If you want to experience nature without the mile long or more hike, this is for you. The…read moreriver/creek is only a short walk from the main road. Watch your step as the stairs can be slippery. Unfortunately, some of the rocks are vandalized. Really people?!? Do better and preserve nature.

We stopped here after hiking the big four ice caves. It's right off the road, with pull outs on…read moreboth sides and ample parking. It's pretty quick to get to the falls from the parking lot, with some stairs and a nicely graded trail. I was saddened to see that the eponymous falls were marred with graffiti all over. It would have been gorgeous to see the white rocks untouched by jerks who don't appreciate nature. I don't understand it. I think that it would also be too dangerous for people to clean up the rock, and the remoteness would make it hard to take action against repeat vandalism. There were plenty of migrating salmon making their way up the river. It's a great spot to spend some time in nature.

We have passed by this amazing place so many times, and finally stopped to check it out. It is a…read morevery easy hike through the area, suitable for all ages. The scenery is breathtaking! Highly recommend.

Deception Falls was our first hike on the Western side of the Cascade Mountains. It was barely…read moreover the ridge, but it was easy to see the contrast between the Eastern and Western sides. The Eastern side was noticeably drier, although not dry by normal standards. I would call it normal rather than dry. The Western side had moss on the trees, lichen hanging from the branches and ferns covering the forest floor. Deception Falls was the perfect place to experience it. Even the trail was soft to the touch, decades of rotting wood replenishing the soil under foot. It was a striking experience to walk on the Deception Falls trail. My wife and I both had the feeling that we were walking in a fantasy land. The trees were a new variety and covered in moss, the waters were crystal clear, and the sunlight shown through it all to accentuate the colors. I think we saw the area at the perfect time of year. If it was overcast, cold, or rainy, we would not have had the same experience. Also, the river seemed to be at full strength, forcefully pounding and shaping the rock at each section of the falls. Looking at other pictures of the river from October, the river levels fluctuate dramatically. Our falls experience would've been different if the river was a trickle rather than a torrent. I didn't see any fish in the river when we were there. A nearby sign indicated that the cold, ultra clean waters did not provide favorable conditions or sufficient food for anything other than small fish. I don't know too much about fish in northwest at this time, but it would surprise me if fish could swim up this river. If there were any fish at Deception Falls, they were stuck between the rapids, living in a calendar year that changes from high water to low water. That doesn't seem like ideal conditions for large fish. There was a bridge near the end of the trail that spanned the most forceful section of the rapids. It was a fitting climax, a moment of triumph and emotion, at the end of the trail. Standing in the center of the bridge is adrenaline inducing. Spray from the rapids hits you along with the thunderous noise of water crashing against rock. You know that the bridge will hold you yet there is a lingering thought in the back of your mind praying for the bridge to stay strong. Continuing forward, a short walk under the bridge provides more views of the water crashing down from above and more opportunities to stand in the mist.

This park is so lovely! It's walking distance from downtown and right on the river. I stopped by…read moreduring an errands day with the dogs to let them go potty and was actually so stunned by how nice it was. We went on a fall day and the colors were magnificent! There are paved paths and clear routes to trails and the beach. We ended up walking them down to the river, which had a lovely sandy beach, which was such a surprise! There were benches and tables down there, which I am sure are very coveted in the summer season. For a nice fall day, this was the perfect spot! I would love to come back here with some takeout and enjoy a lovely meal on the river. Very dog friendly, great views, and awesome amenities (water fountain, showers, trails, easy signage, bathroom). What more could you want!

This is a great park close to all the stores in Duvall, on the banks of the Snoqualmie River. What…read moresurprised us was the sandy beach on the banks of the river. It's a great park with lots of space to picnic, either on the grass or on the tables. We haven't explored the trail next to the park much yet, we will be back soon for that.

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.

It was a quiet and gorgeous campground, we only stayed one night but wish we had more nights! The…read moreriver is beautiful, we recommend the sites next to it!

You will need mettle if you pedal to Bedal for the road is not gentle…read more No, wait. It is pronounced buh-DAHL - as in the nepal baseball cabal has gone awol for eightball y'all! This is a pretty remote car camping or RVing spot where I took my dog and two kids for a soggy Memorial Day trip in 2016. There are a few vault toilets and each site has a picnic table, tent base, and a firepit. There is no potable water. Our site #10 was okay - better than the ones between us and the highway but worse than the riverside ones. I'd say the best were 15, 16, 8, or 9 but I could be wrong. The river is pretty and my kids had fun tossing rocks and I let them roam unsupervised the whole time we were there. There are trails and sights such as waterfalls nearby. There is a boat launch in the campground and a neighbor camper told me you can find gold flecks if you bring a pan. The ranger guy comes twice per day and sells bundles of firewood for $6 each, cash only. We reserved our spot for $14/nt on recreation.gov but you can also go the first come first served route if you are a gambler. As compared with other campsites with dozens or hundreds of sites, we preferred the relative peace of Bedal.

This is the lowest and most remote volcano in Washington. I've been up this mountain three times…read moreand love it so I'm reviewing, even though the last time up was 2020. This hike is beautiful, and I suggest taking your time, and staying two nights on the way in, and one night on the way out simply to enjoy the surroundings. Plus, it's nearly a 33 mile round trip. Take the North Fork Sauk Trail to the PCT. First 5 miles are nice and easy, then a couple of miles of seemingly endless switch backs. A short bit on the PCT and a nice camping spot to the right. Second Day is a very nice hike into the mountain and to the high camp. Third morning is the summit approach. The trail is obvious. Depending on the time of the year, you may need to rope up as it can be quite crevassed in the later summer. Definitely recommend ice axe and crampons. We walked out and peered into some deep wide crevasses, anchoring our selves with rope. This is one of my favorite climbs because it's really not hard, just long on the way in. Very beautiful but weather can change very fast and on one summit it turned to a thunder storm. Still, if you like to hike and climb, this one is a must. Bear canisters recommended, though I've never seen a bear here. No permit required, just Northwest Forest Pass for parking. Go do it!

Glacier Peak is notorious mainly for how remote it is. Many people in Seattle have probably seen…read moreit on a clear day, and either not known it's name or mislabeled it something else. It has one of the longest approaches of any major peak in the NW (along with Mt Olympus). But, man, it's a gorgeous hike in! Terrain is continually changing. In the forest, in alpine meadows, over rock, on glaciers, at the summit! Lots of gorgeous places to put a tent on the way in, I'd be worth going to even if you're not going to summit.

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.

I have driven past Traveler's Park in Sultan a number of times on my way east to Gold Bar and…read moreCashmere from the Seattle area. During the COVID-19 pandemic my go-to option for using the restroom by stopping to get a coffee or something to eat and using a restroom ended up not being an option regularly available, so I started eyeing this park as I drove past and finally decided to stop both ways, going east and west, across the Cascade Mountains in mid to late August 2021. The main sign is clearly visible from US-2 and even lighted, which makes it easy to spot on a cloudy or wildfire-smoky day. There is a large pull-off area next to two port-a-pottis and a garbage can. Picnic tables are spread out in the park. Grassy areas to leave one's vehicle and stretch one's legs were on multiple sides of the pull-off. Trees line part of the park's perimeter. The port-a-pottis are located about 10 feet from the railroad tracks. On my first visit, a train barreled past as I was using the outhouse... First time I have used an outhouse that was being actively rattled by a train not ten feet away. An experience to remember. The outhouses were well maintained, as was the rest of the park. All around a nice place to stop and rest especially during COVID-19 times.