Ahhh, summertime in the Pacific Northwest. The best time of year for a Washingtonian hands down and dare I say we have the best summers than anywhere else?! It’s no wonder tourism spikes during this time of year for us where we have some of the best weather around. Not too hot, not too cold and activities in nature are boundless if you’re into that sort of thing…which I am! I love our diverse landscapes and honestly if we could somehow defy the laws of nature and also have tropical white sand beaches I would definitely continue making Washington my homebase for the rest of my life! Although I try to hike year-round in Washington, there’s no doubt that summer time is the best time to get on the trails. This next series on my blog will be highlighting some of my favorite hikes of 2018 by season starting with my favorite season of all…summer! This post is long overdue and I’m sorry to any loyal readers that are a bit annoyed with my sporadic posting times. One of my 2019 goals is to get onto a more consistent posting schedule. I also hope to continue doing this round-up of seasonal hikes/adventures each year and my goal is that it helps inspire any fellow Washingtonians to get out there more and inspires everyone to explore their own homes as much as they possibly can! So let’s just jump right into this recap!
(*Disclaimer: I want my opinions and photos to inspire you but please still do thorough research on your own before heading out to the trails. Most of my fellow Washingtonians know this website but for anyone who doesn’t and those who are not from Washington and are visiting the area, I highly encourage you to look up all of these hikes on the Washington Trails Association website and always try to read several of the most recent trip reports you can find to get a feel of the most current conditions! Also remember to practice Leave No Trace principles! *)
1.) Colchuck Lake (8 miles roundtrip on WTA, but most likely more)
A very well-known (and loved) hike in Washington and for great reason. Chances are you have seen the iconic pictures of Dragontail Peak situated amongst those incredible clear blue waters and/or have already done this hike! The lake is part of the Enchantments permit zone and the mileage is just short enough to be an easy enough day hike to get a taste of what the Enchantments have to offer. I had been wanting to do this one for years but wanted to time it out just right to try to get a little solitude here and somehow it worked! We decided to do it as my birthday weekend hike back in August and I took the Friday off which I think was a great call because from what I saw on trip reports, no matter how early you go on a weekend it still might not be good enough to escape the masses. I was also worried about the weekdays as I heard it still gets pretty busy. I can’t blame people though because this hike is such a dream come true and the lake is even more gorgeous in person. Chances are when you arrive the lot will already be pretty full from all the backpackers. We arrived around 7:30 A.M. and I was very worried when I saw all the cars but we only saw about 4 little groups (mostly couples or trios) on the way up and once we arrived we had our pick of some of the most prime spots around the lake. It was absolutely magical and such a quiet and peaceful morning! We lounged around the lake for an hour and a half before more groups started showing up. I even went for a dip and it was freezing but I think if the day was a little hotter I could’ve swam for awhile! This was also during the time all the wildfires were happening and I’m not sure how but we just got so dang lucky on this weekend. We went on a day the smoke had cleared up considerably so we got great views on the trails and at the lake that people just a couple weeks before did not get to enjoy at all based on trip reports. We also picked the only sunny day that weekend as it rained off and on the next 2 days and was very cloudy. This combined with the almost non-existent crowds on the way up was the most perfect experience and my favorite summer hike by far. We saw a lot of people on the way down but that’s to be expected.
In terms of difficulty the hike itself wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to be honest. I think I let the trip reports scare me but I handled it very well and we made great time. It does get very steep and rocky towards the end and that could be hard on your knees going up and down if you have issues in that area. I’m not saying it was a cake walk I’m just saying when you read reports about a hike to always be prepared but also never underestimate your own abilities! Sometimes I think platforms like Instagram make a trail very popular and you get a lot of beginners (which is great!) that come on the trails and may be the ones leaving the reviews of how difficult and rough it is but in actuality it might just be moderate for you. As long as you’re prepared gear wise, going at a pace you’re comfortable with, and enjoying the nature around you it should be a wonderful experience no matter what and once you get to the lake you’ll see that it was worth all the sweat and exhaustion! Keep in mind that the road to the trailhead is pretty rough with a lot of potholes but I saw all kinds of cars making it, just drive slow and be aware. WTA lists the hike at 8 miles but if I’m remembering correctly my Fitbit had clocked our mileage at around 10 miles roundtrip.
2.) Dege Peak (4 miles roundtrip)
Everyone seems to race to Mount Rainier National Park in the summertime to get their fill in before the seasons change. Road closures and bad weather conditions from late fall through early spring keep people away from the plethora of wonderful trails in the area so it’s no wonder the park gets so busy. My biggest regret this summer was not getting out to this area more, especially since we even bought an America the Beautiful Pass (great investment by the way if you hike often as it covers National Parks entrances and over 2,000 federal recreation sites). A big 2019 goal is to do as many hikes as possible in the Mount Rainier area this summer and early fall as we only did three in the general area for summer and fall of 2018 and we only went to the Sunrise area and the Chinook Pass area. Mount Rainier National Park is gorgeous and I love that you get views of the mountain pretty much anywhere you go in the park. The Sunrise area of the park seems to get less crowds than the Paradise area but both have their own perks and plenty of awesome trails.
I absolutely loved this hike because it was short but still a decent workout and had the most incredible pay-off with a jaw-dropping view of Mount Rainier at the top. There’s also a lot to see on the trail with views all along the way and the summer colors reminded me of a painting! The hike is about 4 miles roundtrip with only a gain of 600 feet and really only gets steep at the final stint to the peak. Timing is everything when you hike in this area because going early helps beat the crowds but the view could be shrouded in clouds and fog that haven’t yet burned off for the day. When we started the hike I was very worried we wouldn’t get a view but once again timing and luck were on our side and the clouds broke way for the most epic mountain view within 15 minutes of us arriving to the top. A family was up there before us and had waited almost an hour for the clouds to part and even when they were leaving the clouds still hadn’t quite moved enough. Definitely add this to your list while in the Sunrise area of the park and do yourself a favor and do as many Mount Rainier area hikes as possible this summer!
3.) Eightmile Lake (6.6 miles roundtrip)
This is a wonderful little hike if you’re in the Leavenworth area and want to escape the crowds of Colchuck but still want to end up at a very pretty lake. Eight Mile Lake is also part of the Enchantments permit zone so it’s fun to get another small taste of that area. I really enjoyed this trail and before doing Colchuck it was the top runner for being my favorite hike of the summer. We did this hike on 4th of July and started really early so we could enjoy some solitude at the lake. The trail is 6.6 miles round trip and I really liked it because it was a great workout but didn’t overly exert you and I was able to really enjoy all the colors, sights, and sounds even more-so. This area was in the Jack Creek fire and you can still see some of the devastation but it’s amazing how much has already grown back. I love seeing the circle of life and I think the lake has a cool effect with the burnt trees and new growth combined. I thought it gave the lake a sort of autumn vibe and the trail and lake had some really great colors throughout. I also loved all the big tan boulders around the lake and on a portion of the trail. We got here early and enjoyed a large spot at the lake to ourselves and we also saw some great camping spots if you ever score a permit and get the opportunity to camp here. I would have swam in the lake if the weather was a little warmer and the sun was out and I can see this being a great place to spend a few hours on a nice hot summer day. Definitely put Eightmile Lake on your summer hiking bucket list!
4.) Harry’s Ridge (8.2 miles roundtrip)
This is one of the more popular trails in the Mount St. Helens area. It is great for seeing a plethora of colorful wildflowers in the spring but also a wonderful summertime hike (just start early as the trail is very exposed). If you follow me on Instagram then you know very well that I love the Mount St. Helens area and the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest. I believe it’s a highly underrated area especially if you branch out to other parts of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest that are much less frequented. It’s so easy to find solitude here as long as you check out the trails that are not super close to the observatory and visitor center. As I mentioned before, this particular trail is one of the more heavily trafficked ones but if you start early in the morning (and again you should because of the heat and exposed nature of the trail) it’s easy to find some peace and quiet as families that visit tend to come later in the morning and in the early afternoon time. I really love this trail because it has epic views of Mount St. Helens throughout the majority of the trail. You can even just stay on the paved path if you wanted to for anyone with young kids or health issues and get some great views and photos of Mount St. Helens. The hike is so worth it though and I love that you walk through the blast zone. It’s such a surreal experience and very cool to see life coming back to an area that was completely devastated by the eruption. If you’ve never been to the Mount St. Helens area before then this is the perfect trail to get your first taste of it all.
Side note but the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest also has personal significance to me because it is one of my dad’s favorite places on earth. A lot of family memories always resurface when I’m in this area and always makes me miss my family who moved down to Texas in 2011. If you end up reading this little note please let me know in the comments of special places that remind you of family or someone special!
5.) Kelly Butte (3.4 miles roundtrip)
This is such a wonderful little hike with a great pay-off! You get awesome views of Mount Rainier and the trail is so beautiful with colorful wildflowers and greenery, cool little rock outcroppings, and a fun little fire look-out to finish it all off. We did this hike later in the summer and I was surprised at how many wildflowers were still alive and well and not wilting away from the sun. When I think of summer I think of all the colors that we saw on this hike! The climb up is steep but not too bad, although in the summer heat it can feel worse than it really is so I would start as early as possible in the summertime. This trail also seems to be a popular sunset hike as well so that would be a good option too. In terms of crowds I really didn’t see many people on this trail at all and based on previous trip reports it seems this trail isn’t as highly frequented as other trails with views of Mount Rainier in the area but I think that’s starting to change as more people find out about the fire lookout which was apparently recently repaired. When we arrived to the top a group of volunteer rangers were on their way out and they were kind enough to let us in to take a look around and sign the guestbook before they left and locked up. We got to enjoy the lookout to ourselves for about half an hour before another couple showed up. Overall I feel this is a great hike for beginner hikers that want a good pay-off and something a little more challenging for progress. For being such a short hike it really has so much to offer so be sure to add this one to your list!
6.) Annette Lake (7.5 miles roundtrip)
We were originally planning to do Melakwa Lake but seeing how full the lot was even at 8 A.M. we decided to head over to Annette Lake and it was a great alternative! For some reason, maybe because I hadn’t hiked in a couple weeks, this hike really kicked my ass on this morning! The weather wasn’t the best summertime weather either and was foggy, humid, and slightly drizzling throughout. I have definitely done harder hikes but maybe since I wasn’t originally planning to do this one and didn’t know what to expect it just caught me off guard. I don’t think the crowds on the hike helped either. Pretty much all the North Bend and Snoqualmie area hikes are guaranteed to be packed in the summertime because of the close proximity to Seattle so always keep that in mind if you’re looking to escape a big crowd and to time it out right.
The trail itself is mostly through the woods and has that dark fairytale forest vibe. The terrain can be a bit root-y and rocky at times. There are a couple mini waterfalls to cross over as well but nothing too bad. There’s also a very narrow rocky area you have to cross which has an awesome view but could be a little sketchy for those with young children. I saw children on the trail though just be sure to keep them close to you in this area. The trail does seem to be endless switchbacks for the last 1.5 miles although the gain is only about 1800 feet which really isn’t too bad but I honestly hate when most of the gain is concentrated in one spot. I much prefer trails that spread the elevation gain throughout so this definitely tired me out. The lake itself is very pretty but not the absolute best lake I’ve ever been to. It looks to be shallow and would probably be good for kids to play in (I wouldn’t swim in it but have seen plenty of people do it). It’s not a very large lake and there aren’t a ton of places to comfortably sit at around the perimeter of the lake so again getting there early before there are too many people is key so you can find a decent spot and get to enjoy the lake with a little peace and quiet. Overall it was a beautiful hike with plenty to see and a great day hike that’s only about an hour and a half away from Seattle and Tacoma. Based on trip reports it seems to be a popular winter hike as well!
7.) Hurricane Hill (3.2 miles roundtrip)
The Olympic National Park is another favorite area of mine in Washington. I love the vibe and diversity of the area from the lush subalpine & temperate rainforests (love those big mossy green trees), to rugged coastlines, to glacier capped mountains, and the plethora of rivers, creeks, waterfalls, gorgeous lakes, and so much more. The Hurricane Ridge area is a very popular destination in the Olympic National Park and it’s not hard to see why. Hurricane Ridge is an easily accessible area and the endless mountain views and hilly green terrain are absolutely gorgeous in any season but seems to be most popular in the heart of summer or in the winter for sledding and snowshoeing. There are many trails in this area but Hurricane Hill is probably one of the most popular due to its short mileage and ease while getting awesome views throughout. It is perfect for families visiting the area or to add in some extra mileage if you felt your first hike in the area wasn’t quite long enough.
We did this hike spur of the moment after waking up late one morning and decided we would go for golden hour. The line to get into Hurricane Ridge was not something we were expecting and the wait was pretty terrible so keep this in mind when you go. If I could do it all over again I would have went early in the morning like we do for most hikes but seeing the colors at sunset in this area was definitely worth the wait. The terrain was beautiful bathed in a golden light. This particular trail is in very good condition and is wide which is great for all that additional traffic this area receives. WTA lists the gain as only 600 feet but man those switchbacks felt like more! Definitely a decent workout for such a short hike. The views throughout the trail are incredible and the rocky “peak” area is a great spot for photos. You’ll likely see plenty of deer and chipmunks on the trail and probably some other wildlife as well!
8.) Sauer’s Mountain (6 miles roundtrip)
I mentioned this trail in a previous post I wrote featuring great later winter and spring hikes to do in Washington so I’ll be reiterating the same information. I thought I would mention it here because even though the hike is best in the spring for the vibrant abundance of wildflowers we actually did this in late June in the summer and it was still a great hike with stunning views. The trail is located in Peshastin near Leavenworth and it is relatively short enough that you can easily add it in one morning before exploring the town of Leavenworth. This trail is very exposed and this area in Washington gets very hot in the summertime so early to late spring is the best time of year to do this hike (also the wildflowers are at their prime). It is a little steep as well so this combined with the heat can be a bit tiring. I had planned to do this hike before we left to Greece but didn’t make it out here in time. So instead we went in June for the views and to feel out the trail for my readers. The view is gorgeous and such a great pay-off for not a very long hike. This trail is also not very crowded compared to the other popular trails in the Leavenworth area. Parking and access to the trail is on Mr. Sauer’s private property. A donation box for parking is onsite and he is also usually at the entrance selling his family’s wine for $20. We picked some up and it was delicious! Be respectful of his land please and always keep your dogs on a leash. WTA didn’t have mapping coordinates for this trail but if you just Google search “Sauer’s Mountain Trail” it will pop up on the GPS and lead you straight to the parking area.
9.) Second Beach aka La Push Beach (4 miles roundtrip)
I also mentioned this trail in a previous post so I’ll be reiterating the same information. You really can’t go wrong with any of the coastal beaches and should definitely make sure to check one out when summer comes around. This one is probably one of the more well-known ones however. You’ve probably seen a lot of photos of this gorgeous beach with its iconic large seastacks and gorgeous fiery sunsets. I’ve seen so many pictures of this location but it still took my breath away when I rounded the corner and saw the gigantic seastacks through the trees. It truly is a uniquely stunning location and I definitely want to return and do some camping hopefully this coming up summer! The Second Beach trail is short and pretty easy. The only part that may be difficult for some is the large piles of driftwood at the end of the trail which you have to navigate over to get to the shores of the beach. For us it wasn’t hard at all but I can see it being difficult for children, older folks with difficulty climbing, and people with heavy backpacks on or carrying a lot of equipment for camping. The beach is sandy and very long so it is easy to find a little privacy to lay out and enjoy the sunshine and salty air. We came at a bad timing for photos and were not intending to stay for hours until sunset but I hope to be back soon to check out the famed sunsets here!
10.) Cape Flattery (1.5 miles roundtrip)
More like a walk in the woods but it does count in the 52-hike challenge rules so I’ll add this to the list! I also mentioned this location on a previous post but will reiterate it here as well as I feel this is a great year-round destination but the absolute best in the summertime! Cape Flattery is the northwestern-most point of the contiguous United States. There is a boardwalk running through most of the trail to keep your feet dry and it’s an easy stroll. The forested area is beautiful, especially when we went during golden hour in the summer which made for some pretty amazing shots. You will need a Makah Reservation Pass for this trail which are only $10 and good from the time you bought it until the end of the year. You can use it for several locations and trails in the Neah Bay area including Shi Shi Beach. You can purchase them at several locations which you can find listed here on this website with hours as well. http://makah.com/activities/ Most people purchase theirs at the Washburn’s General Store but they close at 7 P.M. If you are going there for sunset or golden hour you can go to the Makah Mini Mart which closes at 10 P.M. This is where we purchased ours. This is a great location for families since the trail is very easygoing.
I thought I would also share some pictures of some of my favorite lakes to visit in the summertime that do not require any hiking to get to. Definitely add these to your list for some fun in the sun this summer!
Alder Lake
Lake Cushman
Lake Wenatchee State Park
That wraps up my summer 2018 recap! Have you done any of these hikes or are any on your bucket list now? Let me know in the comments! I hope you all enjoyed the first post in my new little series on the blog and I hope you’ll check out my favorite fall 2018 hikes & adventures recap coming soon!
Until next time,
Kelsie