The Pacific Northwest, rain or shine.

Index, WA

Lake Serene

Lake Serene sits at 2,521 feet beneath the sheer granite face of Mount Index, one of the most dramatic mountain walls in the Cascades. The 8-mile round trip trail gains approximately 2,000 feet and passes Bridal Veil Falls along the way. The lake's calm surface frequently mirrors the imposing north face of Mount Index.

Government Camp, OR

Trillium Lake

Trillium Lake is a 63-acre lake located south of Mount Hood that provides one of the most iconic reflection views of the volcano. The lake was created in 1960 by a dam on Mud Creek. A 1.9-mile trail loops around the shoreline through old-growth forest.

Florence, OR

Heceta Head Lighthouse

A 56-foot lighthouse built in 1894 that is often cited as the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. It sits 205 feet above the ocean on a dramatic headland between Florence and Yachats. The keeper's house has been restored as a bed and breakfast and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hood River, OR

Rowena Crest Viewpoint

Rowena Crest sits at the eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge and offers sweeping views of the river, Tom McCall Point, and the Historic Columbia River Highway's horseshoe curves below. The surrounding Tom McCall Nature Preserve hosts wildflower blooms in spring. The viewpoint marks the transition from the wet western gorge to the dry eastern grasslands.

Tacoma, WA

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

A pair of suspension bridges spanning the Tacoma Narrows of Puget Sound between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula. The original 1940 bridge famously collapsed due to aeroelastic flutter and was replaced by the current westbound span in 1950, with an eastbound span added in 2007. The bridges are each approximately 5,400 feet long with towers rising 510 feet above the water.

Port Angeles, WA

Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge sits at 5,242 feet elevation and offers panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, including Mount Olympus on clear days. Alpine wildflower meadows bloom from late June through August, and black-tailed deer frequently graze in the meadows near the visitor center. In winter, the road is open on weekends and holidays for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Troutdale, OR

Crown Point Vista House

Vista House is a 1917 Art Nouveau observatory perched on Crown Point, a 733-foot basalt promontory overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. It offers 360-degree panoramic views up and down the gorge. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Leavenworth, WA

Colchuck Lake

Colchuck Lake is a stunning alpine lake at 5,570 feet elevation in the Enchantments area, surrounded by granite peaks including Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. The lake's intense blue-green color is the result of glacial meltwater. The hike to the lake is approximately 8 miles round trip with 2,200 feet of elevation gain.

Leavenworth, WA

The Enchantments (Core Zone)

The Enchantments is a series of alpine lakes and granite basins in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, often considered the premier alpine destination in Washington State. The Core Enchantments zone contains iconic lakes including Perfection Lake, Inspiration Lake, and Leprechaun Lake set among polished granite. Mountain goats are frequently seen among the boulders.

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Hood River, OR

Panorama Point

Panorama Point is a county park in the Hood River Valley offering a wide-angle view of Mount Hood framed by orchards and farmland. In spring, the surrounding fruit orchards bloom with pear and apple blossoms. The site provides one of the most accessible and unobstructed views of Mount Hood's north face.

Hidden Gems

Brookings, OR

Secret Beach

A secluded crescent beach within Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor accessible only by a steep half-mile trail through dense coastal forest. The beach features dramatic sea stacks, a small waterfall, and rock arches visible at low tide. Its relative difficulty of access keeps visitor numbers low compared to other Oregon Coast beaches.

Hidden Gems

Bellingham, WA

Oyster Dome Trail

A 6.2-mile round-trip hike in the Blanchard State Forest ascending through second-growth forest to a rocky summit with panoramic views of the San Juan Islands, Samish Bay, and the Cascade Range. The exposed rock dome at the summit provides an unobstructed 270-degree viewpoint. Raptors and bald eagles are frequently spotted from the summit.

Cascades, drops & mist-hung gorges

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Waterfalls

Seattle, WA

Snoqualmie Falls

A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, 25 miles east of Seattle, that is one of Washington's most popular natural attractions. The falls are 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls and are sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe. A lower observation platform accessible by a steep 0.7-mile trail provides views from the base of the falls.

Waterfalls

Troutdale, OR

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot two-tiered waterfall, the tallest in Oregon. A historic stone footbridge built in 1914 spans the falls between the upper and lower tiers. The falls flow year-round, with peak volume during spring snowmelt.

Waterfalls

Bellingham, WA

Whatcom Falls Park

A 241-acre urban park in Bellingham centered around four sets of waterfalls along Whatcom Creek. The main waterfall drops approximately 30 feet beneath a historic stone bridge built by the WPA in 1939. The park contains old-growth Douglas fir trees and a network of trails through temperate rainforest.