Seattle Based Day Hikes

[Les Rust]

I'm taking my daughter to Seattle where she'll be spending the summer. I'll only be out there for a few days. We're looking for Intel on good day hikes in the Cascades, Olympia, and Rainer. Unfortunately, I won't have the time or gear with me for serious hammock camping. If you've got some favorites, please let me know. We'll be heading on the road by 05.25, getting to Seattle by 05.30. Thanks.

[agranner]

There will still be a ton of snow at Rainier on 1 June, but you might check out the Paradise area trails. I love Reflection Lakes and Mazama Ridge/Panorama Pount. You can also day hike portions of the Wonderland near Longmire.

Beyond that, visit Washington Trails Association website.

[Montexan]

Memorial Day weekend, like most places, go camping bonkers. Friday evening and Monday mid-morning in the Snoqualmie I-90 pass--the main one outside Seattle--is stop-and-go. And the ferries.. escape-the-city from impending-apocalypse lines.

But on the plus side, since you're Eastern time zone, you'll be accustomed to waking up sooner and sunrise will be early 5 o'clock. I am not kidding when I say THs in I-90 (Snow Lake in particular and often suggested to visitors) will be nearly full with over 100 cars by 8 AM. The Paradise lot on Rainier is a mess by then as well. It'll pay to be an early-bird. But what's more Northwest than getting an alpine start! But not all Seattle-area hikes are by land. We have a lot to be explored inner-city via kayak, SUP and sail.

There are so many choices (WTA.org almost makes it harder!), but that weekend being what it is, hopefully you don't spend it all in traffic. Most of our sites use the NW Forest Service pass ($30) or Interagency ($80) will cover everything USFS and NPS.

Hope you all have a great time!

[22hornet]

I agree that weekend will be a zoo around the Metro Puget Sound area, research the trails off Hwy 410 which is East of the town of Enumclaw, there are lots of day hike options and it doesn't get the crowds that the I-90 corridor seems to attract. Enjoy Jim

[TyGuy]

Pac Forrest near rainier is a nice place for day hikes. It's operated and owned by UW. Also look into the Olympic forest. Tons of trails there as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dynamystic]

If you are willing to travel 1-2hrs from seattle, the mountain loop hwy has some great short day hikes. Wallace Falls is nice. Also, about 25 min south of Bellingham is the oyster dome which is one of my favorite views (of the puget sound from anacortes to canada) in the area. If you want to head to the Olympic side. Check out mt ellinor. An epic 360 view (of the olymipics and hood canal) but it may still have snow.

Happy hiking!

[Gary_R]

Mt Ellinor and Mt Rose are good but there fairly steep so be in shape.
Lots of other good stuff on Olympic side.

[Montexan]

Haha, is this a prank on an out of stater? Suggesting ferry travel on Memorial Day weekend is a misdemeanor in WA as defined by RCW 9.96.060.

But if you must, WADOT has a legitimately awesome app showing mountain pass, ferry and border times and web cam feeds.

And in the words of one of my childhood idols, "But you don't have to take my word for it."

(Mtn Loop is a great suggestion. I often like it to escape the crowds, but Pilchuck, Pugh and Gothic still have snow.)

[brady1]

We used to live in Bellevue, Wa. We did day hikes on Mt. Si in North Bend all the time. It's a pretty popular hike, so it can get crowded at times. Even so, we always enjoyed it.

http://www.mountsi.com/