Outdoor Seattle
May 22nd, 2009
While Rainier’s looming aspect presides over every Seattle trip, no West Coast vacation is complete without a healthy trek into the wilderness. Pick a weekend to hike through a National Park, ski or ride the Cascades, or celebrate biodiversity with some bears and moose.
Mt. Rainier National Park
Ambitious mountaineers will want to devote a few weeks to hiking the Wonderland Trail, but even weekenders can enjoy the ecologically diverse surroundings of the iconic Mount Rainier. The park’s grounds incorporate waterfalls, wildflower meadows, old growth forests, and 20 to 30 glaciers. Must-see natural wonders include Carbon Glacier, located about 2 miles from camp and accessible by suspension bridge, and the frequently snowy wildflower fields near the Paradise Inn.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
The Trek promotes a more structured approach to Washington oudoorsing: visitors shuttle around the free-roaming animal habitats in comfortable trams. Some of the park’s notable residents include grizzlies, black bears, wolverines, moose, caribou, eagles, and an adorable herd of pygmy rabbits. Young guests are encouraged to explore the Trek’s two visitor centers, where they can view smaller animals, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and learn about the park’s conservation efforts.
Mt. St. Helens
The Northwest’s most famous stratovolcano is a bit of a haul from metro Seattle, but its regular ash and steam eruptions are a sight to behold. Plus, the area surrounding the volcanic monument is well-appointed for outdoorsy tourists, offering designated fishing areas, horseback tours, and elk viewing points. The ultimate St. Helens experience includes a 30-minute helicopter tour, straight over the perilous “blast zone” and surveying the damage of previous eruptions.
Olympic National Forest
Olympic is proof that Western Washington is the country’s most ecologically diverse landscape; the grounds include lakes, wilderness areas, temperate rain forests, and salt water fjords. The Forest encompasses Olympic National Park, which contains glaciated mountains and a rugged coastline. Hikers should plan to undertake the 19-mile trek to the Seven Lakes Basin, and winter recreationists will want to brave Olympic’s Hurricane Ridge ski and snowboard park.
Lake Chelan
This narrow lake is the country’s third deepest. Its surrounding recreation area is one of Washington’s strangest regions; inside Lake Chelan Park’s grounds is an unincorporated town called Stehekin, accessible only by boat and floatplane. It’s a popular destination for winter sports and artistic pursuits, and its attractions include an old-fashioned one room schoolhouse and a three hundred foot waterfall. Lake Chelan itself is a boating Mecca and powers a large hydroelectric dam.
Unless you intend to camp for your entire outdoor Seattle trip, you will eventually find yourselves indoors looking for a hotel room. Click here for the best rates and availability on hotels in Seattle, or anywhere.
Categories: Things to Do
