Explore Washington State
Washington State Outdoor Recreation
Washington State has more terrain for outdoor recreation than most people ever fully explore. Within a few hours of any major city, you can be on a remote alpine trail, launching a kayak into a calm bay, or skiing powder in the Cascades. The variety here is genuinely extraordinary and it rewards people who are willing to look a little further than the usual bucket list destinations.
This section covers the active side of exploring Washington. You will find trail reports and hiking guides, state park reviews, tips for water access points, winter recreation routes, coastal walks, wildlife viewing spots, and the kind of outdoor stops that are worth adding to any road trip. Every post is written by someone who made the trip and came back with a real opinion rather than a press release.
Whether you are planning a technical summit, a family friendly day hike, or just looking for a quiet beach walk, the content here covers a wide range of skill levels and seasons. Washington has something worth getting outside for in every month of the year.
Browse recent posts below, or use the activity and county tags to filter by what you are looking for. There is always more out there than most people get around to finding.
On the hunt for your next easy hike to tackle in Eastern Washington? Find your next favorite day hike near Spokane with Explore Washington State contributor Molly Lindquist. Near nature, near perfect. Spokane is comfortably nestled at the start of the Rock Mountain foothills, has one hundred lakes within an hour’s drive, contains Washington’s largest...
Have you ever camped in a rainforest? How about in the high desert? Or better yet, within yards of the largest body of water on the planet? You can experience all three right here (and then some) in Washington state. Camping in Washington state is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in...
This guest post was written by Mercedes Benedict. A toddler mom and lover of the outdoors, you can find her and her toddlers adventures at: @maxwellandbeatrix Let’s be honest, most kids love it when it rains, it’s the parents who don’t. I’m not a huge fan of rain but I prefer rainy outdoor activities to children jumping...
This guest post was written by Mercedes Benedict. A toddler mom and lover of the outdoors, you can find her & her toddlers adventures at: @maxwellandbeatrix When you have two high-energy toddlers getting outside to explore is a must. Luckily this is where the Sammamish/Issaquah excels. Located east of Seattle this busy suburb is situated near Cougar...
This guest post was written by Terumi Pong from “An Emerald City Life.” Follow her on Instagram. I don’t know about you, but I often find myself retracing my favorite steps in Seattle over and over again. Like every time I visit Pike Place Market at breakfast time, I eat at Lowell’s, I wave a hello to...
Hey guys! Megan here again, you might remember me from my previous article, “Adventure Kitty: Leon.” Back in December one of my friends decided it would be fun to go backpacking in The Enchantments (The alpine wilderness area near Leavenworth). She sent out a Facebook invitation, and eight of us met multiple times to decide which...
Johnston Ridge Observatory-Mount Saint Helens We reached the top of SR 504 at Johnston Ridge Observatory and saw what seemed to be an alien landscape. In the previous entries in this series, I talked about the surrounding forests and how the trees had been replanted. When you reach Johnston Ridge there aren’t any replanted forests....
This post was originally posted here, but with permission from Valerie we are sharing it here. If you want to escape the burbs, or the busy life around Seattle, head to Silverdale! This lovely town is centrally located on the Kitsap Peninsula. I’ve explored the area from top to bottom, and side to side, ha!...
So you want to start taking your kids backpacking in Washington?? Here’s the first three lessons I learned when I started going into the woods with my 4-year-olds. Hooking your kids on backpacking is a lifelong endeavor. It doesn’t end after the first trip whether it goes well or not. Each time you step on...
On the conveyor belt of city life in eastern America, I used to have to remind myself that wild places exist. That they were alive with me right then. Stopped at a traffic light, with urgency filling the air, I’d breathe deep into my belly and imagine the sounds there now, the smells that might...
We’ve been following “Adventures of A+K” on Instagram for awhile now. And we are so excited that they have taken the time to write this fabulous weekend guide for us, and YOU to enjoy. Quick Bio: “We’re Adam and Kathryn, an adventurous married couple living in Seattle. You can often find us driving all around...
The Fall City Wallaby Ranch is a one-of-a-kind experience within Washington state. The ten acre privately owned ranch is located in the Snoqualmie Valley and cares for numerous Wallaby’s and Kangaroos. And yes, they are USDA Licensed and Inspected. Providing educational tours, private educational programs, adoption options, and more- this ranch is truly dedicated...
