Welcome to Washington state, the form of place the place we’re so spoiled for alternative that any go to will end in a number of heartbreaking selections.
OK sure, I’m being dramatic, however there are such a lot of mountain trails to select from, it could take months simply to scratch the floor.
However most of us don’t have months, we solely have days!
I visited Washington on the finish of August with one purpose in thoughts: See as most of the nationwide parks – Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades – as I may with solely eight days.
Underneath an identical time crunch? Simply need to see the very best within the state has to supply? I received you! That is one epic Washington nationwide parks street journey itinerary:
Mount Rainier National Park
Earlier than we start, it’s price noting that there isn’t a actual proper or unsuitable order to do that nationwide parks itinerary in. I performed with transferring across the order of every park and it doesn’t matter what, it takes about the identical quantity of driving time (assuming you’re flying into and out of Seattle). In the event you’re squeezing this all into eight days like I did, it’s numerous time within the automotive, however the drives are attractive and we didn’t thoughts them an excessive amount of!
So with that mentioned, be at liberty to maneuver this round in any means that fits you.
Continuing within the order that I did it, this itinerary begins with Mount Rainier nationwide Park’s most well-known hike, the Skyline path.
Mount rainier may be seen from a lot of the state. It’s a behemoth energetic volcano rising up at over 14,400 ft above sea stage and dominating the skyline. I used to be enchanted by it.
Skyline path, or any path from the Paradise lot
Put together for this to be fairly full of folks, as there are lots of totally different trails all embarking from the Paradise parking zone the place the Skyline Path is. My favourite factor to do in nationwide parks is to go when different folks don’t go – proper round dawn and sundown. I did this hike at sundown and by then most individuals had already left, plus, that’s when the lighting and the colours are at their most spectacular!
In the event you’re not snug with mountaineering again down at the hours of darkness with a headlamp, simply go a bit earlier than sundown, it’s nonetheless certain to be higher than going noon.
Waterfalls + Lakes
For some selection, be sure you try Christine and Comet falls in addition to image lake for a tremendous reflection of mount rainier.
For my second night within the park, I selected pinnacle Peak, the 1.Three mile hike proper throughout from image lake. It’s not as standard, and that’s in all probability what made it so fantastic! The sundown was magical and there was just one different particular person up there to share it with. That was fairly the distinction to the skyline Path, and a welcome one at that!
This is only one aspect of the park, with many choices on the dawn aspect as nicely. I’m going into element on every of those hikes in my 48 hours in Mount Rainier nationwide Park publish. You may test it out right here!
Keep: I stayed on the Alexander Lodge (affiliate hyperlink) simply outdoors of the southwestern park entrance. It’s a 1910 historic dwelling and whereas not the finest place I’ve ever stayed, it was completely positioned for our adventures and suited us simply superb. Plus the worth was proper!
Olympic National Park
Making your strategy to the coast, the Olympic nationwide Park and nationwide forest area covers various floor. To be able to see a lot of the issues on this record, it’s finest to make your strategy to Port Angeles or Sequim.
Seashores
From there, it’s nonetheless a few 2-hour drive to what I’d advocate for a minimum of one sundown whereas in Olympic – Rialto, Ruby, or Second seaside. You’ll move by the attractive Crescent Lake in your means!
On the time that I went, second seaside was closed in order that made it a simple alternative for Rialto seaside and the opening within the wall!
Tides matter right here, and in the event you go at excessive tide like we did, that’ll imply taking part in jungle health club on the downed bushes on the shoreline to keep away from the waves. I truly had a good time with that and advocate nonetheless going even when it’s excessive tide.
That did imply that we couldn’t actually see or stroll by way of the opening within the wall for sundown, however you may’t be in every single place on the good time! You may test the tides right here.
It’s additionally attainable to camp on the seaside. You may reserve a allow right here.
Hoh Rainforest
The Hoh Rainforest is one other well-known spot in Olympic National Park, and one which I didn’t have time for sadly. Nonetheless many locals beneficial it to me, so I’m sticking it right here so to test it out if it strikes your fancy. There’s additionally a campsite which you could reserve!
Hurricane Ridge
I made a decision to take a look at the dawn ridge up within the mountains of the nationwide park for dawn. It’s a fairly straightforward, fast stroll to a stunning dawn view. I like to recommend following it up with the three mile Hurricane Ridge – additionally paved and a fairly straightforward path to some stunning mountain views.
If in case you have a bit extra time and need to tackle a problem, the Lake Angeles Path brings you to a stunning blue lake that on a transparent day, seems completely gorgeous. I had each intention of checking it out however with the entire dawn and sundown wake ups and lengthy days, determined to offer it a skip in favor of some harder hikes afterward within the journey.
These are just some out of many, many mountaineering choices within the space, and identical to the Rainier solutions, may solely provide you with a style of the very best the park has to supply. However since most of us are on restricted time, these are the alternatives that I made and I used to be proud of.
From there it’s a few 4-hour drive over to the North Cascades area, both taking a ferry (e-book forward of time!) or driving again round Tacoma and up by way of Seattle.
Keep: Like in Olympic, I stayed in a fairly primary motel, the Olympic View Inn, close to the park entrance in Sequim. It wasn’t wonderful however what did I care since I used to be spending my time outdoors?
North Cascades National Park
Not like Mount Rainier and Olympic National parks, North Cascades doesn’t have as a lot growth or main cities close by. I realized that this one takes a bit extra planning and in the event you can handle it, getting a spot at Newhalem campground within the nationwide park will put you a bit extra centrally-located.
In the event you can’t swing that, you are able to do what we did and backcountry camp outdoors of the nationwide park on the nationwide forest lands, after all offered that you simply go away no hint. You may learn extra about my backpacking packing record and get my free outdoor 101 course right here.
That mentioned, I’d do issues a bit of otherwise now that I’ve extra information, and advocate the next:
The West aspect: Image Lake and Shuksan Glacier
Begin by stopping at image lake for dawn and/or doing the in a single day hike to Lake Ann for Shuksan glacier views. This isn’t to be confused with Lake Ann down by Wet move, which you’ll be able to’t camp on. (Which I did confuse for fairly some time whereas doing my analysis, why oh why title to lakes the identical factor?)
Diablo Lake + Go Trails
From there, attempt to e-book an evening within the Newhalem campground and do the cascade move path. That is in all probability the preferred path within the nationwide Park, so hold that in thoughts along with your timing.
The Sahale arm can be a shocking a part of the hike, and if you’ll be able to get permits, backpacking and overnighting there may be completely stunning.
For a faster, simpler win you can too head to Diablo lake for that minty inexperienced lake hue. There’s a hike and likewise an overlook which you could simply drive as much as. Ross lake is one other standard space, although you’ll must boat in.
As a substitute of most of these choices, I selected to hike the Maple Go, which I can wholeheartedly advocate! It has its similarities to the cascade move, however includes a pretty lake view of Lake Ann — you recognize, the different Lake Ann — in addition to unimaginable views of glacier capped mountains within the distance. The prime of maple move is particularly spectacular, with cascading, sweeping mountain views. It’s no marvel how the park received its title!!
As a substitute, I selected to hike the maple move, which I can wholeheartedly advocate! It has its similarities to the cascade move, however includes a pretty lake view of the lake and, totally different to the lake and talked about earlier than, in addition to unimaginable views of glacier capped mountains within the distance. The prime of Maple move is particularly spectacular, with cascading, sweeping mountain views. It’s no marvel how the park received its title!
As with the opposite suggestions, there are lots of hikes you may select from in North Cascades National Park. Many would require that you simply actually work for it, gaining hundreds of ft in elevation as you go. These are dramatic, fast rising mountains. In the event you’re used to nationwide parks in different spots like California and Utah, it’s possible you’ll be stunned at how a lot steeper the Washington hikes may be.
However they’re at all times definitely worth the effort!
Whereas these are a few of the finest spots to take a look at within the nationwide parks, don’t neglect the nationwide forests and abundance of mountains everywhere in the western a part of the state. Visiting solely made me need to see extra!
Washington is a very stunning state, and in the event you’re something like me, these nationwide parks will solely whet your PNW urge for food.
Learn Subsequent:
Click on to learn extra posts about
The USA