet finger is the least disturbing to them.
Beware of things that hurt. The bite of the red octopus really hurts. The sting of a jellyfish does, too. Don’t touch these critters.

Where to Go TidePooling Near Seattle

Tidepooling at Seahurst Park in Burien.

During a minus tide, any public beach is going to have depressions in the sand or small pools that host a variety of marine life. But some specific beaches are particularly great for tidepooling because they have large rocks that create sizable tidepools with lots of crevices and nooks for critters to hide in. My family’s favorite place at low tide is the Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint portion of Alki Beach Park (also known as Constellation Point) in West Seattle. Here are some more great free spots for low tide beachcombing and tidepooling in and around Seattle, plus a few spots further afield.

Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park (5400 N Pearl St. in Tacoma)

Titlow Beach Park (8425 6th Ave in Tacoma)

Seahurst Park (1600 SW Seahurst Park Rd in Burien)

Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint at Alki Beach (3521 Beach Dr. SW in West Seattle)

Discovery Park. (3801 W. Government Way, Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle)

Golden Gardens Park. Location: (8498 Seaview Pl NW in Ballard, North Seattle)

Carkeek Park (950 NW Carkeek Park Rd in North Seattle)

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (NW 190th St in Shoreline)

Cattle Point (southeast tip of San Juan Island)
Part of the San Juan Island National Historical Park, the point is chock full of tidepools which compete for your attention with spectacular views of the straight and possible orcas sightings. Interpretive signs about tidepool ecology help guide you along.

Agate Beach (Mackaye Harbor Rd on Lopez Island)
This small park with a pebble beach has some magnificent tidepools that are usually concealed by water–you can reach them only on very low minus tides.

Salt Creek Recreation Area (3506 Camp Hayden Rd in Port Angeles)
The Tongue Point Marine Sanctuary here on the Strait of Juan de Fuca features the kind of rocky intertidal habitat you’d find further west on the wild Olympic Coast, but it’s much closer to the Seattle region. Look for purple sea urchins, many types of sea stars, chitons clinging to everything, and the tapestry of barnacles stuck to rocks like pave diamonds.

Rialto Beach (the end of Mora Rd west of Forks)
This stunningly picturesque beach is dotted with rocks, driftwood, tons of tidepools, and massive spires and seas stacks that magically come onshore at low tide. The tidelands are famous for ochre sea stars in many colors (orange, brown and purple) and giant green anemones, favorites of photographers. For fewer tourists and more tidepools, hike north to Hole in the Wall (3 miles RT).

NOTE: this article was originally published in 2018 and is updated with current minus tide information every year.

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Quick Escape: See the Skagit Tulips

Lauren Braden — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:06:00 +0000

Why go: There’s something about rows upon rows of brightly-colored tulips that screams: Goodbye winter, hello spring! The time is now to catch the flower fireworks show that blankets Skagit Valley farmland each April.

Festival of flowers: The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs April 1-30, 2024. Sprawling fields of technicolor bulbs dot the landscape from Mt. Vernon west to La Conner and north to Burlington, with two main hubs for flower-seeking tourists–Tulip Town ( Monday – Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and Friday – Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Admission is $15 per adult, $7 for kids, free for kids 5 and under) and Roozengaarde (Weekdays 9am – 7pm, Weekends 8am – 7pm, $15 per person, free for kids 2 and under). Don’t miss the two smaller tulip farms for a unique experience–Garden Rosalyn and the area’s newest grower, Tulip Valley Farms.

See the tulip map. The tulip fields are about 65 miles north of Seattle via I-5.

Keepin’ it local: Your visit contributes to a thriving local agricultural economy–the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the top destination events for the Pacific Northwest and brings in about $14 million to local businesses. Plus these tulips fields aren’t just for a pretty show–they yield around 100 million cut flowers each year and provide 75% of the nation’s commercially-sold tulips.

Photo op: Pack your camera! Pro and novice photographers alike flock to the blooming tulip fields that frame unique family portraits and provide for artistic compositions. For the most pop! in your photos, hit the fields well before the midday bright sunshine washes out the bloom’s bright hues; early mornings, the waning light of dusk, and overcast days provide the best filtered light for saturated petals. Leave the drones at home.

Parade this way: The annual “Washington Federal Tulip Parade” is great fun for kids, 2pm April 8, 2023 in La Conner.

A most scenic drive: Stretch the springtime scenery into a whole day with a motor up Chuckanut Drive; plan your route and stops with our handy Chuckanut Drive itinerary.

Tour de bike: Rent a bike (from Skagit Cycle in Burlington, $75 per day) or bring your own for a self-guided two-wheel tour through the tulip fields. Got a large group? Country Cycling offers fully-supported guided tours to see the tulips.

Go shopping: A must-stop shop in historic downtown La Conner is Pac Nor Westy – stock up on Pacific Northwest-themed T-shirts, artwork, stationary, books, mugs and more.

Best breakfast: Fuel up for a day of petal-peeping with a made-from-scratch giant cinnamon roll or tasty plate of morning hash at Calico Cupboard Cafe & Bakery (choose from their two tulip-country locations – La Conner or Mt. Vernon)

Lively local lunch: Follow the signs to the popular Kiwanis Salmon BBQ in Hillcrest Park (every day in April from 11am-7pm, $20 for a 3-ounce plate / $23 for a 5-ounce plate). Your plate will be piled high with generous portions of wild salmon barbecued over alder, baked potato, slaw, and garlic bread, plus ice cream for dessert. This is always a must-stop for our family!

A GREAT, BIG sandwich: We rarely go to the Skagit flats without a lunch stop at The Rex (previously known as Rexville Grocery, 19271 Best Rd, Mt Vernon). Their Reuben–generous enough to feed two hungry people–is simply amazing.

Make it a weekend: The cute, budget-friendly rooms at Hotel Planter are in an historic downtown building within walking distance to all of La Conner’s great restaurants, shops and art galleries. The inn gets bonus points for its private gazebo hot tub set in a sprawling, beautifully-landscaped garden, the perfect place to unwind after a day of sight-seeing.

Pitch a tent nearby: One of Puget Sound’s most scenic camping parks —Deception Pass State Park–is just 13 miles from La Conner. Other nearby campgrounds include Bay View State Park and Larabee State Park (which is first-come, first served camping for all of April).

In Oregon? Head to the Willamette Valley for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. It runs March 24 – April 30, 2023.

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Weekend Escape: Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast

Lauren Braden — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:22:00 +0000

Forget sandy beaches. This wild stretch of the Oregon coast is all about frothy waves crashing into basalt headlands, and passing grey whales.

The small town of Depoe Bay sits between two Oregon Coast hotspots–Lincoln City to the north and Newport to the south, which may be why it’s often overlooked by travelers to this part of the coast. But there are so many reasons not to skip it.

An old fishing village that retains plenty of maritime cred, Depoe Bay straddles Highway 101 along a particularly dramatic stretch of Oregon’s central coast. Facing a rocky outer bay that shares its name, the tiny downtown strip is lined with seafood shacks, kite shops and a quarter-mile seawall promenade (a great place from which to spot whales). In the middle of town, a narrow channel pierces the rocky bluff to connect the ocean to a tiny harbor, the world’s smallest navigable harbor if the road signs are to be believed, lined with charter fishing and whale watching boats. Spanning the channel is postcard-worthy Depoe Bay Bridge, a concrete arch built in 1927 that is reminiscent of the more famous arch bridges along California’s Big Sur coast.

Even if you don’t see whales during your visit to Depoe Bay, you will see waves. The seasonal storm watching from Depoe Bay’s blufftop inns is phenomenal.

DO: Watch Grey Whales

Depoe Bay isn’t known as “The Whale Watching Capital of Oregon” for nothing! The rough topography of this stretch of the central coast isn’t just breathtaking beautiful, it’s also prime terrain for spotting massive gray whales as they pass near the shore as close as 30 feet away as they feed for shrimp and plankton in shallow water with their young. Whales may be spotted any time of year, but it’s during their late fall and spring migrations when they’re most abundant (Fun fact: the California grey whale migration, from its feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to its breeding lagoons off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, is the longest migration of any mammal on earth!) The best months for spotting whales are December/January as the whales swim south and late March/April as they return north.

Where to see whales from shore: Any rocky outcropping in the Depoe Bay area will do as a vantage point for spotting whales. Just north of Depoe Bay is a favorite spot for a local pod of resident grey whales to congregate, Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint. Transient Orca whales may be spotted here as well, hunting for baby grey whales. Just south of Depoe Bay is Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, another prime viewing location. A bit south from here along Hwy 101 are two more spots to stop and scan for whales, Otter Crest Viewpoint and Devils Punch Bowl.

How to spot a whale: Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. First, scan the surface of the ocean without binoculars until you see a puff of white. That’s the spray out the blowhole of a grey whale. Keeping your eyes planted in the same general area that you saw the puff of white, raise your binoculars to your eyes and focus them. Scan the same area using the binoculars until you see the whale come up again for air (about 10-20 seconds after its last breath). If the whale doesn’t surface again, it is probably diving and will be underwater for a few minutes before surfacing for another breathing cycle.

Stay warm and dry: Dress in lots of warm layers while whale watching from shore; the cold wind up on those headlands can be brutal! See our storm-watching essentials for ideas of dressing for blustery days.

Learn from whale experts: Stop in at the Whale Watching Center (an Oregon state park) where knowledgeable rangers will help you spot grays as they blow, spy hop and breach. Open Weds-Sun, 10am-4pm.

Every March, Depoe Bay kicks off the spring migration whale watching season by hosting a Spring Whale Watching Week (March 21st – 29th, 2020) that features trained volunteer guides from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department stationed and ready to help you see migrating grey whales at 26 whale watching lookouts. Look for the signs that read “Whale Watching Spoken Here” from 10am-1pm each day.

See the map of the 24 whale watch sites whalespoken.org, and watch whale activity off of Depoe Bay live this spring on the Oregon State Parks YouTube channel.

See whales from a boat: Several companies operate whale watching boat trips out of Depoe Bay. To book a whale watching boat trip, check out Whale Research EcoExcursions or Tradewinds Charters.

Where to Camp

The nearest camping to Depoe Bay is Beverly Beach State Park, seven miles south of town along Hwy 101. Read more about camping and hiking at Beverly Beach (they have yurts!)

Where to Stay

The Inn at Otter Crest (from $99, 800-452-2101) is an oceanfront resort hotel in Otter Rock on its own headland with tide pools below. The suites are perfect for families.

Rooms at the Depoe Bay Inn (from $119, 800-228-0448, no kids allowed) overlook the snug little harbor- watch fishing boats and seals pass by while you enjoy the inn’s complimentary breakfast.

Where to Eat

Tidal Raves Seafood Grill puts a creative spin on traditional coast cuisine, plus they have an extensive kids’ menu. Sit by the window for dinnertime whale watching.

Gracie’s Sea Hag is a local favorite for a bowl of steamy clam chowder or a big boat of tasty fish & chips.

For some of the best fritters on the coast (plus a pastry case full of other sweet treats), stop by Depoe Baykery.

Getting to Depoe Bay

Depoe Bay is about 2.5 hours drive time from Portland. Take I-5 south to Salem. Take exit 260A and follow OR-22 W and OR-18 W to US-101 S/Oregon Coast Hwy in Lincoln County. Merge onto US-101 S/Oregon Coast Hwy and follow it through Lincoln City all the way to Depoe Bay.

photos: OCVA, gabri_micha, Edmund Garman, Sheila Sund. Yurt by Rick Obst.

This article was originally published in 2019 and has been updated.

The post Weekend Escape: Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast appeared first on Northwest TripFinder.

Beach Bounty: Guide to Digging for Razor Clams

Lauren Braden — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 15:51:00 +0000

Where to Dig for Clams

DIG DATES: Winter 2025 Washington Beaches

Below is the tentative schedule of proposed razor clam digs for Washington state beaches, along with evening low tides and beaches. Note: here’s the full schedule; dates are always subject to cancellation if testing shows marine toxins are high.

Razor Clamming Digs for Winter 2025-2026. Check back for new ones regularly.

The following digs during later afternoon/evening (noon to midnight only) low tides will proceed as scheduled:

Dec. 2, Tuesday, 4:11 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 3, Wednesday, 4:59 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 4, Thursday, 5:47 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 5, Friday, 6:34 p.m.; -2.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 6, Saturday, 7:22 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 7, Sunday, 8:10 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 8, Monday, 8:59 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Below are additional tentative dates:

Dec. 18, Thursday, 5:34 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 19, Friday, 6:09 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 20, Saturday, 6:44 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 21, Sunday, 7:19 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 22, Monday, 7:54 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 23, Tuesday, 8:31 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 31, Wednesday, 3:55 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 1, Thursday, 4:47 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 2, Friday, 5:37 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 3, Saturday, 6:23 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 4, Sunday, 7:07 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 5, Monday, 7:50 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 6, Tuesday, 8:32 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide.

On all open beaches — Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks — the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.

The North Beach (where to stay and eat near Mocrocks and Copalis beaches)

Long Beach Peninsula (where to stay and eat on the Long Beach Peninsula)

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What is a Razor Clam?

The meaty Pacific razor clam lives on inter-tidal coastal beaches. Out here, the tide sets the table. From October through April, many Pacific Northwesterners make a run for the coastal beaches to seek out razor clams, then go home and eat them all up.

Razor clamming is a popular recreational activity for all ages, and it’s easy to see why. It’s fun, it’s fulfilling to forage for and prepare your own found food, and razor clams are delicious!

Clamming is easy; all you need is a clam shovel or tube, a bucket to put your clams in (one bucket per person) and your clamming license. Kids will especially enjoy the task of finding the “clam shows,” or characteristic dimples or doughnuts in the sand that indicate a submerged razor clam.

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“Why I Love Razor Clamming”

My friend and neighbor, Kelly Kirkland, went on a clam dig this past winter. I asked her about her life-long hobby of digging for clams:

Why is it so fun?

“Part of the fun is being cold and wet and sandy and miserable. In the way that hiking makes me drool at the thought of a simple PB&J, suffering to catch clams makes the chowder taste better.”

In Washington, everyone digs at the same time on designated weekends. What’s that like?

“The big beaches are crowded, but they’re also a great place to get tips from expert diggers.”

What’s the hardest part about razor clamming?

“Thank goodness for picture tutorials on the web on how to clean razor clams. I don’t remember how my mom did it but there is a science to it, especially if you want to be efficient.”

What are some of the ways you cook with your razor clams?

“On a recent trip we breaded and fried clam bits and dipped them in homemade tartar sauce back at our cabin, and kept the rest on ice to take home. We cleaned and froze them for use in clam chowder.”

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State By State Rules and Regs

In Washington state, digging for these clams is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect long-term populations, and permitted only on designated weekends, usually from October through April or May (see current weekends). WDFW approves these weekend digs after marine toxin tests confirm the clams are safe to eat.

In Oregon, razor clamming is regulated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, but they do things quite differently. Beaches are open from the California border to Tillamook head year-round. Beaches from Tillamook head north to the South Jetty of the Columbia River experience a seasonal closure each year from July 15 -September 30. Beaches can be closed to all harvest in the event of a biotoxin closure, so always call the shellfish hotline at 1-800-448-2474 prior to harvest. Clatsop beaches (Columbia River to Seaside) have the most abundant populations–95% of Oregon’s razor clam digging occurs here.

In both states, it is illegal to discard any clam, broken shell or not, for whatever reason. Any clam that you catch counts towards your limit of 15 clams per day.

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How To Find a Razor Clam

At low tide, scan the sand. Look for a “clam show.” These are characteristic dimples or doughnuts (a dimple with raised sides) in the sand that indicate there’s a submerged razor clam down below. These clam shows are formed when a clam has withdrawn its neck or started to dig, leaving a hole or dimple on the sand’s surface. Look for larger-sized holes, the size of a quarter. These larger dimples usually indicate the clam that’s beneath the surface is larger. Near the surf-line a razor clam might make its presence known is by squirting sand and water out of the hole above them.

How to Use the “Clam Gun” (aka “Clam Tube”)

Center the clam tube over the “clam show.” It’s best to face towards the ocean while you do this. Slant the top of your tube back just slightly towards your body. Next, work the tube into the sand carefully, using a twisting motion. Do this until the tube is about 6-10 inches below the sand’s surface. Place your thumb over air vent, bend your knees, then pull up on the handles. There – you’ve just brought up a core of sand. Is the clam in there? You have to check – the clam may be concealed within the sand. If the clam does not come up in the core of sand, reach into the hole for it. If you found a clam, you must keep it.

How to Use a Clamming Shovel

When you have located a clam show that interests you, insert the blade of the clam shovel into the sand vertically about 3 to 6 inches from the dimple or hole. You want the inside of the blade to face away from the show, which might seem counter-intuitive at first. A smaller shovel should be inserted closer to the show than a longer-blade shovel. Next, start removing sand with a lifting motion, twisting the shovel at the same time. Keep the blade as vertical as you can. Continue to slowly remove sand as you dig closer and closer to where you think the clam is. The point is to remove the sand next to the clam, eventually exposing it. Then, you can reach down and remove the clam by grasping the neck or shell. Note that the shovel should remain faced away from the clam, and use caution not to hit the clam with the shovel.

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Razor Clamming Essentials

Clam License. You must have a current clamming license if you are age 15 or older. Fortunately, a Washington state shellfish license is easy to obtain. Licenses may be purchased online here, over the phone at (866) 246-9453, or in person at one of the hundreds of local vendors that sell them. You can get a 3-day Razor Clam license for $9.70, or an annual Razor Clam license for $14.10.

Clamming Tube or Shovel and a Bucket. A “Clam Gun” is a specialized tube for digging clams out of the sand, and are usually made of PVC or aluminum.

Another option is to use a specialized shovel for digging clams out of the sand known as a clamming shovel.

Whichever excavation aid you use, you’ll need a container to keep your razor clams in. Most clammers like to put their clams first in a mesh clam bag and place the bag in a bucket with a handle.

Rain Gear. Clamming season happens during winter on the Northwest coast. Rain gear is a must!

Dress in layers. Wear a waterproof and windproof jacket and pants (I love the Marmot Precip jacket and pants–they’re durable and very affordable) to protect yourself from wind and rain.

Known as “gumboots,” “wellies” or (as I like to call them) “Juneau Sneakers,” a sturdy pair of rain boots are essential for any clam dig in the Pacific Northwest. They range from a tad ugly to super-cute, so choose a pair that suits your style and budget.

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Razor Clam Recipes

So, you have your bucket of fifteen razor clams. What’s next?

First you’ll need to clean them. This process can be intimidating for a first-timer, so consult a step-by-step guide like this one with photos from Sunset Magazine.

Once you’ve got trimmed, clean clams, whip up any of these delicious recipes and set the table!

Pacific Fried Razor Clams {The Depot in Seaview} Locals like to coat their clams with crackers and fry them. Chef Michael Lalewicz prefers Ritz crackers for a more buttery and salty finish.

Razor Clam Linguine {edibleSEATTLE} Toss some pasta in a pan with clams, oregano, parsley, and red pepper.

Panko-fried Razor Clams {Alaska from Scratch} Razors become very chewy if overcooked, but this recipe produces a perfect crunchy coating while leaving the clams tender and juicy. A sprinkle of sea salt, a squeeze of lemon, and could someone please pass the homemade tartar sauce?

Steelhead Diner Razor Clam Chowder {Steelhead Diner} Apple-smoked bacon and juicy razor clams come together for a delicious, hearty chowder.

What’s your favorite way to prepare razor clams?

Are you new to Northwest TripFinder? Discover more year-round getaways in the Pacific Northwest by subscribing to our email newsletter. You can also connect with us on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by!

This article was originally published in 2012 and is updated regularly with current WDFW dig dates. Top two photos by Kevin Freitas.

The post Beach Bounty: Guide to Digging for Razor Clams appeared first on Northwest TripFinder.

National Parks Fee-Free Days for 2025

Lauren Braden — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 14:38:00 +0000

On a budget? Our National Parks offer six free admission days for 2025. Mark your calendars!

Free U.S. National Park Admission Days for 2025

January 20: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 19: First day of National Park Week
June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 27: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

Note: The waiver of the fee applies only to entrance fees. It does not include fees for camping or other special uses.

Which Parks to Visit?

In the Pacific Northwest, we have four major national parks, and each offers a unique experience:

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington) – Find out when you’ll enjoy Peak Wildflower Season at Mt. Rainier National Park

North Cascades National Park (Washington) – Read about our Favorite Hike in North Cascades National Park

Olympic National Park (Washington) – Check out our Road Trip Around Olympic National Park

Crater Lake National Park (Oregon) – Read about Off-Season Fun at Crater Lake National Park

There are dozens of other national park sites — national monuments, historical parks and preserves — that are managed by the National Park Service.

Some of these other sites are always fee-free, such as the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Oregon). Others require an entrance fee, including Mount. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Learn more about the variety of passes offered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series.

photo: Cascade Pass Trail, courtesy of North Cascades National Park

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Find Fall Color

Lauren Braden — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 03:23:00 +0000

Find fall foliage on one of these scenic drives, subalpine hikes or urban strolls.

Autumn’s cooler days, crisp air and fiery hues beckon us out into the great outdoors–while it lasts. Fall is fleeting, so don’t rest on your pumpkins! Bundle up (bring rain gear–just in case), pack a thermos of hot cocoa and find some colorful fall foliage.

In the evergreen Pacific Northwest, our pine, cedar, hemlock and fir conifers don’t change color or lose their needles, so you won’t find much fall foliage in the deep woods, save for an occasional vine maple that pops like a crimson firework against all that emerald. Instead, I recommend you seek out local city and county parks that have lots of deciduous trees like oak, maple, willow, ash, aspen and birch. Fall color in the lowlands stretches in to November, weather depending (a big windstorm can bring all that autumn beauty to a halt in a matter of hours.)

In the backcountry, high country trails through open huckleberry meadows near treeline present the most brilliant hues of lemon yellow, burnt orange and flame red, peaking from late September to mid-October, depending on the snow level. Some subalpine trails on the eastern slope of the North Cascades offer a special treat in October–golden larches, our only conifer tree that loses its chlorophyll then drops its needles.

The emergence of fall foliage is a wonder of nature. The hue a leaf shows in fall (be it yellow, a bold red, orange, deep purple or toasty brown) was actually there all along. See, when a deciduous plant senses fall approaching, it stops photosynthesizing. All the green chlorophyll that was masking the true color underneath starts to drain from its leaves. When the leaves tumble to the ground, these vibrant shades fade away.

When you hike in fall, please be extra careful of unpredictable weather, cooler temperatures and shorter days. The snow level can drop quickly down to 3000 feet in October, so when hiking in the mountains you’ll need to check the mountain forecast here for the region you’re headed to. Always pack the Ten Essentials and follow these Safe Hiking Tips. Dress in layers for warmth, check trip reports for hiking trails before you go, and let a friend know where you’ll be hiking (and when you expect to return).stretches into November

Fall Foliage Road Trips

Bring a road atlas to navigate these scenic drives (your cell phone map app won’t always work in the mountains) and hit the road to peep some leaves.

North Cascades Scenic Highway

From the farms of Skagit County to the wild west town of Winthrop, The North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR 20) cuts across the rugged North Cascades and delivers an unrivaled variety of scenic beauty, heightened even more by fall color – look for red maple along the lower Skagit River and spot golden larches near Rainy Pass. For a quick jolt of scenery, find the trailhead for Rainy Lake at the pass and walk the level .9 miles to the lake, then turn around and head back. This highway opens in spring (usually May) and closes in winter (usually sometime in November); check the road status here.

Around Mount Rainier

Drive SR 706 through Ashford and enter via the Nisqually entrance at the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park (no timed-entry reservation required after September 2, entrance fee is $30 per vehicle or $55 for an annual pass), making your way up to Paradise. Most of the lower flanks of Rainer are dense evergreen forest, but undergrowth trees like vine maple, red alder, big-leaf maple and birch put on a color show. The Paradise Nature Trails are the spot to stretch your legs among open huckleberry meadows, turned fiery reds and oranges in autumn. Continue on, eventually north on SR 123 the east on SR 410 at Chinook Pass. The best autumn color hike in the park departs here, Naches Peak Loop (NW Forest Pass required at trailhead). Note: Chinook Pass (SR 410) usually closes for the winter in November.

Hood River Valley

Start in Hood River, Oregon, then drive south along Oregon 35 up to Government Camp, making stops along the way to peep leaves, pick up some pumpkins at Draper Girls Farm, and sip some of the harvest at Wy’East Vineyards. Near Government Camp, Trillium Lake makes a nice, easy hike through subtle fall foliage.

High Country Color

Bagley Lakes, Mt. Baker

SR 542 at Heather Meadows (360) 599-2714, website, NW Forest Pass

2 miles RT, 150 ft gain

Get the guidebook: Day Hiking, North Cascades

This is the land of fire and ice – fire in the belly of Mt. Baker, an active volcano, and ice in the glaciers atop its peak. In autumn, the sweet meadows around Bagley Lakes sort of look like they’re on fire, too, with multicolored fields of heather and flame-red huckleberry bushes. A longer loop option takes this hike to 8-miles round-trip as the trail ascends and skirts four more azure-colored subalpine lakes named Mazama, Iceberg, Hayes and Arbuthnot. But you’ll find the hike just as rewarding with color and views (and less chance of snow) if you hike in to the two lakes, then hike back out.

Trip Reports for Bagley Lakes.

Lake Ann, North Cascades

SR 20 (North Cascades Hwy) at Rainy Pass, (509) 997-2131, website, NW Forest Pass

3.4 miles RT, 700 ft gain
Get the guidebook: Day Hiking, North Cascades

The star attraction of this hike are the flame-yellow of the alpine larch that are usually at their peak early to mid-October. It’s one of the easier hikes to see larches turn in fall, so expect plenty of company on weekends. The hike shares the first 1.3 miles with Maple Pass Loop, a longer hike which rises and encircles the glacial cirque that cradles Lake Ann. A side trail will lead you to the lake and back again. Late-season huckleberries cling to blazing red bushes along the trail, and craggy granite scenery reminds you why you live in Washington.

Trip Reports for Lake Ann (Rainy Pass)

Naches Peak Loop, Mount Rainier

Hwy 410 at Chinook Pass, (360) 569-2211, website, NW Forest Pass

3.2 miles RT, 600 ft gain

Get the guidebook: Day Hiking, Mt. Rainier

This lovely loop skirts the eastern boundary of Mt Rainier National Park through subalpine meadows carpeted with berry bushes. In fall, the meadows erupt with a psychedelic blast of color, looking at times like they’re on fire from all the red and orange hues. What could make such a scene even more stunning? The backdrop of “the mountain.” Hike the loop in a clockwise for the best views.

Trip Reports for Naches Peak Loop

Watch the Weather

In the mountains, the snow level can drop quickly and without much warning in October. Be prepared to encounter snow on any high country hike.

Lake Ingalls, Alpine Lakes

North Fork Teanaway River Road, (509) 852-1100, website, NW Forest Pass

9 miles RT, 2600 ft gain

Get the guidebook: Day Hiking, Snoqualmie Region

Switchbacks, galore! All that huffing and puffing is worth its reward: lots of golden alpine larches and a stunning glacial cirque at the end surrounded by slabs of ice-polished granite. The massive face of Mt. Stuart anchors this hike; at 9415-ft it’s the highest peak between two volcanoes–Glacier Peak and Mt. Rainier.

Trip Reports for Lake Ingalls

Urban Walks for Autumn Hues

Lower elevations with lots of deciduous trees and understory will show longer and likely boast the most variety of colorful foliage— look for deep auburn and marigold yellow on vine maple, russet and clay hues on garry oak, bronzed-colored willow leaves, and vivid yellow on big-leaf maple and aspen.

For more urban trails near you, get the “Urban Trails” guidebook for your region.

Green Lake Park, Seattle WA

7201 East Green Lake Dr N., (206) 684-4075, website

Walk (or ride) the paved 2.8 mile trail that circumnavigates this urban lake oasis, lined with bright yellow willow and deciduous trees of many kinds. In fall, migrating waterfowl start to arrive to overwinter here–look for bufflehead, grebes, scaups and lots of American wigeon.

Seward Park Loop, Seattle WA

5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S, (206) 684-4396, website

This flat paved path follows the shore of a peninsula that juts out into Lake Washington, lined with lovely deciduous trees and bushes that turn burnt orange, blazing red and brilliant gold in autumn.

Mercer Slough Nature Park, Bellevue WA

2101 118th Ave SE, (425) 452-2565, website

Two miles of trail loops around the largest wetland complex on Lake Washington, most of it on boardwalk. The stroll circles a real working blueberry farm with bushes that turn a deep auburn in fall, along with mustard0yellow birch leaves and crimson dogwood.

Evans Creek Preserve, Redmond WA
4001 224th Ave NE, (425) 295-0553, website
Up to 3.5 miles of mostly-easy trails which can be looped take you through meadows and woods, habitat for birds, frogs and other critters (and perhaps even a black bear). Autumn foliage paints the landscape many colors.

Snake Lake / Tacoma Nature Center, Tacoma WA
1919 South Tyler St., (253) 404-3930, website
This oasis in the city features a nature loop trail that crosses a footbridge over wildlife-rich wetlands. Look for bright red vine maple, vibrant yellow of Oregon ash, and a whole sunset palette in Sitka alder…just to name a few.

Interurban Trail, Bellingham WA

Donovan Ave. and 10th St., Fairhaven, website

This mostly-flat trail meanders for 6.6 miles between Fairhaven and Larrabee State Park along an old railway through mixed forest, carpeted in fall with colorful fallen maple and oak leaves. Hike it, jog it, or ride your bike.

Riverside State Park, Bowl and Pitcher, Spokane WA
4427 N Aubrey L White Pkwy, (509) 625-5553, website, Discover Pass required
Beautiful hues of basalt formations frame the vivid yellows and reds of deciduous trees mixed with ponderosa pine along a turbulent river.

Hoyt Arboretum, Portland OR
4000 SW Fairview Blvd, (503) 865-8733, website

More than 2,000 species of trees and shrubs have been planted here on this 189-acre arboretum atop a ridge in the Tualatin Mountains just west of downtown, so expect a variety of spectacular foliage here on a walk in October.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood OR

19255 SW Pacific Hwy, (503) 625-5944, website

The refuge has 4.5 miles of trails (2 of them open through winter) and several unique wildlife habitats, including wetlands, open water and oak prairie, tinged shades of rusty yellow and orange in fall. The shorter days welcome migrating shorebirds and waterfowl back to the refuge, so bring binoculars.

Deschutes River Walk, Bend OR

1000 Southwest Reed Market Road, website

Access the trail via Farewell Bend Park in Bend, the Deschutes River Trail is a cyclist’s dream, a paved path that runs along the beautiful waterway that is the heart of the city. Peak fall color along this route will take your breath away.

Top Photo: Hiking through larches on the trail to Lake Ingalls. Photo by Kim Brown

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