Outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, with some occasional reflective storytelling.
So, you’re planning a trip to the crown jewel of the US National Park system! I’m excited for you, because Glacier National Park really lives up to the hype. I’ve been to a good number of beautiful places, but Glacier might be the most spectacular place I’ve ever been. Looking for something specific? Jump to…
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We decided to do the longest hike of our trip on our final day in Glacier: Iceberg Lake! Located in the Many Glacier area of the park, it’s a stunner. You won’t want to miss it if you’re in the area. Hiked: Early JulyBest time to hike: May-OctoberAccessibility: The road to the Many Glacier area…
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Red Rock Falls is a good bang-for-your-buck hike. It’s minimal effort and lots of reward. Between lakes, waterfalls, meadows, and mountain views, it’s got pretty much everything you’d want in a great hike. Hiked: Early JulyBest time to hike: May-OctoberAccessibility: The road to the Many Glacier area was under construction during our visit and involved…
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Grinnell Lake is stunning and worth a visit. It’s less popular than the Grinnell Glacier Trail — many people want to get up close and personal with a glacier. But I think Grinnell Lake made for a fantastic little hike and one I’m glad we did. Grinnell Lake Hike Hiked: Early JulyBest time to hike:…
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The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park is legendary. On any list of the best hikes in the park, you can bet that the Highline Trail will be at or near the top. The trail is along the Continental Divide and provides near constant incredible, panoramic views of the surrounding area. Hiked: Early JulyBest time…
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Avalanche Lake: the essential hike near the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park, and the first trail we completed during our trip to the park. Hiking Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park Hiked: Early JulyBest time to hike: June-OctoberAccessibility: Entirely paved highway and roadLength & elevation: 5.9 miles round trip, 757 feet elevation gainDifficulty: EasyCrowds:…
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Sol Duc Falls is a perfect family-friendly excursion when you’re camping in the Sol Duc Campground. We had the pleasure of hiking this trail with my sister, her husband, and their two small children and everyone enjoyed the outing. Hiked: late MayBest time to hike: May to OctoberDistance from Seattle: 3 hours, 40 minutesAccessibility: Entirely…
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To be honest, there aren’t a ton of hiking options on Orcas Island. There are a handful. And in other circumstances we probably would have done Mt. Constitution, the most epic one, but one of my friends was recovering from foot surgery and we needed to take it a little easier! Hiked: early JuneBest time…
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Turtleback Mountain was our first hike on Orcas Island, and the best one we did. Hiked: early JuneBest time to hike: year roundDistance from Seattle: not for a day trip – 2 hours to Anacortes, plus 1 hour ferry ride, and then a 10-minute drive from the ferry terminalAccessibility: Entirely paved highway and road Length…
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I hiked Thunder Knob as part of a 2-hike day when I visited North Cascades. Since it’s such a drive, I really wanted to maximize my time there. Hiked: early MayBest time to hike: April-OctoberDistance from Seattle: 2 hours, 30 minutesAccessibility: Entirely paved highway and roadLength & elevation: 3.6 miles round trip, 635 elevation gainDifficulty:…
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Elizabeth Seeks 