SEATTLE — Wildflowers are blooming. Mountain trails are thawing.
For many Seattleites, May — especially Memorial Day weekend — signals the time to dust off those hiking boots.
We asked Karen Daubert, executive director of Washington Trails Association, to name some top hikes in our state, either for day trips or weekend getaways.
Her trails advocacy group runs arguably the most popular hiking website in Washington, wta.org, with 2.7 million unique visitors annually.
WTA has detailed descriptions and maps of 3,314 hikes (and counting).
Daubert has done half of those hikes, including summiting about 30 peaks.
Here are some of her top Washington hikes, in no particular order, with her comments:
o Chelan Lakeshore Trail, Lake Chelan. 17 miles one-way from Prince Creek to Stehekin; 2,200 feet of elevation gain. Best time to go: April-June; September-October.
The best spring backpack involves a boat ride three-quarters of the way up Lake Chelan and a trek north to the town of Stehekin along shimmering waters and snowy peaks.
o Easy Pass, North Cascades Highway. 7 miles round trip; 2,800 feet gain. Best time: late-July through October.
It isn’t easy but absolutely beautiful. Hikers forget their toils with high alpine views punctuated by vivid wildflowers in summer and golden larches in fall.
o Skyscraper Pass, Mount Rainier National Park. 8 miles round trip; 850 feet gain. Best time: late-July through September.
Follow the Wonderland Trail, which circles the mountain, to Skyscraper Pass. In August, Mount Rainier is framed in masses of purple lupine. It’s an easy scramble up a clear trail to Skyscraper Mountain with even better views.
o Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park. Up to 12 miles round trip; 3,600 feet gain. Best: mid-July through September.
It’s one of the most stunning hikes in the state, and the trail to Cascade Pass is easy and short enough for kids and those with creaky knees. Those with extra energy will find the push up to Sahale Ridge worth the extra effort.
o Harry’s Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. 8 miles round trip; 200 feet gain. Best time: May through October.
The best way to understand what happened at Mount St. Helens in 1980 is to walk in the path of the blast. This trail takes hikers from the crowded Johnston Ridge Observatory to a point overlooking stark Spirit Lake. Hikers can see the regrowth close-up and get views of the volcano and blast zone.
o Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park coastline. 9.4 miles round trip; 300 feet gain. Best time: Year-round.
Whether you go to Cape Alava or Sand Point, it’s three miles along the sometimes slippery boardwalk punctuated by three miles of spectacular beach and ancient petroglyphs.
I like this one in the winter when there are dramatic storms, spectacular surf and no crowds.
