Seattle area visit in early Nov
Sep 8th, 2001, 12:41 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
It's going be a bit cold and damp I think.
I'm not much of a hiker - just a person that takes the dog out for an hour's walk every day in Finn Hill Park..
However, hope this helps a little...
First off: Check this site for the “Best of Seattle.” Collection of internet votes from locals & visitors about what they thought was the best of the Seattle.
http://best.citysearch.com/categories/seattle/2001
For the best hikes:
http://seattle.citysearch.com/best/r...recreation_3_3
Snoqulamie Falls
The falls are ~45 minutes drive from Seattle – worth it! At 270 feet, the falls are 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls. There is the Salish Lodge perched atop the cliff which was featured in David Lynch's series “Twin Peaks”. Very nice view with food and atmosphere.
Note: it’s a steep half-mile hike that leads you to the base of the falls. If you don’t want to hike there is a lookout point in the park above the waterfall. Nearby, there are also free beer tastings available at Snoqualmie Falls Brewery.
I'm not much of a hiker - just a person that takes the dog out for an hour's walk every day in Finn Hill Park..
However, hope this helps a little...
First off: Check this site for the “Best of Seattle.” Collection of internet votes from locals & visitors about what they thought was the best of the Seattle.
http://best.citysearch.com/categories/seattle/2001
For the best hikes:
http://seattle.citysearch.com/best/r...recreation_3_3
Snoqulamie Falls
The falls are ~45 minutes drive from Seattle – worth it! At 270 feet, the falls are 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls. There is the Salish Lodge perched atop the cliff which was featured in David Lynch's series “Twin Peaks”. Very nice view with food and atmosphere.
Note: it’s a steep half-mile hike that leads you to the base of the falls. If you don’t want to hike there is a lookout point in the park above the waterfall. Nearby, there are also free beer tastings available at Snoqualmie Falls Brewery.
Sep 8th, 2001, 07:01 PM
#3
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Posts: n/a
There are many hiking trails here. Some are throughout the state parks (of which Olympic Park is one). You can drive to many locations and ask for the hiking maps. Make sure you have layered clothing and a cell phone with you before you go on your hike. Also make sure you take bottled water. I think Tiger Mountain is a good day hike. There is a book that you can get at the B&N that has all of the hikes throughout the Pacific NW and their length, etc. You could probably order it online as well.
Sep 9th, 2001, 07:20 PM
#4
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Of course, the weather is going to be 'iffy' at that time of year, but assuming decent weather:
1. From Port Angeles, drive up the Hurricane Ridge Road into the heart of the Olympic Mtns. There is a short gravel spur road to the trailhead for the trail from Hurricane Ridge to Deer Park. Its too long to make the full round trip to Deer Park. Walk about halfway along this spectacular ridge, then turn back.
2. On the east side of the Olympics, drive up the Hoh River Road to the Hoh Rainforest. Walk around the interpretive trail, then head out for a while up the valley towards Mt. Olympus. Again, turn back when you feel like it.
3. On the north end of the Olympic Beach, drive to the Lake Ozette trailhead. From there, hike about 3-4 miles to the ocean at Sandy Point, then return.
4. Check with Mt. St. Helens to see if the Windy Ridge Road is still open. If so, drive up to the Harmony trailhead, then take the short hike down to Spirit Lake for awe-inspiring views of the Lake and Mt. St. Helens (assuming that you can see it!).
5. Take the Mountain Loop Highway eastward, out of Granite Falls, drive to the Big Four trailhead. Take this short (1-2 miles) hike into the spectacular cirque headwall of Big Four Mtn. There will still be snow left over from the previous winter at the base of the headwall. Beware the tempting caves in the snow! They are unstable, and people have been killed/injured when they go inside and the roof collapses.
6. Drive I-90 to Snoqualmie, then to the Mt. Si trailhead. Climb the somewhat steep but well-graded trail to the top of this fine mountain.
7. Drive Route 2 to Gold Bar, then on up to Wallace Falls State Park. Hike up to Wallace Falls, which are wonderful, and there are great views there too.
8. As noted above, Tiger Mtn is one of the best hikes that are very close to Seattle. Only problem: everyone else knows that too.
1. From Port Angeles, drive up the Hurricane Ridge Road into the heart of the Olympic Mtns. There is a short gravel spur road to the trailhead for the trail from Hurricane Ridge to Deer Park. Its too long to make the full round trip to Deer Park. Walk about halfway along this spectacular ridge, then turn back.
2. On the east side of the Olympics, drive up the Hoh River Road to the Hoh Rainforest. Walk around the interpretive trail, then head out for a while up the valley towards Mt. Olympus. Again, turn back when you feel like it.
3. On the north end of the Olympic Beach, drive to the Lake Ozette trailhead. From there, hike about 3-4 miles to the ocean at Sandy Point, then return.
4. Check with Mt. St. Helens to see if the Windy Ridge Road is still open. If so, drive up to the Harmony trailhead, then take the short hike down to Spirit Lake for awe-inspiring views of the Lake and Mt. St. Helens (assuming that you can see it!).
5. Take the Mountain Loop Highway eastward, out of Granite Falls, drive to the Big Four trailhead. Take this short (1-2 miles) hike into the spectacular cirque headwall of Big Four Mtn. There will still be snow left over from the previous winter at the base of the headwall. Beware the tempting caves in the snow! They are unstable, and people have been killed/injured when they go inside and the roof collapses.
6. Drive I-90 to Snoqualmie, then to the Mt. Si trailhead. Climb the somewhat steep but well-graded trail to the top of this fine mountain.
7. Drive Route 2 to Gold Bar, then on up to Wallace Falls State Park. Hike up to Wallace Falls, which are wonderful, and there are great views there too.
8. As noted above, Tiger Mtn is one of the best hikes that are very close to Seattle. Only problem: everyone else knows that too.
Sep 10th, 2001, 11:45 AM
#5
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ALF had some great suggestions, with a couple of caveats. The Hoh is on the *west* side of the Peninsula, not the east. And I'm not sure that I'd classify either Mt. Si or Wallace Falls as "light" hiking, as they are both VERY steep, strenuous trails.
If you like waterfalls, I'd recommend the easy Twin Falls trail just east of North Bend (take exit 34 off I-90, turn right, then left on SE 159th. The trailhead is at the end of that road. It's about a four-mile round trip to the bridge over the falls and back, and there are some lovely old growth Douglas fir and cedar trees on the trail.
A couple more suggestions for the Olympic Peninsula: Marymere Falls and the Spruce Railroad Trail, both on Lake Crescent, just west of Port Angeles.
If you like waterfalls, I'd recommend the easy Twin Falls trail just east of North Bend (take exit 34 off I-90, turn right, then left on SE 159th. The trailhead is at the end of that road. It's about a four-mile round trip to the bridge over the falls and back, and there are some lovely old growth Douglas fir and cedar trees on the trail.
A couple more suggestions for the Olympic Peninsula: Marymere Falls and the Spruce Railroad Trail, both on Lake Crescent, just west of Port Angeles.
Sep 10th, 2001, 04:29 PM
#7
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Mountain walks in November have the potential to be slippery, muddy, rather dismal experiences. How about a couple of flatland alternatives.
1. Not even in the neighborhood of strenuous, but real interesting - right in Seattle, the nature walk through the Lake Washington marshlands near the University of Washington (access from the Museum of History parking lot). Ditto the Washington Park arboretum, just down the road a piece.
2. If you want to get away, walk out the Dungeness Spit at Dungeness on the Olympic Peninsula - Canada in the distance, freighters passing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a cool old lighthouse, maybe some critters, maybe a view of the snowy Olympic Mountains to the south (which, if visible, are to be thanked for their rain shadow, making your walk dry.) The 3 Crabs in Dungeness when you're done for so-so entrees but the world's best bread and coleslaw. Really.
Lots of the other suggestions are fine if weather permits. But don't overlook the possibilities in Seattle or Tacoma themselves. (Walk up Cherry St. in Seattle a few times and you'll be ready for the Himalayas.)
1. Not even in the neighborhood of strenuous, but real interesting - right in Seattle, the nature walk through the Lake Washington marshlands near the University of Washington (access from the Museum of History parking lot). Ditto the Washington Park arboretum, just down the road a piece.
2. If you want to get away, walk out the Dungeness Spit at Dungeness on the Olympic Peninsula - Canada in the distance, freighters passing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a cool old lighthouse, maybe some critters, maybe a view of the snowy Olympic Mountains to the south (which, if visible, are to be thanked for their rain shadow, making your walk dry.) The 3 Crabs in Dungeness when you're done for so-so entrees but the world's best bread and coleslaw. Really.
Lots of the other suggestions are fine if weather permits. But don't overlook the possibilities in Seattle or Tacoma themselves. (Walk up Cherry St. in Seattle a few times and you'll be ready for the Himalayas.)
