About 1 hour and 15 mins away from the seattle area and it's a great place for hiking! We got there…read morejust passed 9 and the parking lot is packed so get there early if you wanna avoid wasting time on parking. It took us 2.5 hours to go up and 2 hrs to return. It was pretty easy for the first 3 miles but the last mile is definitely a killer. It was kinda steep and really energy-consuming. However it's not bad in general - we got to the top at the point when I thought I would give up, but then the lake is right there. The lake is so pretty!! I was so shocked on how clear the water is. The view itself it's just okay and you can maybe hike more if you want the full picture. I wouldn't say the view is not worth it for the 2.5 hrs hiking but I'm not sure if I would do it again. There are also lots of good views along the way and it was lot of fun to take the pictures. There are also lots of bugs and water crossing area so bring a bug spray and waterproof shoes if you have them!

The views on this hike warrant a five star review for sure! Loads of waterfalls, mountains, and of…read morecourse trees and flowers to see on this route up to Rachel Lake. The problem? Not a clear trail at all. My hiking group and I found ourselves asking, "Is this trail?", numerous times on this extremely strenuous seemingly endless uphill trek to the lake. Now, granted, some of our group was in better shape than others and managed the physicality of the trail better than others but still we all agreed it was extremely hard. First you drive up a gravel road approximately 6 miles to get to the parking lot. One bathroom is available there which wasn't too gross. Once you enter the trail it starts heading up. And up and up and up. It is seemingly endless. I believe it about 4 plus miles up. The trail starts out fairly marked and easy to follow. Then it doesn't. Unfortunately I got separated from my group for a good portion of this hike due to my attempt to stay with the "faster" ladies, lol. I just kept going up. Thank goodness a few other people passed me to let me know I was on the right track. No trail at all really for a good portion and I merely followed a dry creek trail. Extremely rocky and loads of bushwhacking. I had to stop every five to ten feet to catch my breath. The steepness reminded me of a hike in Big Sur called Garrapata which after I competed that one I said I would never do again, lol. Now to the good parts of the hike. Gorgeous scenery beyond words! Loads of amazing waterfalls as you are following a creek flowing from a lake high above. The lake was outstandingly beautiful. I took a quick dip in the icy water at the top! Quickly it changed my outlook on the hike and cooled me off. Will I do it again? Maybe, but next time. I will bring more snacks for the hike that give me energy. I will start out slower and take more frequent deliberate breaks. And please please don't forget your mosquito repellent! Also, long pants as a large portion of this hike you go through tall grasses and overgrowth. I consider myself an experienced hiker when I was in CA, but here in WA, I am a beginner for sure. Stay hydrated and go at your own pace. This is worth it at least once. SYOY and No FOMO for me here! Lol.

Indeed very enchanting place. We did backpacking 3 nights 4…read moredays to experience the core zone as much as possible including off-trail scrambles for Little Annapurna and Enchantment Peak. We went Colchuck to Viviane and traced back since not much to see beyond Viviane. Really nice backpacking. My detailed mileage etc is below blog post. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html

I've done this a couple of times so I'll give you the different perspectives…read more The first time I did it as a one-day hike because I did not have a permit. The second time I did it as a three night hike because it was after October 15th and I still didn't have a permit. Since that time, the permit season has been extended to October 30th. Either way, I suggest that hiking in the fall is the prettiest time due to the larch trees colors. Both times we started at the Stuart Lake trailhead (recommended due to reduced overall elevation gain) and ended at the Snow Lake trailhead. Now at the risk of offending someone I will say that hiking through the Enchantments in one day is like watching a porn movie on fast forward. You miss most of the scenery. My suggestion is to either get a permit, or hike outside of season, preferably in the fall, but stay at least two nights. Given that the hike up Aasgard Pass has an elevation gain of 1900 feet in about a mile, I can attest that it can be quite dangerous when raining. On the East side there will be mud & rock slides and in our case we had to duck out of the way of several large, (18 or so inch diameter) Rocks that came bouncing down the boulders with unpredictable direction at a very high rate of speed. Risks early in the season are snow slides and avalanches, so be very aware of the conditions when you are there. All that said, anyone who does not give this a five and tell you that it's absolutely one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever take on must know something I don't, and I've hiked the Himalayas. Remember that goats are dangerous. Pee on rocks, not soil because the goats will dig it up for the salt. Try not to let a goat see you peeing or it will run towards you. Try fishing in the lakes; the trout are great for dinner up there. You should also know that when coming down toward the Snow Lake trailhead there are a large number of switchbacks and when you see the cars just down the hill, it will likely be another hour before you get there, and if you did it as a day hike, your feet may not be happy when you finally arrive. If you are a hiker, you must find a way to get this one done before you hang up your boots.

Without a doubt the best day trip this senior citizen has taken. We made a second trip to include 3…read moregrandsons. The walk up is easy and well Worth it. Make reservations AND memories!

A great little hike! Wonderful spot located just outside Naches. The trail is only about a mile…read morelong so it's perfect for kiddos and those of us in "less than ideal" shape!

I am in love the the Lake Ingalls hike! My friend and I arrived at the trailhead Sunday morning…read morejust before 8 a.m. and already counted 120 cars at the trailhead. We parked about 0.3 miles from the trailhead. Cars lined both sides of the narrow road, despite a sign indicating for folks to only park on one side. There were some very questionable parking jobs on edges and cliffs. There was a small line waiting for the one toilet, which was not stocked with toilet paper (don't forget to bring your own + hand sanitizer). There were a couple surprises I had after reading other trip reports. The first one was that the road up to the trailhead was not bad at all. Sure, it was a little bumpy and there were a few potholes to watch out for, but it was seriously nothing compared to other trailheads I've been on. A sedan can easily make it up to the top with no problem. The second thing I found different than the trip reports was the level of difficulty. WTA rates this hike as expert, and I thought it was nowhere near expert. It really was a nice gradual incline with some rock scrambling at the top. Plus, there's beautiful sights to see the entire way up, so it was very pleasant. The trail was packed, but once my friend and I started hiking, we slowly spaced out from the others. Everyone we encountered was super kind and courteous. The only downside we had from the people was that this is a trail that does not allow dogs, and there were several we encountered (including one off leash who ran up to my friend and was a little nippy). There was also fresh dog poop right on the trail an owner had left behind. The lake at the top wasn't too busy. There were plenty of spots to sit to grab a bite to eat and admire the view. After the initial descent from the lake where there's a lot of rock scrambling and questioning if you're still on the trail (there's multiple ways up through the rocks, so just keep going and look for cairns), it's a steady decline that's easy on the knees. I will definitely be back!

This is about a 10 mile total hike. I'm not a very experienced hiker, so it too me a while to get…read moreup there. My boyfriend and I camped up at the top too. Up to the top, it's quite easy as in the trail and the incline should be fine if you have hiked a lot. At some point up the trail, it gets a little narrow and steep way down if you're not careful. Bless my boyfriend for carrying my camping bag too. At the top, there's a camp ground. It's near a river if you want to get water. There's also a toilet! It's a wooden box and it's a great view to take a dump at. From the campsite, it's about 1 mile to the lake at the top. There are cairn stacks along the way to reach the lake. Without following it, I'm sure you can still find it, but with it, it shows you an easy route to climb. The lake itself is very clear and very cold! I went in August and there was still some snow! There are also mountain goats! I found the best time to see them is in the morning. They come near the camp site too! I heard a baby mountain goat crying for it's mom too. It was so cool seeing them so close! You can see where they have even around since their fur gets caught on the branches.

Easy to miss this little park in Ellensburg since it's just a tad off the beaten path, and there's…read morenot a lot of signage. I make the trip from Spokane to Seattle every so often, and when I do, this is one of my required stops to break up the monotony of the road. The parking area is right next to the river and there are a couple of picnic benches there, as well as a boat launch and garbage can. The Yakima river is intensely swift, so it's not safe for swimming or leisurely paddling around. There's a trail along the river that's pretty gorgeous, and comes to a few good resting points along the way. Overall a great little park and definitely a "hidden gem" in Ellensburg.

This is a fantastic park. We went for a quick morning walk. It was more than we expected. Beautiful…read moreviews of the river and short but lovely trails through the woods. My bird app identified about a dozen bird species within a minute. A very special place.

Canyon Road (also called Washington State Route 821) winds along the Yakima River on one side of…read morethe Yakima River Canyon (also called the Yakima Canyon) and a railroad runs along the other side of the canyon. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages lands in Yakima Canyon and there are a number of recreation sites open for day use and overnight use for a small fee. If you are just driving through you do not need to pay a fee. I paid for the day use permit at one of the recreation sites and then used it at the other site I stopped at in the Canyon as well since the pass is good for BLM managed lands. I recently drove through the Canyon from South (near Selah) to North (near Ellensburg). The ride provides stunning views of basalt cliffs and the Yakima River all the way. A BLM sign welcoming you to the Yakima River Canyon by the Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve marks the beginning of the drive/ride on the South side. There are abundant roadside pull-outs where you can stop to take pictures and take in the scenery. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you adventure. I saw deer, hawks, and other various birds in this area as well as a very cool metallic lime green colored bug. I got a handful of mosquito bites, and watch out for rattlesnakes. A number of trains carrying different loads rode the railroad tracks through the canyon while I was exploring. Though not so many as to detract from the peaceful and quiet nature of the Canyon.

Absolutely gorgeous! The river is calm, free of debris and makes for a magnificent float through…read morethis amazing Basalt canyon. A must see, and a nice contrast to the lush greens of the western side of the state.

Lovely respite on a hot summers day. For 9 years I've enjoyed camping near the gorge over Labor Day…read moreWeekend but haven't ventured over to the water until this year when a neighbor convinced me it was time to check it out. Wanapum Dam keeps this portion of the Columbia River from flowing and thus creates a lake type setting for water recreation and relaxation. I'm so glad I was finally able to check it out. The water was refreshing (72-74 degrees or so) and people were out on the water on boats, kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis, and big floating birds etc. You'll need to bring or purchase a WA state parks pass for $10/day or $30/year. There is a nice big grassy area for playing bocce ball, frisbee, football, or whatever your heart desires. People had camp stoves and were cooking and picnicking, while others just lounged about. All in all it was a great place to be by the water.

I have been in this state park on numerous occasions. Take my airstream and hang out. It's a…read moregreat place to stage for traveling up and down the river. RV sites are large and open for the most part with electric, water and sewer. The winds at night are a riot during the hot parts of the summer. They blow like crazy. There is a day park separate from the RV park that you can walk to to swim and/or just relax. During the summer it is always crowded. Vantage has a gas station with food if you need it. Gorge is very close. Across the river are parks that are supported by Grant County PUD which are very nice and usually not many people. I'm impressed with the money and resources that Grant County PUD has put into the area. Just south of the Wanapum on the same road is a small park on a lake (small) that no one is ever there. Called the cove. If you have a boat you are in heaven with the Colombia River at your call.

Biggest deception about Deception Falls is the map location in yelp…read more If you find yourself at a bridge into town, you're at the wrong location. It is actually 8 miles further up the hill than what the map shows. Technically it's closed but you can park on the road side. There's plenty of safe parking space. Short walk to get down to the falls. Very beautiful and worth the stop.

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.

Easy hike. Beautiful!!! The turquoise water is incredible! Came here with another couple and their…read morebaby - they were able to hike with the baby in a body carrier. Not stroller friendly.

Easy loop hike. A little bit of up then down then up kinda stuff. Its beautiful nature but really…read morenot much real view until the waterfall. Compared to skyline loop it isn't much. But its easy and quick.

Great views! Started around 9 AM on a Saturday and wasn't too too crowded. Definitely started…read moreseeing more people on the way down though. I also slipped on my butt like two steps away from the trailhead :( Parking lot pretty big but I believe it fills quick. The trail gets quite narrow in some spots. Hiking shoes and poles recommended!

Gorgeous place! We were able to go snowshoeing for free! Plenty of parking on the side of the road…read more Highly recommend bringing hiking poles since it's super icy this season!