Northwest Hikers - Current and Future!

Calling all Northwest hikers!

You might answer the call if you already live in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, where I make my home in Seattle.

Or maybe you dream from afar of seeing something spectacular in the Northwest next summer, such as Mt. Rainier up close and personal (or her hot tempered nearby little sister, Mt. St. Helens).

I'm a proud Northwest hiker, although I can't claim to be a "local" i.e. "born and raised" in Seattle.

I moved to Seattle briefly in 1977, just long enough to fall in love with the place while finishing up a degree at a local university.

I was lured back in the early 1990's.

Why?

The mountains!

Where else in the United States do you have your pick from multiple mountain ranges within easy drive of a major city?

Where else can you scramble up onto active (although currently well behaved) volcanoes and watch life go by?

And tell me: where else can you pick and choose when and how much snow you want to deal with on any given day by driving to and from your choice of two mountain ranges?

The Puget Sound region is nirvana for Northwest hikers, for all of those reasons, plus many more.

But don't take my word for it!

I'd like to share some resources on Northwest hiking which serve me well when I want to:

*find a new trail or area to explore;

*plan a destination for a backpacking trip, but need some guidance on what to expect:

*venture out solo;

*read fresh trip reports before I leave for the trail head.

I'll organize these resources beginning with those devoted to the Puget Sound area and surrounding mountains (Cascades and Olympics).

From there, I'll widen the scope to include the entire state of Washington.

And finally, I'll highlight resources which provide information about Northwest hiking in the context of Washington, Oregon, and beyond.

I'll also note what I like best about each resource. That will give you a quick way to know if it's the right place to go for the hiking trip you have in mind.

Please keep in mind that my resource list is constantly evolving. So check back often as I add to the treasure chest of Northwest hikers resources.

Lastly, I offer myself as a knowledgeable resource if you have questions about what it's like being a Northwest hiker. There will be a contact form at the bottom of the page for you to use.

And if you have recommendations on Northwest hiking to add to my list, I'd be glad to take a look at them!

PUGET SOUND REGION (Seattle, WA and surrounding areas):

1. "Hiking With My Brother". What I like about this website is its authenticity. These 2 hikers are enthused and knowledgeable, and share my mindset about encouraging folks to get out on the trails.

Another attractive feature: they organize the hikes in categories according to region and difficulty. AND they provide a Google map marked with the hikes, so you can see instantly how far away from Seattle each hike is.

2. NW Hikers. I go here for trip reports, hiking ideas, and a chance to read discussions about anything related to hiking: food, gear, history, volunteering....

I like this site because of the "community" feel to it.

Note: many Northwest hikers post trip reports to this site, as well as the WTA site listed below. Be prepared for a bit of redundancy when you're scouting a specific destination. It's all good! (And some of the posts are quite funny, or poignant.)

3. This website, called Hikrs, presents some interesting descriptions of the regions near Seattle which any Northwest hiker should be considering as worthy destinations: Mountain Loop, the various geographic regions of the Cascades.

I like looking at my own backyard through different perspectives. Sometimes I'm a bit shocked at what I overlook! Go here for some destination ideas, but be prepared to do a lot more background research on other sites.

4. Here's a great blog by someone who has logged a lot of mileage in this region: Alpine Lakes Aficionado.

This blogger keeps things current, which I admire because it's always a struggle to find time to write.

My favorite feature: topographical maps are provided, with the route drawn in red. I can use this as I'm reading the description to call up a mental picture of the hike. Love it!

5. Try this site, aptly named Northwest Trails, if you're looking for detailed descriptions and photos.

What I enjoy about this site is the feeling of being right on the trail I get from the author's words. And he highlights some details which I've missed while hiking on those same trails!

It's well organized by regions in the Northwest, but also ventures into the Columbia River Gorge area and Oregon.

6. See what you think of the detailed trail descriptions on this website: Hiker.org.

I find this site useful because of its emphasis on maps.

It's also easy to zero in on a particular area: Teanaway area (East of the Cascades yet close to Seattle), Mt. Rainier, Alpine Lakes, etc.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND WASHINGTON STATE:

Northwest hikers check these resources for opportunities to wander the lush forests on the west side, the Cascade and Olympics mountain ranges, and the dry east side of this diverse state.

1. Washington Trails Association (WTA) lists many hikes close to Seattle, but folks wander quite far afield, too.

I use their website for scouting fresh trail reports written by hikers of all abilities.

I also comb their website for volunteer opportunities and political developments affecting Northwest hikers.

You can become a member and receive a monthly print magazine. I read it cover to cover most months, just to keep current with hot button topics circulating in the hiking community.

2. Cascade Climbers: as "just" a hiker, the name might give you pause.

Not so fast!

A lot of the information can be filtered through a hiker's lens, and be a rich source for back country explorations. Not all who wander climb mountains!

If you're a back country skier as well as a hiker, there's plenty of good stuff for you!

What I especially like about this website is the extensive opportunity to dip into potential hiking routes not mentioned elsewhere. Plus, there's a good photo gallery offering tantalizing views of mountains I may never be able to hike into.

And please take note, this site refers to the Cascades but the information is not confined to Washington State.

3. Pacific Northwest Hikes allows you to hone in on a particular region, then select potential hikes.

In addition to the Puget Sound, it describes Northwest hikes in the Central Cascades and as far south as the Willamette Valley.

My favorite feature is the "type of hike" selection feature. Are waterfalls your favorite destination? You can read all of those descriptions without having to wade through one after another in search of your key words.

The authors also provide their assessment of difficulty, along with length and elevation gain.

4. Rely upon government websites only for general information and to plan which permits or camping arrangements you might need.

For example, if Mt. Rainier is calling to you, use the National Park Service website.

If you'd like to look at a larger region, for example on the east side of the Cascades, try the Forest Service website.

What I like about these sites is the chance to get a general overview of an area I'm only vaguely familiar with. I've been hiking around here for over 20 years, and I still don't know the locations of all the greatest Northwest hikes.

What drives me crazy is how infrequently their trail reports are updated, especially in the spring when I'm wondering if a certain access point is open or not. I rely upon fresh trail reports from WTA or NWHiker, rather than on the government sites.

5. If you're located in Portland, Oregon, or are planning to use it as a base camp for your hiking explorations, use this site to gather some Northwest hiker ideas: Portland Hikers.

This site is useful because it has many helpful features for zooming in on just the right hike for you: ratings by difficulty, type, and favorite land features (water, geology, wildlife, etc.).

It also provides a nicely indexed list of "don't miss" hikes with photos - a great planning tool if you have limited time in the area.

6. If you have the time and patience to wade through this vast list of Washington hiking resources, give this a look: Peak to Peak.

Be prepared for an unevenness in quality, but Northwest hikers might find some gems!

As you can see, Northwest hikers have no shortage of options. If anything, the choices are somewhat overwhelming.

Most of us have "bucket lists", organized by season. At least I do!

And when the weather cooperates, or even when it doesn't, I take satisfaction in watching that list grow a bit shorter as the years roll along. I'm sure every Northwest hiker can relate!

Which brings me to this: If you're a hiking newbie interested in getting your boots dusty on some Northwest hiking trails, give my resources a good going over.

If you're still wondering about a few things, drop me a line using the contact form below. I'll answer your question, and may even share it with my website visitors.

This goes for "out of towners", as well as indigenous Pacific Northwesterners.

If you're interested in hearing about the informal one day classes I offer, drop me a line and let me know if you're interested in snowshoeing or hiking, and let me know if you're a beginner or intermediate hiker. I love getting women out there, exploring our fantastically gorgeous big back yard!

And if you'd like to share a useful resource on Northwest hiking, send it along and I'll see if it passes my "sniff" test: reliable, useful, not pushing an agenda, well organized, and offering something different from the ones I've already listed.

Be sure to check back - I'm always on the hunt for great hiking resources, and I will share every last one of them right here, with you!

Northwest hikers enjoy all types of hiking. For some ideas, try THIS.