A Pacific Northwest Hiking Blog — Pacific North Wanderers

DICK’S Sporting Goods Has You Covered For Fall and Winter

Fall is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, and Halloween is near. It’s time to gear up for cooler, damper weather. We, like many of you, appreciate comfortable, technical apparel that is also stylish. Whether cozying up by a campfire or visiting your local pumpkin patch, now’s a great time to select some new items to see you through the season. We’ve teamed up with DICK’S Sporting Goods to show you this year’s new coats, footwear, and other fall/winter apparel to keep you bundled up and ready for anything.

Camping, Hiking, ReviewPacific North WanderersOctober 30, 2020Washington, Washington State Park, Pacific NorthwestComment

Hiking Silver Star Mountain

The opportunity to enjoy wildflowers, views of 5 significant mountains, a natural rock arch, and two different trails drew us to this hike. Those are some of the things you’ll see while hiking Silver Star Mountain. This easy-moderate hike should be on everyone’s must-do list! The drive up may be challenging, but the hike itself is rewarding.

Hiking Baldy Mountain

With 360-degree views at the top and a good overlook around the midway point, the TP Jim Trail on Baldy Mountain can be a little challenging but well worth it. It's only 2-miles to the top, but the nearly 2,000' elevation gain slowed us down quite a bit. However, all that effort does come with rewards from this vantage point: the Yakima River and campground at the bottom, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood visible in the distance, as well as the sparse, hilly eastern Washington landscape to be seen all around.

Hiking To Saddle Rock

After camping the previous night at Wenatchee Confluence State Park, we were well rested and ready to go. The day was forecasted to be clear, sunny, and warm—so we opted to get this hike done in the cool of the morning. As we drove to Saddle Rock trailhead, a short 15 minutes from the park, the sun was out, and we knew we’d have some great views from the top.

An Afternoon Hike In Bridle Trails State Park

Known as one of the top equestrian parks west of the Mississippi, Bridle Trails State Park offers 28-miles worth of trails for horseback riding, hiking, jogging, and the walking of leashed dogs. This 489-acre day-use park started out as 640-acres, which was reserved for the purpose of supporting public schools by the sale of parcels of land and logging under the 1853 Organic Act of Washington Territory. Around 1930, horseback riding residents successfully petitioned the Commissioner of Public Lands to use the land for a park, which then lead to the establishment of Bridle Trails State Park in 1932.

A Two Day Stay At Twin Harbors State Park

Quickly becoming a favorite part of the state to us, we took our third trip to the Westport, Washington area for two nights. Renting a cabin at Twin Harbors State Park as our temporary home base, we explored the town of Westport and two other nearby Washington State Parks over the weekend. Beaches to lighthouses to a colony of sea lions, we saw a lot!

Camping, Exploring, HikingPacific North WanderersMarch 15, 2019Washington State Park, Washington, Lighthouse, Beach, Pacific NorthwestComment

Cabin Nights And A Hike On Kitsap Peninsula

Sometimes you just need a few days away from the pull of home and work. A chance to rest, relax and explore was what we wanted and what we found. On the Kitsap Peninsula you’ll find Belfair State Park, Scenic Beach State Park and Gold Creek Trail. We spent a coupe of nights in a cabin at Belfair State Park, hiked Gold Creek Trail and explored Scenic Beach State Park. Waterfront, forest, mountain views and starry nights were healing elixirs.

Hiking Umatilla Rock Trail

An early morning hike is never a bad idea. You get to watch the sunrise while enjoying the cooler part of a summer day. On a recent trip to eastern Washington, beating the heat was a must for us. We explored and hiked around, up and over Umatilla Rock and Dry Falls. This easy hike provides breathtaking views of what was once the world's largest waterfall.

The Mysterious Mima Mounds National Natural Landmark

There are 599 designated National Natural Landmarks (NNL) in the U.S. and its territories, which are administered by the National Park Service. Washington state is home to 18 of these wonders, and Mima Mounds NNL is one of them. The area provides short, level, unshaded hiking trails which run through this field of small, rounded hills, giving visitors a close-up look and opportunity to imagine how they were formed. Similar mima mounds can be found in other parts of the U.S.; however, they are all named after the Mima Prairie in Washington, which is located southeast of the Capital State Forest.

Beer Hiking Pacific Northwest

It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to exceptional hiking and excellent craft beers. The territory from Oregon, through Washington, and up into British Columbia, offers up great opportunities for trails and an after-hike visit to a local craft brewery. Beer Hiking Pacific Northwest has made enjoying this combination easy by pairing together 50 hikes and brew locations throughout the PNW.

Hiking, ReviewPacific North WanderersJune 8, 2018Pacific Northwest Comment

Hiking Icicle Ridge In Leavenworth, Washington

The popular Bavarian town of Leavenworth has a lot to do and see. From the many year-round festivals like Octoberfest and Maifest to the downtown area and its waterfront attractions, there’s always something to do here. During this visit, we opted for a hike on Icicle Ridge and a brew afterward at Icicle Brewing Company.

HikingPacific North WanderersJune 1, 2018Washington, National Forest, Pacific NorthwestComment

Visiting Fields Spring State Park

If you are looking for a getaway, may we suggest the southeast corner of Washington? Here you will find Fields Spring State Park, an 825-acre park located in Washington’s northern portion of the Blue Mountains. The park lies within forested land and atop a natural spring, from which its name derives. Features of this park include camping opportunities, hiking trails, and scenic views from Puffer Butte. We stayed two nights in Tamarack cabin and loved every moment.

Camping At Saltwater State Park

Saltwater State Park is a park that is easy to access. Close to city and highway, it is an oasis in the midst of urbanity. Trails wind through lush patches of forest, creeks, streams, beachfront, views of the Olympic Mountains, interpretive paths, and camping is just a handful of the possibilities here. As an adult, the noise of air and ground traffic can be a significant annoyance, but as a child....... As a child, you are surrounded by wonder and adventure.

The Golden Hour At The Pacific Northwest's Magnificent Cape Flattery

A short hike through the woods of the Makah Reservation brought us to one of the furthest reaching points in the country. Cape Flattery Trail consists of boardwalks, educational signage, and short spur trails leading to cliff views. At the end of the trail, we were greeted with an observation deck which provided spectacular scenes of the Pacific Ocean, Tatoosh Island and its lighthouse, and the rocky shores directly below. Though the drive is long for most, Cape Flattery is a beautiful Pacific Northwest gem that everyone should visit at least once.

HikingPacific North WanderersMarch 7, 2017Pacific Northwest, Lighthouse, WashingtonComment

Hiking Bullitt Gorge Trail In Squak Mountain State Park

This 1,545-acre state park provides 13 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of equestrian trails. All sides of the park contain winding trails which eventually meet up with others and lead to the 2,000' summit. The Bullitt family donated 590-acres of land to the state, with other parcels acquired over the years, and the park was opened in 1972. The old Bullitt fireplace near the top of the mountain is a popular destination and is all that remains of the old homestead.

A Short Hike Through Schafer State Park

Those who settled this land were John and Anna Schafer in 1872. Their sons created the Schafer Bros. Logging Company, which was once the largest in the Pacific Northwest. In 1924 the sons donated this site, which was home to Schafer family picnics, to the state of Washington. They continued to use the park for their company picnics up until the 1940s. In 2010, due to the amount of historic structures inside the park, it was added to the Washington Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places.

HikingPacific North WanderersJanuary 28, 2017Pacific Northwest, Washington State Park, WashingtonComment

Melmont Ghost Town

Happy Halloween! It's the time of year when our imaginations lean toward the eerie and mysterious. A perfect time for us to share one of our trip reports of a ghost town, Melmont Ghost Town. Uninhabited and reasonably easy to get to, it's worthy of your chill seeking!

HikingPacific North WanderersOctober 31, 2016Pacific Northwest, Ghost Town, Historical, Washington Comment

Hiking Suntop Lookout Trail

Ten miles north of Mt. Rainier, located in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Suntop Lookout sits at an elevation of 5,270' and overlooks the valleys of the White River and Huckleberry Creek. On a clear day, the views go on for miles, reaching all the way to the Olympic Mountains to the west and Mt. Baker to the north. Originally built in 1933 to watch for forest fires, the lookout is now open to the public. Hiking to the peak can either be challenging if you opt for the 16 mile route or easy if you choose the 0.5 mile option. Still not easy enough? You can also drive all the way to the top.

HikingPacific North WanderersSeptember 29, 2016Pacific Northwest, Lookout, WashingtonComment

A Pacific Northwest Blog