We have hiked this trail many times. This last weekend we enjoyed warm weather with a cool breeze,…read moretalk about perfection! The views from the top are gorgeous, it's such a rewarding climb. Straight up on an incline, rough on the knees coming back down. Just take your time and BRING WATER! Great workout with a beautiful view. My family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids 6/8yo) hiked the entire thing in 1 hour and 10 minutes. We did NOT take any side trails and stayed on the main trail to preserve the natural habitat. Dog friendly, wear appropriate shoes for when you get to the top it's rocky in the area where the saddle rock is. Continue on past that area for a great viewing area with benches and safer photo opp areas.

Riverside Park runs alongside the Wenatchee River in Cashmere. A paved walking path extends along…read morethe river and is beautiful to walk in the autumn. I recently walked this trail with my uncle and my aunt the three mornings I was in Cashmere visiting them (the 10th, 11th, and 12th of November 2020). The leaves were various colors and had started falling over the path, the branches of the trees filtered in the sunlight in patches providing a very autumn feel while walking. Along the river the wind can be strong so if walking in cooler temperatures it is a good idea to wear multiple layers. My uncle and I walked down one of the slopes by the walking trail to the river's edge. Across the river Highway 2 was rumbling with cars and trucks on their way to somewhere. In addition to the walking trail there is a large field area, multiple playgrounds one of which in primarily devoted to swings, a paved skate park and a dirt skate park, and a large picnic area where one can sit and relax. I spotted a couple of restroom buildings but did not go over to check if they were open or closed (due to COVID-19). A cement ramp leads into the river and provides a place one could launch or remove a river rafting boat from the water. On each of our visits, the park was calm and not too busy with people.

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.

Stuart is a big, badass block of granite…read more It's a mountain that most non-climbers will never see, which is unfortunate! It offers many routes from scree slogs, to snow & ice, to nationally-renowned multi-pitch alpine rock routes. (North Ridge is on the coveted "50 classic climbs in North America list". I climbed this mountain via ice cliff glacier, a fun moderate ice route that is hard to get good conditions on.

We found this interpretive site online and decided to check it out while passing through. Near…read moreBlewett Pass, take Forest Road 9716 about 1/2 mile past the sno-park to the large parking area at the trailhead. There is a toilet available, and a map to help with the 25 interpretive stops along the trail. On this Thursday morning we had the place to ourselves. The main 2 mile loop is easy to follow with only minor elevation changes. Most of the interpretive signs are there, so we learned a bit about the trees along the way. Currently there are gorgeous flowers in bloom and fabulous views to take in on a clear day. On this quiet day we spotted a young buck, a rabbit, loads of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks...but heard much more rustling in the trees. We had a great time, and found the trail peaceful and fun. Highly recommend, as Swauk Discovery is good for families and anyone who enjoys a serene walk in the forest.

Swauk Forest Discovery Trail was a beautiful loop trail that wasn't too difficult, was family- and…read moredog-friendly, and offered gorgeous views along the whole way. Lots of signage to help you learn about the trees in the area. Located in the Blewett Pass area, I liked that it didn't have a long and bumpy forest road to access the trail head. We were lucky to come on a clear day and see views of Rainier and the Enchantments.

Gorgeous views of unique rock formations, the Enchantment Mountains and town of Cashmere. Make sure…read moreto go counterclockwise and it is easier easiest to return the same route for an out and back. We did the complete loop however coming down was extremely steep and unsafe at some areas due to slides. Not ideal for kids due to very steep trail trails and unsecure ground. We also noticed several ticks along the way. Keep your eyes out for marmots too. Enter through the cute garden gate just past the restrooms. Be sure you already have a WA State Discovery Pass since there's no pay machine.

What Peshastin Pinnacles State Park lacks in total hiking trail length it makes up in vertical gain…read moreardor. Views from the top of the pinnacles on a clear sunny day are absolutely stunning and the climb adds a bit of physical satisfaction in working up a slight sweat to reach the vista points. A helicopter pad is located closer to the parking lot/entrance, guessing in part in case of an emergency be it a snake bite, rock climber fall, or hiker tumble. It is a great place for a short, difficult hike. However, ropes and other rock climbing supplies strewn across the trail can detract from the overall experience. During the summer of 2021 the park was closed due to extreme fire risk. Fortunately this was communicated both on the website and at the driving entrance.

A 6-mile roundtrip hike of 1800 ft elevation gain that rewards you with an aerial view of…read moreLeavenworth! The hike is of a moderate level and took us about three hours including resting time at the top. Make sure to wear shoes with grip to prevent slipping on the dirt trail. No restrooms are available at the trailhead. The beginning and end of the trail is primarily a walk through a forest, while the middle section is out in the open showing a different view of Leavenworth. Not much wildlife was seen besides a couple of birds. The flowers weren't in season and we mostly saw dandelions. Once you reach the peak, there is a clearing to enjoy the mountains and village view. No parking pass or fee is required. The parking lot is the small loop encountered after turning in from Icicle Road. A No Parking sign upon entry had confused us, but it refers to the road itself so as to not block the entryway and leave way. If you continue along the loop, there is a sign for parallel parking on the left side as well as blocks of parking lots to the side. Only two other cars were parked when we arrived at 7:20 AM on Friday, and most of the spots were filled when we returned at 10:20 AM.

This is the best moderate alpine rock route in Washington…read more It's in what is probably the most beautiful natural area of Washington. So, why is it not more well-known? More often climbed? It's in the Enchantments, with a long approach. This is a permit-only area and it's infamously hard to get permits. The granite is incredible, the mountain goats plentiful. Put in for a permit, cross your fingers, and have fun!