Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West: Gateway to Washington’s Most Famous Rail Tunnel Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West delivers the most accessible and developed section of Washington’s epic cross-state rail trail, featuring the iconic 2.3-mile Snoqualmie Tunnel and spectacular mountain scenery near North Bend. This 18-mile section serves as the perfect introduction…
Moran State Park: San Juan Islands’ Premier Mountain Adventure with Historic CCC Stone Tower Moran State Park stands as the crown jewel of the San Juan Islands, offering the most expansive hiking trail network in the archipelago and commanding views from Mount Constitution’s iconic stone observation tower. Located on Orcas Island in Olga, this 5,424-acre…
Nolte State Park: William Nolte’s 1913 Dance Hall Became a Day-Use Swimming Sanctuary on Deep Lake Nolte State Park delivers accessible day-use recreation on Deep Lake near Enumclaw, where William Nolte’s 1913 resort with a dance hall extending over the water transformed into the forest sanctuary his sister Minnie left for Washington families in 1971….
Saint Edward State Park: Historic Seminary Campus Meets Lake Washington Recreation Saint Edward State Park offers a unique blend of architectural grandeur and natural beauty on 326 acres along the shores of Lake Washington in Kenmore and Kirkland. This day-use park showcases the magnificent 1931 Saint Edward Seminary, designed by renowned architect John Graham Sr….
Saltwater State Park: Urban Beach Escape with Washington’s Only Underwater Artificial Reef Saltwater State Park delivers the perfect beach getaway just two miles from Interstate 5 in Des Moines, combining 1,445 feet of Puget Sound shoreline with Washington’s only underwater artificial reef for world-class scuba diving. This 137-acre park features a unique blend of sandy…
Wenatchee Confluence State Park: Where Two Great Rivers Meet in the Apple Capital Wenatchee Confluence State Park is a 194-acre recreation destination at the meeting point of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers, offering Washington’s longest loop trail, 60 campsites, boat launch, and swimming facilities year-round. This unique park spans both sides of the Wenatchee River,…
Squak Mountain State Park: Urban Wilderness Sanctuary with Seattle Views and Historic Coal Mining Heritage Squak Mountain State Park offers visitors a remarkable 1,570-acre wilderness experience just 15 minutes from Seattle near Issaquah, featuring peek-a-boo views of the city through towering trees alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines. This forested sanctuary preserves the dramatic legacy…
Fifteen thousand years ago, the thing you are looking at was the lip of a waterfall twice the height of Niagara. The Ice Age floods sent a lake the size of Lake Ontario through the Grand Coulee at 50 miles per hour, and everything around Steamboat Rock eroded away. The rock did not. It is…
Sucia Island Marine State Park: Crown Jewel Marine Destination with Fossil-Rich Beaches and World-Class Boating Sucia Island Marine State Park offers visitors an extraordinary 564-acre marine paradise experience consistently ranked among the world’s top boating destinations, featuring 77,700 feet of pristine shoreline, dramatic sandstone formations embedded with ancient fossils, and comprehensive moorage facilities across six…
Scott Cowan · Explore Washington State Scott Cowan Founder & Editor · Explore Washington State Scott Cowan is the founder and editor of Explore Washington State, a Washington travel guide covering destinations, state parks, hiking trails, road trips, and local experiences across all corners of the state. He launched the site in 2017 under T212…
Planning a trip to Snoqualmie, Washington? Whether you are searching for things to do in Snoqualmie or heading out on a day trip from Seattle, this guide covers everything worth seeing and doing in one of Washington State’s most scenic and welcoming small towns. Frequently Asked Questions
The UW cherry blossoms are blooming now in 2026. As of mid-March, the Yoshino cherry trees at the University of Washington Quad are in early bloom, with peak bloom expected in the last week of March through early April. The 29 trees that line the central lawn create one of the most photographed scenes in…
