Perfect hike with a rewarding river for little legs. The hike starts off from the parking lot with…read morepicnic benches. This picnic area does not open to the river front but leads you into the trail. The trail is nice & clear. Within 0.6 miles, it opens to several openings to the river. The water is crystal clear and cool. It must make a good fishing point as we did see some folks walking in with fishing rods. You can walk along the shore - the water is not deep around the edge till you get to the bridge that goes over the river that has a pretty good view of the jagged mountains. We couldn't see any elks or deer as many have cited having seen around this river. The parking lot however is bang opposite to a farm and my five year old was still able to see 8 majestic horses as we were leaving. The honey bucket was extremely dirty, so please plan to hold it in until you get to your next stop or empty your tank before you arrive. Overall, we spent an hour here but families can easily spend half a day at the picnic area. We did not see a lot of space on the river front to camp around but there may be other openings to the river that may have better possibilities for picnic. The picnic area is closed and very safe for young kids to play around. It does not have any dedicated playground, just picnic tables.

This is truly a gem. I've only come a couple of times to see the elk, but it's been a beautiful…read moreexperience. At sunset on a hot day you'll see the elk come out as it cools down. They're so beautiful and you can hear them talking occasionally. Do not go into the natural area and approach them. It's not safe. Watching from a distance is safer for everyone.

What a beautiful and popular hike! Parking can be a beast so go early or later in the day if you…read moredon't want to have to hike from a remote spot far away from the start of the actual hike. I took my teen with me and we conquered it in about 7 hours round trip. We used the "new" trail up and back because I didn't want to hear my kid complaining about the brutal elevation gains on the old trail. We lucked out and had a clear, beautiful, sunny view. This won't always be the case and depending on the time of year you may not see much of anything at the top so plan accordingly and be mindful of the weather. We left a sticker and a heart shaped rock we found along the way in the mailbox before we hiked back. It's a fairly challenging hike if you are t in excellent shape- but it's doable if you use the new trail. Pack plenty of water and snacks and something to leave in the mailbox.

Mailbox is a niche hike that's pretty well known around here but not for the views. One of the…read morehardest single day hikes in Washington, it's usually foggy up there but even when it's not, the view isn't all too exciting compared to other trails, well except for the mailbox. As a moderate hiker (once a month or so) in 2018, I was able to push through in 5 hours round trip. Four years later, I tackled Mailbox with only one hike beforehand in the previous 6 months and it took about 5 hours and 40 minutes. Went through the old trail and it's steep to the point where you'll likely feel your calves burning the whole way due to the flexion of your foot. As you enter the trailhead, the first Mailbox sign will be the new trail which is longer but overall easier because it's not a full incline hike. Go further and you'll find the old trail. Once you clear the forest, you'll see tons of boulders and rocks. Hopeful it's the end, you also won't see much in yet and you've still got a chunk of rock climbing left. Completing the hike will probably net you nearly a days worth of calories so you can feast afterwards. Pack some electrolytes, they're saviors. Our party of three hiked this on a collective 4 hours of sleep and some Gatorade was super helpful alongside caffeine. My quads started cramping near the boulders and it made this hike one of the worst I've experienced, but we managed to push through. With my experience, I highly recommend electrolytes because I had some Gatorade and a banana already yet was still dying. Push through to brag to your friends.

Mount Si is an 8 mile hike roundtrip in North Bend about 45 minutes east of Seattle. It is the big…read moresibling to the smaller Little Si trail which is closeby. I missed the entrance the first time I drove by it and turned around to get to the parking lot. I arrived at 7:45am on a Friday morning and there was a good amount of parking available. It's a bigger parking lot than I expected but the potholes in the lot were a pain to drive through. The first part of the hike was mostly incline and I was dripping sweat pretty much right away. It continued like that other than the occasional flat land for like 30 seconds before it was back to incline again. There were more switchbacks near the top and was rocky to get to the very top. It was mostly cloudy on the way up and the tall trees helped shade away some of the sun as it peaked out. At the summit there were beautiful clear views of Mt. Rainier above the clouds which was just amazing to see. The contrast of the clouds and the clear skies above them were breathtaking. I fought the urge to stop and take a break multiple times on the way up and got to the top in just under 2 hours. Going down was hard on the knees with the steep decline and I got down in about 1.5 hours. It was a tough and challenging hike but I'm happy I overcame it. I recommend bringing lots of water because it can be pretty tough with all the incline. Also, there weren't too many bugs at the top but if you're bothered by them I suggest bringing some bug spray.

Wow! Hard to believe it's almost been a year since I moved to the PNW, this was one of my first…read morehikes, and after the craziness of moving, charging jobs, and a few weeks without hiking, this one kicked my ass! What a year of hiking in the Cascades, and a physically and mentally challenging job can help, this time was much more enjoyable, plus knowing the terrain and area helps. It's still a kick ass hike, but much more enjoyable. The views from the peak are amazing!! Even on a cloudy getting ready to rain day, you can see Seattle, on. Clearer days Mt Rainier is viewable. Lots of fun wildlife and plant life still gearing towards fall, seeing a few trees colored up. This is a popular hike, so expect to see people, luckily parking lots is large, although full of potholes. Thank God for a 4 wheel drive, so No worries. This hike, especially as you get towards the peak, has many cross cross or zig zags on the trail, which helps, because it's steep, especially the last half mile. I didn't wear the proper shoes to rock climb, so doing the final ascent to the top of the peak will wait till next time. It still amazes me how green the foliage gets after it starts raining.. like instantly turning a more vibrant green, if that's possible? Plenty of views with out going to the top peak. And as always, since it's all uphill going to the summit, it's all downhill coming down. I would also recommend hiking poles, the help on the steep inclines and were helpful going down as the rain made some of the surfaces slick. Definitely love the sound of the rain in some of the silent moments, which brings me to one of the downsides of hiking near the I-90 corridor, still hear quite a bit of traffic noise even 6 miles away, part of the echo through the pass, but still some quiet moments. This is a challenging and fun hike, enjoy the moments, I've met lots of people who were determined to make it to the top.. and did!! Goals!! Happy hiking! SYOY , God Bless and Cheers!

A short 1.75 mile trail gets you to two beautiful alpine lakes. A little longer and you can reach…read morethe summit of Labyrinth Mountain (an official summit with a register). The main downside is that most of that 1.75 miles is super steep and unforgiving. I think technically it's not even a real trail, it's a "route" -- basically just a path to get you up as quickly as possible. But you'll forget all of your suffering as soon as you reach the lakes. You'll see the shores of Minotaur with Labyrinth Mountain in the background, and there are trails going around both sides of the lake, with plenty of nice campsites available. If you go around the right side of the lake, the network of trails will lead to many viewpoints down to Theseus Lake. You can get down to Theseus, too, but it's a steep fisherman's trail that descends several hundred feet, so not recommended unless you really want solitude. The social network of trails to Labyrinth can make the summit trip a little longer depending on what path you choose, but the openness of the terrain ensures that you won't get lost. There's a false summit or two. Facing Labyrinth from Minotaur Lake, the true summit is on the right. There's a summit register you can sign and glorious views, including Lake Wenatchee and Glacier Peak. I went in the summer, but it would be gorgeous in the fall with the brilliant colors, and I saw a lot of huckleberry plants.

My husband and I hiked this trail today. It is super steep right from the beginning down where you…read morepark. There's no actual parking lot but plenty of room for a dozen cars to park down below on the side of the road. We only saw four other people the entire time we were there. It took us an hour and 20 minutes to get to Minotaur Lake from parking. It only took us about 10 minutes less to go down... As I said it's very steep!!! I highly recommend going over to see Theseus Lake and the vista (to the right when you see Minotaur Lake). It was 80° in Leavenworth today but it was under 60 when we got up to the lake so be sure you take sleeves. You should also take bug spray with DEET.... The mosquitoes are heavy in places. Most of the hike is in shaded areas in afternoon.

Came here on a Friday afternoon around 3:30PM, long gravel road to the trailhead, quite a few cars…read moreparked there too. Bathroom and map at the trailhead. Hike is pretty steep, constantly uphill for about 3 miles, all in the trees though. Mosquitoes around, bug spray is good. After 3 miles, trail goes down pretty steeply, lake was really pretty, not very cold water! Sat there for a bit to enjoy the water and view, really calming. Didn't see very many people on the trail, had the lake to ourselves. Bad part of the hike is the need to go back uphill after the lake, but it's not too bad. Took 2 hours to get to the lake, 2 hours back, was a bit dark and got a bit cold towards the end of the hike. Hiking poles definitely helped!

A beautiful PNW wonderland!…read more Worth the 3.3 miles at 3k ft elevation gain! But please READ*********important**** NO ONE IS GOING TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU! Nobody!! It's disgusting how much trash & liter I saw. Toilet paper on the trail and the lake?! Gross!!! Granola wrappers , socks, shorts, towels randomly left behind !? An apple core floating in the lake?! Seriously just pack a couple of plastic grocery bags/trash bags in your camel back & pack it out!!! Not that difficult & seriously who does this?! They're ruining our beautiful forest. animals live there, not us. Clean up after yourself!

For anyone looking for a fun and easy to slightly moderate trail, highly recommend this one!!…read more Highlights of trail: 1. Parking Lot: Fairly large. Come early and beat the crowds :) 2. Trail Length: Used All Trails app to track and took about 7miles round trip for the loop 3. Trail Difficulty: Depending on how you start, difficulty level can vary. My friends and I opted to start the loop off at the switchbacks (going counterclockwise on the trail) and that was really the most tough part with the never ending incline. Once done with the switchbacks, it was smooth and easy sailing with the rest of the flat trail. If you want a shorter route and not finish the whole loop, just start the trail off clockwise and for the first couple of miles; it will be pretty flat before the gradual incline starts. 4. Trail Features: So many things to see!! :) Love reading the historic notes along the trail to give context about the various train tunnels and such. Tons of cool plants, mini waterfalls, and plenty of scenic viewpoints. 5. Other notes: Hiking poles not needed but I do suggest hiking boots or shoes with good tractions as some of the trail can get a bit rocky. Plus, there are a couple of streams to cross over, so shoes might get wet! Overall, peaceful hike and not too far of a drive from Seattle~

Weather is getting nice, but the weekend we went it was a little rainy, cloudy and wet outside…read more Whatever, deal with it. It's about a 90 min drive if you are coming from Seattle proper area, head towards Stevens Pass in Skykomish. We got there about 830am, so there was only a few cars in the little lot at the trail head. There's a port-a-john you can use if you need to go. The trail is relatively easy to medium depending on physical condition, small little climb when you start then it evens out when you get to the top of the upper loop and remains level all the way throughout. Bottom loop is pretty flat and wide with good views too. Do both. Depending on what you do, it can be about 7-9 miles round trip. Nice views, little waterfalls, cool & slightly spooky looking old train tunnels(you are not allowed to go inside), cool looking anchor wall, some signs along the way to explain some history of the Great Northern Railway over the Cascades. I enjoyed it, glad we took time to get outside, get some fresh air, and go to towns I've never been to. I read some articles and posts about paranormal activity there, unfortunately I didn't see any ghost.

Great park off the highway. Clean bathrooms and family friendly. Many trail runners and a good…read morelittle workout. Parking lot was full by 11 but emptied out by 2 on a Sunday. Rain or shine there are people enjoying this path.

So fun!! My partner and I met up with a friend to hike part of Tiger Mountain during our Seattle…read moretrip. Great excuse to get out of the city. We parked at High Point Trailhead, which is right next to the West Tiger #3 Trail. Who named this? Anyways, relatively easy route compared to the rest of Tiger Mountain. Since we had a small kiddo with us, I've decided we'll come back for the longer, more intense trails. We didn't follow the ENTIRE path because I remember doubling back at this spooky cave part of West Tiger. I liked the various open spaces to stop and take a break, letting others pass by. There weren't too many people when we were there. Overall, because I live in a fairly urban area back home, it's a fun escape to encounter lush greenery and mossy goodness. Not a fan of that texture, but it's very pretty.

This was both a challenging and rewarding hike! We were staying in a local campground just 5…read moreminutes away from the trailhead making getting an early start easy, and that's not a bad idea cause you might need it! The steep climb of switchbacks makes you certain you're almost at the top around every bend. The husband of mine was about to file for divorce on my 78th "are we theerrre yeeeet??" Inquiry. The 3300 ft elevation gain is really no joke. It claims it's 7.5 miles round trip but our gps watches clocked us closer to 9 miles so not sure what type of pixy dust influenced that, but the last couple miles back definitely felt like we were being tricked by some mischievous fae folk. Your first great view is at the top of the switchbacks which rewards you with a beautiful ridge and mountain view.. but u is not even close to being done! Trail continues through a glorious meadow then to a pond and in your best Flight of The Concords voice you're like- is that it?!? It isn't. It's a frog pond. You go down only to go back up and curse whoever put you on this goose chase (which happened to be myself) and then you begin to descend down into a valley and you're like- damit jim, we gotta go back up this beast?! Then you see it in the distance, that beautiful crisp nearly extraterrestrial looking glacier water, and you never felt thirstier. The husband forgave me and cancelled his divorce plans, my friends who were dying behind us agreed to still be my friends, and we forged ahead for a picnic lunch and polar plunge before making the trip back. The trip back is definitely challenging because you are already tired and you have to go up again before you can start the descent. As some other yelpers have described this hike is no joke and I've done some iconic ones here in the PNW. I'm in good shape and did fine but I was exhausted by the end. My compadres really struggled but made it through. We saw several groups of 20 something's not make it because they started too late, didn't pack enough water (key!), or needed more than their youth to get them through. I wouldn't want to be stranded up there at nightfall which several groups seemed to be set up for. Either plan to backpack and camp or start early. Bring a camelback not just a bottle of water and we had a water purifier to refill at the lake. It's a beautiful view, a great workout, and a proud accomplishment and definitely recommended for experienced well prepared hikers!

So I was challenged by Michelle V to attempt this trail and I don't really like to refuse a…read morechallenge if I think it's within my grasp. The photos on the Blanca Lake page http://www.yelp.com/biz/blanca-lake-gold-bar were enough to make my mind swarm with anticipation of reaching the lake. It's just so darn beautiful. So I purchased my NW Forest Pass using the link on the WTA website, did a little research on how to get there since sometimes trailheads are hard to find, gassed up my hoopty and sped (literally) up to Blanca Lake. If you're using the Yelp App, I've left a tip that may help you find the trailhead or just send me a message and I can message you back. Anyway, I left early as the website says the parking lot fills up quickly. I got there at about 10am on a Saturday and the lot was full. People park on the side of the road, which is realllllly narrow in places and can really make it hard to anticipate drivers coming at you in the other direction. Also, once you get further up NF-65, the road becomes "primitive". This means that the road isn't maintained by the county and can be full of DEEP divots and potholes. It is also covered with small pebbles with can make it seem like you're driving on a sheet of water (hydroplaning but on rocks). So I caution you to drive the speed limit of 35 mph. Anyway, you came here to hike the trail, right? Ok....well multiple websites I searched as well as the trail information just before you enter the trail states that this trail is very difficult or for expert level hikers. That should have been a note to self for me, but I was like, "Yeah....I got this!" I busted into this trail almost thinking it was too easy. I was about to just turn around and leave because I thought it was just too easy. Boyyyyyyyyyyy was I wrong! Cheeese and crackers this trail kicked my A! Not only does it twist and turn and change gradient and is slick and muddy in many places especially after rain, but it's practically ALL uphill (gain 3300 ft!!). There aren't really many places to regain your composure, breath, or stop when other are trying to pass you. Also, there are several faux trails along the way that can get a person who is not paying attention to go off course. Probably a good thing to register yourself at the entrance signage/map registration box, so they can call for reinforcements if you don't make it back down. Sadly, I had to stop and turn around as my heart felt like it was literally going to claw it's way out of my chest and b*tchslap me for trying to trick it in to working so hard. I almost gave up about 5-7 times but kept pushing, but it was still just too much. I would say I'm an intermediate hiker, so I will get stronger and I WILL go back and try this again. It's a wonderful wonderful trail, but you really need to be focused. It was beautiful nature wise as well and you could hear the rush of water in the background. People brought all size dogs as well, but personally I think it's a bad idea for some of the smaller dogs (just my opinion). Probably don't even bring small children. No strollers. No wheelchairs. Period. Bring more water than you think you'll need...seriously. Wear appropriate footwear. As I was coming down people who looked less prepared than me were asking how long it took me to get to the top, how much longer was it, was there much trail left until the lake. I would say, don't go in to this area focused on how long it will take you. Don't even focus on the reward at the end (the lake). Just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.