The ‘Issaquah Alps” is the unofficial name for the mountainous lands around Issaquah, including Poo Poo Point, Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain, Tiger Mountain, and Rattlesnake Ledge. There’s miles of trails here, with a little something for everyone!
good hikes for kids
Cascade Lake & Moran State Park
As I’ve mentioned, Orcas Island is the most rugged of the San Juan Islands, at least for those wanting to hike. The peak of the island, Mount Constitution, is inside Moran State Park–but there’s easier hikes too!
Turtlehead Summit
The San Juan Islands are a wonderous retreat. While there’s nearly 200 named islands, the big ones–Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas–are easily accessible by ferry. Orcas is the most rugged of the San Juans in terms of hiking peaks and valleys.
North Seattle Park & Brewery Guide
Here’s a quick referenmce guide of some great trails in the Seattle-North area accessible year-round, with no parking pass required–and the breweries to pair them with!
Snohomish County Park & Brewery Guide
Between a job that has me actually working most of the time and a new puppy, I am SERIOUSLY dropping the ball on posting. With the pup needing shorter distnaces, shorter car rides, and snow-free trails, we’ve been exploring some of the local park and trail networks. I’ve posted about Lord Hill, Lime Kiln, Heybrook […]
Mind the (Sourdough) Gap
The PNW has a tiny window–sometimes a non-existent one–between when fall color is out and when they either fade or get covered by snow. Mama Boots and I decided to squeeze one last colorful hike in and we still had some snow!
You can HIKE to a WINERY!
Cowiche Canyon, to a beer snob like me, is best-known as a hop variety. But it’s also a network of awesome trails just outside of Yakima, including a route you can take to a winery!
Ancient Lakes
For a bit, it felt like I would never make it out to this trail! I had plans last spring, but then the pandemic hit. March had a fee-free day and a massive race (during said pandemic, which, just, buh?) pushing us back twice, and with temps predicted in the high 70s to low 80s, […]
Sage Hills
The flower show in some parts of the PNW is on! Right now some hikes are carpeted with arrowleaf balsalmroot and purple lupine–including this network of trails in Wenatchee.
Paradise Valley Conservation Area
For the fourth time this year, my snowshoe plans fell through. It seems I have done something to anger the outdoor gods. However, lowland parks free of avalanche danger and full of trails are in abundance here!