Category: National Park
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Return to Lena Lake
July 23, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 63 of 170 Some hikes just call for a repeat visit, and Lena Lake is definitely one of them. This 7.2-mile roundtrip trek, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, rewards you with a fantastic swimming lake at the top. Our last trip to Lena Lake was on a…
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Wildlife Encounters and Trails at Mount Rainier’s Sunrise
July 21, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 61 of 170 Today, we hiked on the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park. The Sunrise area, located at the end of Sunrise Park Road, is Mount Rainier’s highest point reachable by vehicle, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the mountain and surrounding Cascade Range. It’s a hugely popular…
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Hiking Murhut Falls: An Olympic National Forest and Hood Canal Gem
July 11, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 51 of 170 Today we hiked yet another gem in the Olympic National Forest: Murhut Falls. This trail is perfectly maintained, and at only 1.8 miles roundtrip with a 250-foot ascent, it rewards you with one of the most astonishing and accessible waterfalls we’ve ever experienced. The two-tiered, 130-foot…
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Hiking Ranger Hole Trail: History and Beauty at Olympic National Forest
July 10, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 50 of 170 Today, we hiked the Ranger Hole Trail #24 in Olympic National Forest. This short, 1.8-mile roundtrip trail leads to a fantastic swimming hole and is well worth the effort. The Forest Service often doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves for its diverse ecosystems and well-maintained trails.…
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Day 3 at Olympic National Park: Exploring Rocky Brook Falls
July 9, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 49 of 170 Today was a rest day, but not without a short visit to a nearby waterfall. We took a brief walk to Rocky Brook Falls. The falls are unique in the incredible access they provide visitors. Access to the falls is a five-minute walk, or 200 yards,…
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Day Two at Olympic National Park: Our Crescent Lake Experience, From Rock Chips to Rainforest
July 8, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 48 of 170 On our second day at Olympic National Park, we had to take care of those inevitable travel mishaps. After 6,700 miles of trouble-free trekking, we unfortunately took two flying rocks to our car windows yesterday on the way back to the Airbnb. Not one to procrastinate,…
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First Day Exploring Olympic National Park: Hurricane Ridge Trails
July 7, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 47 of 170 To say we visited Olympic National Park today is an understatement. This vast national park covers 922,650 acres, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. It encompasses almost the entire Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State, sharing the land only with the Olympic National…
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Hiking the Owyhigh Lakes Trail, a Must-Do Near Mount Rainier
June 21, 2025. Packwood, Washington. Day 31 of 170 Today, Mount Rainier was covered in snow, with five inches reported, and likely more at higher elevations. The conditions were severe enough that upon our arrival at the park, we found it closed. We continued north on State Route 123, which borders the park on its…
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Hiking the Bench Lake and Snow Lake Trail at Mount Rainier, an Unforgettable Hike
June 19, 2025. Packwood, Washington. Day 29 of 170 Today, we hiked the Bench Lake and Snow Lake Trail. This was truly an amazing hike, and the effort we invested in traversing its 3 miles and 472 feet of elevation gain was minimal compared to the rewards we received. The trail offers continuous views of…
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Exploring the Old-Growth Forests of Mount Rainier’s East Side Trail
June 18, 2025. Packwood, Washington. Day 28 of 170 Today, we hiked the Mount Rainier East Side Trail, which is about half a mile from the Stevens Entrance on the park’s east side. While we only hiked 6.4 miles, the East Side Trail is ideal for backpacking around the volcano. It’s a 33.3-mile route with…