Outdoors
Read More ›
85 Best Outdoor Adventures: The Top Hikes, Beaches and Campsites Close to Seattle
We've got the scoop on the hikes, camping spots, beaches and adventures that are practically on our doorstep and will keep you outside all summer long
This article originally appeared in the June 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the June 2018 issue, as part of the “85 Best Outdoor Adventures” cover story. Click here to subscribe.
By Sarah Edwards, Gwendolyn Elliott, Austin Iverson, Chelsea Lin, Hilary Meyerson, Kristen Russell, Roddy Scheer and Megan Toal
There’s a reason our town is called the Emerald City: According to state conservation group Washington Wild, Seattle has more designated wilderness areas within a 100-mile radius than any city of comparable size—a whopping 3.6 million acres of it, in fact. But don’t let the “wild” in wilderness scare you: From pristine beaches to mountain trails, beautifully situated campsites to remote locales that turn pitch-black for amazing stargazing, we’ve compiled a summer’s worth of accessible, gorgeous places (some designated wilderness lands, some not) where you can get out there and enjoy it.
Hiking (Spotlight on Lake Serene)
Biking
Camping
Stargazing
Beach Going
Thrill Seeking
Rest Stops
Your Outdoors 10 Essentials
Essay
Check out more information on what you need and how to get involved below:
|
Take a Pass To visit some of the sites in this feature, a Discover Pass or a Northwest Forest Pass is required; our listings indicate which one you’ll need. You can purchase a day-use or an annual Discover Pass, for $11.50 or $35 respectively, at store.discoverpass.wa.gov. A Northwest Forest Pass is $5 a day or $30 per year and is available at store.usgs.gov/forest-pass. Getting There |
| Work Party Love the outdoors? These groups can help you show your love in a concrete way—by volunteering Washington Coast Savers helps keep Pacific coastlines free of marine debris and trash. Upcoming cleanups are on July 5 at beaches along the southern Washington coast, and on September 15 for the International Coastal Cleanup at beaches along the entire Washington coastline; sign up at coastsavers.org. Washington Trails Association (WTA), which works to protect the state’s hiking trails and encourage people to enjoy the outdoors, has volunteer opportunities weekly during the spring and summer. Volunteers help maintain trails throughout the state; sign up at wta.org. Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance strives to maintain the existing mountain biking trails of Washington and to open new ones to give enthusiasts more room to ride. The alliance hosts weekly work parties and events across Washington. Sign up at evergreenmtb.org. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance wants to keep Puget Sound and its many rivers and streams free of pollution and debris, and to limit pollution by vessels. Volunteers help with kayak and boat patrols, beach cleanups and more. Sign up at pugetsoundkeeper.org. |
|
Get Active The Northwest is rich in groups advocating for wilderness protection, including these four: Washington Wild’s mission is to protect and restore every aspect of Washington’s wilderness, from land to sea, through advocacy, civic engagement and education. To learn more and to volunteer for upcoming events, including those offered by the Brewshed Alliance—which highlights the overlapping interests between the conservation and beer communities—visit wawild.org. Conservation Northwest seeks to protect and restore Washington wildlife and wildlands. One of its recent projects is the I-90 Wildlife Corridor Campaign, which is working to expand the state’s wilderness for wildlife. Learn more at conservationnw.org. Forterra works to secure urban, rural and wild places in Washington state. Sign up to take part in restoration projects, invasive ivy removal and more at forterra.org. Alpine Lakes Protection Society protects the beautiful lakes that make up the central region of the Cascade Mountain Range and the Cascade wilderness. Get more information about its work at alpinelakes.org. |
Follow Us
The Northwest’s Gateway to Wine, Culture & Adventure
Escape the crowds. Slow down. Savor fall in the Lewis Clark Valley. As autumn paints the hillsides in gold, crimson, and amber, the Lewis Clark Valley becomes a picture-perfect place to slow down and savor the season. Where Washington and Idaho meet, fall brings crisp days, colorful landscapes, harvest among the vines, and plenty of…
Meet West Seattle’s “Freelance Beaver Detective”
A group of urban beavers helped Pamela Adams through a tough time. Now she’s returning the favor.
Pamela Adams was living in Port Townsend when her marriage fell apart. Little did she know at the time that she would soon find love again while doggedly pursuing the Five Families—not the ones of Mafia lore, but a four-legged sort living along the Longfellow Creek Watershed. Prior to moving to Washington, Adams resided in…
A Wellness Pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula
Two hours from Seattle, a new kind of luxury is taking root—one built on stillness, old-growth forests, and the subtle art of slowing down.
There is a school of thought among the overworked and overscheduled that the most subversive thing a person can do is stop. Put down the phone, close the laptop, and go somewhere that actively resists attempts to stay plugged in. The Olympic Peninsula has always offered this, in its blunt, mossy way. For some city…
Seabrook Is a Little Coastal Utopia
This walkable beach town gives families room to roam, relax, and leave the car parked.
There’s nothing quite like finding an edible mushroom in the forest with a five-year-old. The excitement and pride my son displayed when we found chicken of the woods were contagious, and after battering and frying the mushrooms, our wonderful day got even better. The dark, wet forests in which our mushrooms grew are part of…