The Trail of Ten Falls--in Silver Falls State Park east of Salem, Oregon--offers some of the state's best waterfall viewing, as well as historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Tag: hiking
Get Outside! Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Named for a Native American activist who fought for tribal fishing rights, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge allows you to explore an undisturbed river delta on Puget Sound. Birdwatching here is spectacular, with opportunities to spot eagles, dunlins, sandpipers, falcons, merlins, purple martins, and geese.
Get Outside! Rooster Rock State Park
The trails in Rooster Rock State Park on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge offers an easy stroll in all seasons, rambles through groves of maple and oak--not to mention of of the only officially sanctioned clothing-optional beaches in the state.
Get Outside! Index Town Wall
Hike to the top of Washington's Index Town Wall, a moderately difficult trail that takes you to the summit of an imposing granite cliff, with views of the town of Index and peaks of the Wild Sky Wilderness as your reward.
Get Outside! Boundary Bay Dyke Trail
The Boundary Bay Dyke Trail in BC's Fraser River Delta offers some of the best birdwatching in British Columbia. More than a million migrating birds can be found on this coastal walk, including shoerbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and owls. It's also a great place to spot harbor seals and orcas.
Get Outside! Glacier Basin
The challenging Glacier Basin trail off Washington's Mountain Loop Highway takes you past a mining ghost town and up a steep track to a gorgeous alpine basin. It's a workout, but the payoffs include solitude, old growth forests and a fascinating trip through Cascadia history (including a town where Donald Trump's grandfather was justice of the peace!)
Get Outside! Mount Wells
One of the best wildflower hikes in the Capital Regional District on Vancouver Island, Mount Wells also grants some of the area’s best views. But don't be fooled by this hike's short distance: you'll climb 864 feet (264 metres) in less than a mile.
Get Outside! Cowiche Mountain
The trails at Cowiche Mountain--not far from Yakima, Washington--offer spring wildflowers, remnants of a historic cattle ranch, and tremendous views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and the surrounding shrub-steppe ecosystem. Be sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water on this desert hike.
Get Outside! Campbell Valley
Looking for a hike near Vancouver and Bellingham? Campbell Valley Regional park offers 18 miles (29 km) of trails and features mature second growth forest, parcels from six historic farmsteads, wildlife-rich wetlands, an old race track, a one-room school house, and other historic barns and dwellings.
Get Outside! Latourell Falls
This hike, a quick drive from Portland, features views of a magnificent 249-foot waterfall, and beyond the crowds, offers quiet groves of Douglas-fir, maples, and cedars. Plus, it's one of the few trails on the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge not closed by damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek fire.