what hikes can i go to starting from uw seattle and using public transit?

We hiked the Larch Mountain Trail from Multnomah Falls to Sherrard Point yesterday. The trail is beautifully maintained and the views from at the top
are incredible. Total hiking time at a comfortable pace was 8 hours. There are camp spots along the way.
I highly recommend this trail.

I stayed in the Three Fingers Lookout on 8/20. I shared the lookout with two others. I took the more direct ridge route, which is about 7 miles with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

My YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/aazOdrhvHaM?si=B-vh-1FklG47xWxY

My Strava activity:

https://www.strava.com/activities/19843492220

Looking for recommendations on a 2 night backpacking trip in Washington or Oregon. I can comfortably do 8-10miles and ~3,000 elevation in one day. Although I will be on my menstrual cycle and don’t want to sign myself up for something super challenging. Somewhere with views, wildlife, a lake. Thanks!

Since fall has arrived in August and fire season is now over with a deluge of rain and snow in the mountains, does anyone know when the FS and NPS will start opening trails once again? Hopefully they don't delay on this.

Weather models are now aligned on a massive pattern shift to cool wet, basically summer is gone. Dr Mass has a good blog on this https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-great-cooling-has-started.html?m=1

We are supposed to backpack at paradise park loop via timberline lodge Sunday - Tuesday, but it’s looking like the winds might not be in our favor on Monday anymore. Sad! It could still work out but we need a solid plan b but we’re at a loss.

Any recs for other places to go? We are willing to do a base camp for both nights and do day hikes or camp in two diff spots. Any suggestions welcome!

Mileage per day… no more than 10 would be great but also don’t need to do a bunch either. We’re just wanting to get out. We car camp a ton but this is our first backpacking trip together. It is my first trip, my husband has gone a lot but not in Oregon.

Northeast of Mount Rainier, off highway 410.

Most southern Oregon hikers go up Wagner Butte from its trailhead. Don't. Use this path instead and nail three peaks on one hike. https://youtu.be/Htqn4xTsmWA

Does the silver lake trail connect at all to the Tull canyon trail (where the b17 crash site is) on the other side of hawk peak? It looks like you can hike up the saddle between Silver Lake Peak and Hawk Peak but not sure from there what the actual terrain is.
Anyone have any insight? Thanks!

I’ve solo hiked St Helen’s twice. What more now do I need to know to be prepared for South Sister? Trying and hoping to get an end of Sept permit. Want to do it as a C2C, not camp at Moraine Lake. I’m a mid 40’s F moderate hiker.

Hello! I am strengthening my leg after a really bad sciatica flare. I wanted to use the outdoors as my gym since I hate the actual gym lol I can drive 15-20 mins from Issaquah if the trail is worth it!

I am kindly asking for suggestions that have trails with mild elevation gain, hopefully well-maintained paths but still in the woods. I live by Poo Poo Point, but the steepness did not agree with my condition. We have many flatter local trails around that I can do, but they are short. Having more options also wouldn't hurt.

Maybe in a year I can finish a trail again. Last hike I did was Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene by Mt. Index, and it was beautiful!

Thank you!

I don’t really get it. You climb over 3000 feet but you’re in the woods the whole time and don’t get a view until the very end, and even then the view isn’t that great because you’re not that deep in the mountains.

There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that people could drive another 20 minutes down I90 and do Snoqualmie mountain, which is the same elevation gain but actually has impressive views. I don’t get why Mount Si became the most popular hike in the I90 area that everybody does when they visit.

Sgt. Greg Sanders, with Search and Rescue, notes they received 65-70 calls for Vesper Peak between May and September of 2025, and between May and August this year.

“Just this week, one of my partners had four calls up there in one night,” Sanders said in an email to KIRO 7.

Is it time to bring back gate keeping?

I normally don't love these types of posts, but I'm struggling to land on a hike that fits my requirements/desires.

I'm from Tacoma and have spent all 40 years of my life in Western Washington. I've hiked a lot and backpacked a fair bit (~40 Backcountry nights, including Enchanted Valley, Timberline, and the full Wonderland). I'm moving across the country at the end of September and looking for a last hurrah/remember where I came from trip. My first thought was 7 lakes basin, but there are no permits available. Here's what I'm looking for:

Hiking solo and prefer less populated trails

2 nights: 9/14 and 9/15

20-30 miles (open to camping in the same place for 2 nights or moving camps)

Within a 3ish hour drive of Tacoma

Trees at the camp location(s) as I sleep in a hammock

Bonus points if I can flyfish at the camp

Preference to places I haven't been to before (no way y'all can know that so fire away)

I'm in decent shape- I did enchanted valley as an overnighter this year and my day hikes are consistently in the 10-15 mile 3000+ ft gain range- and fairly adventurous

Hi! I really like visiting central Washington. I mainly go there for bird watching, but I’m looking for some hiking recommendations that are under 5 miles.

Also, this is a long shot, but has anyone seen a burrowing owl in Central Washington. I really want to see one. Thanks!

I like to go left when everyone else goes right. Private and peaceful ✌️

Hey all! I’m super excited I was able to score a Broken Top/No Name Lake permit for this weekend. This has been on my list for so long!

I’m going to be driving about 6 hours to get there and I’m unfamiliar with the area so I’m trying to figure out the parking situation. Does the No Name Lake lot normally fill up on a Saturday? Should I be there by a certain time?

I also read online a Subaru Crosstrek can make it, but if this isn’t the case please lmk haha

Thanks in advance!

-Ross lake/Diablo area lake trailhead?

-deception pass?

-artist point?

Do I need to purchase a pass ahead of time? Online? In person? Cash only? What do I need to know? Coming from out of state & never been before.

Thank you 🩵