Skyline Lake Snowshoe: Steep, Short and Spectacular
A Skyline Lake snowshoe outing is a spectacular trip at Stevens Pass with spectacular views and winter beauty! While short it is STEEP and therefore can’t be considered easy (3 miles round trip and 1100 feet of elevation gain). I wouldn’t recommend it for your first time on snowshoes...
Mother Mountain Loop Backpacking in Mt Rainier
As of Spring 2025, a bridge washout has caused an indefinite closure to the Carbon River Entrance of Mt Rainier National Park, including Carbon River Trails and Mowich Lake Trails. If the road reopens, I will update this article. Looking for a less-hassle or shorter alternative to the Wonderland...
Olympic Coast Backpacking at Second Beach: Excellent for Beginners
Even though it’s a long drive from Seattle, Olympic Coast backpacking at Second Beach in Olympic National Park is an excellent first backpacking trip for beginners as well as a fun and relaxing trip for those with more experience. The best way to experience one of the best beaches...
Weekend in Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula
A weekend in Port Angeles is a change of pace and scenery from Seattle and approachable at an hour and a half drive plus a ferry ride. Port Angeles is the biggest gateway community for Olympic National Park and a hub of economic activity on the Olympic Peninsula. This...
How to Hike all Winter in Washington State
You likely know, dear reader, that I believe it getting outside as much as possible! Ordinary Adventures is all about keeping it low key so that you can get out more! Previously I’ve talked about how to start hiking as well as how to hike more often. One way...
Best Rainy Day Hikes in Olympic National Park
Don’t let the rain keep you away from Olympic National Park! This is a place world famous for it’s rain, it’s lush green forests, rushing waterfalls and remote beaches! Olympic National Park also has hikes with sweeping mountain views, but those are not as good for rainy days. In...
Rattlesnake Mountain Traverse Hike near Seattle
I have no idea why this is called Rattlesnake Mountain. We don’t have rattlesnakes in this part of the state and there’s nothing whatsoever that makes me think of a Rattlesnake here. But, that’s the name of this well known area in North Bend! Described below is a trail...
Cherry Creek Falls Hike
The Cherry Creek Falls hike is a beautiful half day hike and one of the best waterfall hikes near Seattle. At 5 miles and 500 feet of elevation gain, it’s a good workout but not extremely steep. There is a lot of mud on this trail and some potentially...
Iron Horse Trail in North Bend
Despite a lifetime of hiking in Washington, I’ve often not had this trail on my radar, except as a bike ride through the Snoqualmie tunnel further up the trail or access point for other hikes like Twin Falls or Cedar Butte. It’s great for those purposes, but this section...
Twin Falls Hike: Stunning Waterfall close to Seattle
At 3 miles round trip and with about 500 feet of elevation gain, the Twin Falls hike is a good half day hike option close to Seattle with a stunning waterfall you get to see from a distance as well as up close. This is one of the best...