BOULDER RIVER TRAIL (#734) LOCATION: North Cascades Mountain…read moreLoop Highway DAY HIKE: 8.6 miles (roundtrip) ELEVATION GAIN: 700 feet HIGHEST POINT: 1,550 feet A little effort to locate is an understatement but once you arrive it is breathtaking. I enjoyed the well maintained trail and the tiny sightings of wild life (bird, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits lots of little rabbits) a peaceful adventure. This is a great trail alone or with a partner but definitely a trail that should be on your bucket list.

Hiked this trail 7-26-2014 with a group of friends. We started out at 9:00am and came across very…read morefew people on our way up. On our way down we encountered families with small children and their dogs and a couple elderly groups. Love that. Data per our Fit Bit: 9+ miles, 23K+ steps and 2400+ calories burned. Every terrain was encountered on this hike: dry wide/narrow paths, mud, river rock, and bridges. Giant moss-covered trees make great shade from the sun or rains. Twin waterfalls near the beginning of the hike will impress you. The gurgling river sounds will keep you company while pressing on. Trailhead: From I-5take exit 208/Silvana/Arlington and drive east on Hwy 530 for about 19.5 miles. Turn right on French Creek Road (FS 2010) ***gravel road that can easily be missed*** Drive 3.8 miles to the end of the road and the trailhead parking lot. Lot is small and was packed when we were leaving. No passes were required at this time but be sure to do your due diligence and check before hiking to avoid any tickets.

Had a Nice Hike! The hike was really enjoyable, mostly…read moreshaded which was a plus. I went in mid-June and found quite a bit of snow at the top. I'd recommend aiming for late summer to avoid the snowy patches and make the most of the trail.

Amazing, beautiful, hard, but worth it hike. We started a little late into the day, which caused us…read moreto rush at the top to get back down, I would suggest leaving early in the morning. It's a leg burner, prep accordingly with hiking boots and lots of water. We took a lunch as well, that was nice to enjoy at the top. The views are spectacular, take your time hiking up and down, really enjoy it.

Nice hike in a lovely setting! Easy walk not steep. Good for beginners. Lots of pretty landscape…read moreand a glimpse of the river.

In A Nutshell: -Lime…read moreKiln Trail is well maintained (by Eagle Scouts). -If you want a really serene, quiet less traveled trail that encompasses authentic Evergreen State beauty, then this is it. -I encountered no one, which is always great. -Make sure you go early in the morning in weather that most people will avoid. -You will see lot's of moss-covered trees, ferns & slow moving pools of water. Overall, this is an ideal trail that introverts will love.

My dog and I love it here. Expect a work out, as the terrain is tough at times. If you do it right,…read moreexpect to come home dirty as well. Many different routes to explore, some signage can be helpful for those without an internal compass or electronic navigation, I just wing it. Some birds otherwise pretty quiet, not Many others on the trails, mountain biking to the North looks very thrilling, suggesting boots for hikers as it can get pretty muddy, have fun!

The entrance to the Big Gulch Trail system from 92nd Street Park is steep, something to keep in…read moremind if afraid of heights and/or steep inclines. Stairs provide a way down, however there is no railing. There are other less-steep entrances to the trail system from different directions. Parking is available at 92nd Street Park if adventuring there as well. Throughout the trail system I have found singing birds, waiting spiders, quiet squirrels watching hikers/walkers as we pass under the branches of the trees they are perched in, and colorful vegetation. A high sensory input experience of a good kind. Tall trees filter out much of the direct sun rays, perfectly providing shade and a reprieve from warmer temperatures in the sunlight on a hot day. Fun and relaxing place to tune-in to nature.

A gorgeous lake hike during any season :) Come in the winter for some amazing snow, or the summer…read morefor an amazing shimmery lake and a backdrop. This hike is pretty moderate - so maximum reward for not much effort :D

Arrived at 8:30am on a Saturday and the parking lot was mostly empty (less than 10 cars). Bathrooms…read moredon't lock but I was still able to use it by having someone stand in front of it for me. Trail is rocky, muddy and there are many stream crossings. Crampons/micro-spikes are needed if you want to walk around the lake, the snow is compact and icy too.

This national forest is a treasure and it's really beautiful…read more Whether you want to go for the day, spend the night, rent a campsite or go hiking/fishing/exploring for several weeks, this forest is perfect. With the Greenwater River, fishing is plenty and you can't beat the scenery. The salmon run goes through here, and it's fun to watch. There are also lakes and gorgeous meadows, along with glacier capped mountains. There are multiple campsites to rent. In the warmer months, I've seen them full to capacity and in the spring/fall, I've seen a lot of space so check them out. Since it's a national forest, you're allowed to camp wherever you want to. There are countless places that are excellent spots to camp near the river or deep in the woods. Even in the summer when there have been tons of people at the campsites, driving just 2 minutes down the road made me feel like I was the only person in the world. It is so peaceful there. If you take the entrance going through Marysville then Granite Falls to the Mountain Loop Highway, you'll come across various B&B's on the way and fruit stands. You'll also see at the entrance a great log memorial to the wood there (see photo). I've seen owls, foxes, eagles, deer, and countless kinds of fish. A forest ranger stopped to check on me once when I was having a campfire with friends. He wanted to make sure we were OK and that our campfire was under control. He was kind and really cared about the woods and us. Go visit this natural beauty. It's incredible.

Avoid this place at all costs!!!! If you're a female or a person of color your safety is at risk…read more Park rangers are not there for public safety but to harass and profile. Do not visit this state forest.

IMPORTANT: THIS IS NOT A TRAIL! there is a separate lake serene near stevens pass, a lot of people…read moreseem confused about that. but, this is a good lake for paddleboarding or kayaking. there's no beach but there is a launch area, i wouldn't recommend swimming anyways because there is a lot of milfoil in the shallows. i didn't find the milfoil to be a problem when paddling though. the launch can get a little crowded with fishers, but people are mostly polite and it's not hard to get out into the water. you have to have a discover pass to park. the water is pretty clean. the lake is surrounded by houses, but i found it pretty. everytime i've gone i've seen herons which i found fascinating. overall, i recommend for paddleboarding or kayaking

This lake is a gem for bass fishing, and by far our go to lake for fishing in general. For all the…read morereviews complaining about no trail I can't believe they would even post a review because it's their fault for going to the wrong lake serene! The water is crystal clear and only accessible through the boat launch. This makes it practically necessary to have a boat, so shore fishing is not recommended. There is a large amount of bass, with some up to the 8.5 pound range. Expect to catch many dinks and a couple big ones. Also not a bad trout and bluegill fishery. If you see fish heads in the water it is usually because trout fisherman clean and fillet their fish by the launch and put the guts and head in the water. The locals around the lake are friendly from experience. This is a great neighborhood lake for swimming too, and surprisingly clean and well-maintained for a lake next to aurora. At night the lake turns purple from the sky, and nature really shines. Tons of rabbits, ducks, herons, mice, ospreys, bald eagles and even turtles and frogs! We love this lake.

I've biked the thirty miles of this trail a few times and have always enjoyed it…read more The Pros: It's flat. Used to be a railroad flat. Makes it easy to pedal and pedal for miles and miles. There's real bathrooms at a few stops on the trail that are clean and well-maintained. There's more than a few pretty good restaurants at various points in the trail. The north end trailhead is the Nakashima Heritage Barn which offers an important look at the Japanese American experience in the Pacific NW. It's pretty and peaceful. The Cons: There are a few road crossings and the area drivers don't seem to love or stop for cyclists. It gets busy with both zip through at 20 mph cyclists and kids weaving around, which can be nerve wracking. A number of unshaded areas make it get pretty hot on the trail. Also, watch out for the railroad tracks - they mean it when they say to dismount - I took one of my biggest spills to date here. My fault, not the tracks fault.

Nice, easy stroll around downtown Snohomish. We came here while in town for a walk while it was…read moresunny, and the trail was easy to follow throughout the area. We wanted to take a walk by the riverfront, and saw that there was a Centennial Trail that connected from the Snohomish Riverfront Trail to the neighborhood, in a more residential area. But most of the trail is surrounded by trees, which was especially nice in 80-degree weather. The trail is paved and wide enough for two lanes going both ways. This walk is very easy, so is ideal for taking a stroll and getting some fresh air. You can go as far as Arlington along the trail. Glad to have found this while in Snohomish.