State of play
Washington State, in the USA’s Pacific Northwest region, is an adventure traveller’s dream. With pristine rainforest, high peaks, glaciers, volcanoes, vast and wild waterways, a coastline north to south where the forest meets the sea, and arid desert country in the state’s east, mixed in with a thriving outdoor culture, this state is a veritable outdoor playground.
The only problem – and it’s a fantastic one to have – is where do you start when spending a week or so in this beautiful USA state? How do you fit all those adventures in, from the popular to the locals’ secrets, while also enjoying cultural and culinary downtime? Well, have we got a story for you…
Adventure, right outside the door
The city of Seattle, located on the edge of majestic Puget Sound, is the largest city in the State of Washington, with a thriving music scene, museums, excellent eateries and plenty of outdoor spaces. And yes, that shore-side location means there are plenty of water-based activities on offer, including kayaking on Lake Union, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and boat/sightseeing tours, where you have a chance of spotting the region’s prolific marine life (including whales).
Two-wheeled city explorers are spoilt for choice thanks to more than 140km of signposted cycling routes in the city. A must-do ride is the Burke-Gilman Trail, a 32km rail trail (you can cycle or walk it) that starts on the shore of Puget Sound (at Golden Gardens Park) and winds north of the city centre, following Lake Washington’s shoreline for some of the way, before finishing at Kenmore.
As you’d expect for a city with a prolific number of public parks, there’s loads of walking available, too. One family-friendly short walk is the 2.9km North Beach and Hidden Valley Loop, at Discovery Park, where you can explore that park’s northern section while keeping an eye out for birdlife and marine life out on the water.
It’d be easy to spend a few days on foot, a bike or in a kayak exploring the city itself. And, more impressively, there’s also an abundance of adventure not too far from those bright city lights…
Go for Olympic gold
Olympic National Park – all 373,000 hectares of it – is in the peninsula region, in the state’s northwest. It is one of Washington State’s must-visit outdoor icons – and with good reason: 95 per cent of the park is designated wilderness and it offers an authentic and wild experience for visitors. For a time-efficient way to experience this national park, base yourself at pretty Port Angeles, a coastal town that is a great launching pad for exploration of the park, according to Tommy Farris, of Olympic Hiking Co.
The national park itself is accessed via a number of one-way roads (there is no through-road), which allows access to hiking trails that range from short to long/overnight. Two of the park’s many highlights that are easily accessible (a two-hour drive) from Port Angeles – and provide examples of the great diversity of the park – are the Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach, along the Olympic Wilderness Coast (itself, a natural wonder).
“The Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach tour is probably our most popular,” Tommy explains. “…You’re going to combine a morning out in the Hoh Rainforest, which is definitely one of the most popular and now well-known destinations in Olympic National Park, with the afternoon at Rialto Beach, one of many on the Wilderness Coast.”
Tommy elaborates on this coastline’s unique appeal.
“The Wilderness Coast is like a 73-mile [117km] stretch from Shi Shi Beach up north all the way down to Ruby Beach and Kalaloch down south,” Tommy continues. “And what makes Washington’s coastline so special – especially in Olympic National Park – is that coast is truly wild. Other than the Quileute Reservation, which is a Native American tribal reservation, there is no interruption to that wilderness in that entire stretch. So, our forest meets right at the coastline.”
Other highlights of this stretch of coastline include the iconic sea stacks that tower over the beach sands. To see both the lush, dense coastal rainforest, and those beach landscapes in one day means it’s a big one – Tommy reckons nine hours from start to finish – but well worth it.
Along with these full day (and longer) trips, visitors can enjoy shorter day walks to other scenic highlights in the park, such as hiking up to Hurricane Ridge, checking out Sol Duc Falls, and exploring Lake Crescent, all of which offer a visual insight into the diversity of landscape you’ll find in the national park. And, best of all, whether you explore the national park over a day, or tackle a multi-day hike or overnight camping trip, returning to Port Angeles means you get to further indulge in the state’s renowned seafood, such as fresh Dungeness crab, mussels and clams.
A very big secret
When it comes to an outdoor destination beloved by Washington State locals – and one that is surprisingly close to Seattle itself – few come close to North Cascades National Park, according to Dan Moore of The Adventure Hub.
“If people have more time and get out of the city for a few days, they’re going to have access to so much more… the North Cascades; it’s one of the least visited national parks, which is insane because it’s so accessible – a major state route goes right through the middle of it,” Dan says. “In the summertime it’s very easy to get through there. And then again, right on the other side of North Cascades National Park, you drop down into the Methow valley, which is this glorious, semi-arid region with a little bit more open country; pine trees versus the fir and the hemlock.”
Dan also highlights the excellent multi-day mountain biking, road cycling and hiking through that region, too, explaining how these provide visitors with a memorable experience of a pristine part of the state.
“So that’s really a little bit more off the beaten path in the sense; North Cascades is not super visited and then you get over into the Methow Valley. It’s a little bit further out, so most travellers aren’t going to get out and see that area, otherwise, but it’s just fantastic.”
High times, topped with fine wines
Washington State is synonymous with the lush temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, but head to the state’s eastern region – known as Wine Country – and you will find it far more arid, with its spectacular semi-desert landscapes offering an incredible contrast to the rainforests and big waterways of the state’s west. It is also home to some amazing wineries, such as those found in the Yakima Valley, thanks to its drier climate.
The journey east from Seattle to this region is a great opportunity to also experience the state’s diversity of landscape, as you pass through Mount Rainier National Park on the way, with its tall tree-covered mountains and valleys at the beginning, before moving further east to the big skies and arid terrain of the wine region, and seeing how that landscape is used for local produce.
“We’re second only to California when it comes to the diversity of crops that are grown in the state,” Dan Moore says. “My recommendation would be – just one tour for example – in one day we drive out to Mount Rainier National Park in the summertime, do some hiking in the sunrise side of the mountain and do some hiking in the morning. And then we head out into the Yakima Valley, which is world-class wine country, visit two different vineyards, meet the winemakers themselves, and drink amazing wine.
“I think getting a chance to meet the producer and see the desert and just get this cross-section of the state in just one day, is a pretty powerful experience.”
Along with sublime wines and memorable food, Washington State’s Wine Country also offers brilliant conditions for outdoor adventures, with a claimed 300 days of sunshine annually. Whether you’re a keen paddler, and wish to sample some of the region’s rivers, such as the Snake and the Yakima, want to roll along some of the long and winding roads on your bicycle, or grab a daypack and head out on a hiking trail, there’s loads to keep active visitors busy here.
Water wonderland
As you’d expect, with the state abutting the Pacific Ocean and featuring a large fjord and its associated water systems, plus numerous lakes, Washington State is a veritable paddler’s paradise, whether your preferred watercraft is a kayak, canoe or raft. The state has its own Water Trails system, featuring short and long paddle journeys along its various lakes, bays, rivers and open ocean.
For those after a perhaps unique way of exploring Seattle itself, the city’s Lakes-to-Locks Water Trail is brilliant, with numerous put-in points for a day’s paddle, where you can enjoy a mix of wild, forested parts of the city region, and the skyscrapers and other urban features right in town.
For those keen to tick off a bucket-list paddle journey, nothing quite beats the San Juan Islands, part of the state’s Islands Region. This pristine archipelago, northwest of Seattle in Puget Sound, is a global kayaking icon, with a paddle experience on offer for all skill levels.
“For anybody who’s into sea kayaking, that’s where they would want to go,” Dan affirms. Because you’ve got these islands based right where the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Inside Passage up towards Alaska through BC, and then the Puget Sound and the Fraser River all converge. It’s just this kind of wilderness, but still a very accessible area that you can paddle throughout.”
Dan says you can opt for a short paddle of a couple of hours, nudging around the islands’ bays, or there’s other longer options, such as joining a multi-day paddle adventure, either camping each night or, for something cool, tackling an inn-to-inn kayak journey around the islands.
Even accessing the islands is a mini adventure, with the choice of ferry or, for something memorable, an hour-long seaplane flight from Seattle. The fact these islands sit in a slight rain shadow, protected from the wildest of the Pacific Northwest weather and tidal conditions, is another win for potential visits, regardless of the season.
And there’s more
It’s tough to stop when talking about what Washington State offers adventurous travellers. The state’s diverse regions, the dramatically beautiful national parks, and the cultural richness of the cities and regional areas, makes it one of those complete packages when it comes to finding a destination that offers both plenty of the outdoors. Combine that with great eateries, wineries (oh, and craft breweries), plus museums and other urban-based attractions to check out when you’re looking for a bit of a breather.
Of course, one option for that ‘bit of a breather’ is to look to perhaps extend your time or make the most of Seattle’s role as a large port and join one of the many cruises that leave the city and venture north, retracing the journey of early explorers through the Inside Passage all the way to Alaska.
Oh, and our final piece of advice? Don’t get hung up on summer… Most visitors would think of summer as the ideal time to experience Washington State but its shoulder seasons – and even the winter, if you’re a snow-adventures fan (think snowshoeing and ice-climbing) – are great for enjoying the state’s outdoor playgrounds. From cooler conditions (and often more settled weather) for hikes, bike rides and paddle adventures, through to the soft light of those seasons when up in the alpine areas, visiting in spring or autumn is a fantastic option, and you’ll also score fewer people.
In short – and as Dan and Tommy both say – seasons do not matter in Washington State; it’s simply about getting into the outdoors any chance you get. When you see all that’s on offer here for outdoor travellers, it’s hard to argue with that…
This content is in partnership with Washington State Tourism.