We analyzed eight years of trail reports from Cutthroat Pass, Lake Ingalls, and the Enchantments to find the best time to see golden larches in Washington. See when color starts, when each area typically peaks, and why we think October 7 is the best date to plan a larch trip.

An extreme 8-day Washington Cascades hiking road trip for serious day hikers, featuring Mount Baker, the North Cascades, Leavenworth, Mount Rainier, and 50+ miles of some of our favorite trails.

3-Day Mount Rainier Fall Itinerary: Best Hikes, Fall Colors & Where to Stay

A short, steep Olympic Peninsula hike with a huge payoff and a great hike for sunset. We tackled Mount Ellinor via the Upper Trail at sunset, climbing 2,400 feet in just 3.8 miles for incredible summit views, shifting clouds, and one of our favorite recent evening hikes.

Mount Baker Wilderness The Mount Baker region is one of our favorite places in Washington for a weekend getaway. Between the incredible hiking, cozy cabins, local restaurants, and seemingly endless mountain views, it offers the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. It is also a great destination if you travel with your four-legged friend! Many hikes in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest are dog-friendly, and there are plenty of pet-friendly vacation rentals

Hiking ptarmigan ridge Details This is one of the most underrated hikes in the State of Washington and our favorite in the Mount Baker Wilderness. From the moment you leave the parking lot, the views begin, and they simply do not let up. While hiking the trail is a bit of a trek to reach the ridge, we think the payoff is absolutely worth the effort. One of our favorite ways to experience hiking Ptarmigan Ridge is to make a day of it and continue all the way to the end of the

Skip the Crowds, Keep the Views — Discover Dege Peak Looking for big Mount Rainier views without the Sunrise crowds? Dege Peak is one of the most underrated trails in the park — and it might just be the best short hike you haven’t heard of.

A 3-Day Spring Itinerary for Mount Rainier and Ashford

Little Mashel Falls is a great waterfall hike leaving from the town of Eatonville about 1/2 hour outside Mount Rainier National Park. It...

Oakley with Mount Baker and Shuksan Backpacking is one of our favorite ways to explore Washington, and whenever we have the option, we almost always choose a trail where we can bring our dog, Oakley, along with us! Every trail on this list is either a backpacking trip we have personally done, or a hike we have completed and immediately wished we had brought our packs and stayed the night with Oakley. We have all had those hikes where you finally reach the destination, look ar

Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier is one of the places in Washington that means the most to us. We’ve spent years hiking, exploring, and returning to different corners of the mountain, and it remains one of our favorite places anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. It is one of the best National Parks for day hiking as the options often seem limitless. If you are looking for an off season guide check out our Mount Rainier Spring Itinerary here! We’

A list of the 11 Best Spring Hikes in Washington State!

Backpacking Guide to Spider Meadows and Phelps Basin

The Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide Loop is one of the premier backpacking trips on the Olympic Peninsula and one of our favorite hikes in Washington. Along the way, you’ll pass through lush river valleys, camp beside alpine lakes, have great mountain views, cross wildflower-filled meadows, and have plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. It’s also one of Olympic National Park’s most popular backpacking routes, so permits and campsites require some advance planning. We’ve

Let's get weird in Portland! :) Portland is a fun destination within the Pacific Northwest. It is packed with delicious food,...

Maple Pass Loop Maple Pass Loop is easily one of our favorite fall hikes in Washington. This trail brings its A-gamealmost from the moment you leave the parking lot, with alpine lakes, rugged North Cascades peaks, some of the best golden larch color in the state if you time it right. This post was updated after repeating this hike in 2026 Maple Pass Loop Trail Details Distance: About 7.2 miles round trip Elevation Gain: About 2,000 feet Difficulty: Moderate to challenging Tra

Backpacking to Royal Lake and Basin

Trail Details: This is a fantastic loop hike and great introduction to the wild Olympic coast. This trail can be done both as a long...

Updated: September 2026 If we had one week to show someone the best of Washington, this is the trip we would plan! It starts with two days in Seattle, where you’ll explore Pike Place Market, the waterfront, Ballard, Fremont, and Lake Union. Then the trip changes completely as you take a ferry across Puget Sound and head for the mountains, rainforests, beaches, and alpine trails of Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. Mount Rainier National Park This itinerary is based on

You won't find Rattlesnake Ledge, Mount Si, or Poo Poo Point on this list. These are 12 of our favorite hikes within 3 hours of Seattle...