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.
Looking for an easy hike surrounded by gorgeous mountain vistas? Look no further than the Big Four Ice Caves. The trail is 2.2 miles from the paved parking area and varies from paved sections to gravel and boardwalks. The climb isn’t too strenuous, and there are places to stop along the way to catch your…
We’ve all heard the opinion that western Washington is almost perpetually grey and rainy. While that may be the case in winter months, most of the west side is quite temperate and beautiful for much of the rest of the year. However, when it comes to one special west side region, an honest-to-goodness rain forest…
Rose Freeman and Anastasia Allison are a unique pair of classically trained musicians based in Washington state. If you haven’t heard of them before, a short summary: They climb mountains with a violin and keyboard strapped to their backs and play their music in the open nature. Pursuing A Passion But what they really do…
Founded and preserved on April 22nd, 2005 (Earth Day) by Gordon Hempton, One Square Inch of Silence, is a beautiful project meant to highlight how serene it can be to stand in nature and not hear any noise-pollution. The project is located in the Hoh Rain Forest in the heart of the Olympic National Park…
As high school history class taught us, in the late 1800’s there was a gold rush in western America. While most headed out west to California, Canada and Alaska, Washington was perfectly settled in the middle. This meant while gold seekers were heading up to Canada for their chance at glory, they were bound to…
Four miles outside of Moses Lake, you can find The Grant County Sand Dunes and ORV Park. Here you can ride on the sand dunes which are open year round. Or visitors can enjoy the mud flats – an additional 3,000 acres of sand, mud and trails. These are only open from the first of…
Located in southern Washington, White Salmon is a special place for sports enthusiasts. Named by the Lewis & Clark Expedition for the salmon they found in the White Salmon River, the name is the first hint at recreational activities. (Fishing… it’s fishing.) Your Options When in the city, make sure to book a rafting trip…
Deep sea fishing is by definition any kind of fishing done in water about 100 feet deep on a boat, that isn’t easily visible from shore. This makes Westport, Washington a hotspot destination for deep sea fishing hobbyists in the Pacific Northwest. Charting a boat in Westport is pretty easy and visitors have several companies…
Located in Pasco, Washington, the Juniper Dunes Wilderness area is something quite unique to the area. Not only is it Washington’s largest juniper grove but it is also completely fenced in, all 7,000+ acres. Back in 1984 the United States Congress designated this area of land with various expansions since then. What is the Juniper…
One of the rewards for hiking Saddle Rock is to take in the sweeping panoramic views of Wenatchee, Saddle Rock is a city landmark and is an easily accessible hike that’s just a 10-minute drive from downtown. Ranging from two to three-and-a-half miles round trip, this Wenatchee trail is great for children and adults alike….
Here at Explore Washington State, we’re always interested in finding out about people who are actively exploring new areas of Washington, whether that’s checking out new hotspots in urban areas, or out scrambling around in the woods with a GoPro. Just a few weeks ago, we ran across the YouTube channel Outside & Stuff, which…
There’s nothing quite like the view of Washington’s serene snow-clad mountains in winter. If winter is your favorite time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, then you’ll love a trip to the beautiful Mission Ridge Ski Resort in Wenatchee, Washington! Enjoy skiing, comfortable accommodations and the stunning scenery when you visit this lovely…
