Branching Out

Larch Season Is Finally Here

The trees turn brilliant shades of yellow and orange before losing their needles—here's how to find them.

10/01/2021 By Allison Williams

The Mountain

An Insider’s Guide to Visiting Mount Rainier National Park

Make the most of a visit to Washington State's famous volcano.

08/25/2021 By Allison Williams and Seattle Met Staff

Wine Not

The Best Things to Do in Woodinville

Wine tasting isn’t the only game in town.

07/02/2021 By Allison Williams

Native Names

This Land Is Their Land: The Rise of Land Acknowledgements in the PNW

A growing wave of Indigenous acknowledgments tie outdoor recreation to the tribes that first lived here—but just saying so isn’t enough.

06/29/2021 By Allison Williams

Deep Cuts

The Best Things to Do in the Columbia Gorge

Kiteboarding, IPAs, and one seriously unexpected religious exhibit.

06/08/2021 By Allison Williams Photography by Kelly Turso

THE OLYMPICS

Insider's Guide to Visiting Washington State's Olympic National Park

What to do, where to hike, and where to stay in the country's fifth most-visited national park.

06/02/2021 By Allison Williams

Go Green

Trailhead Direct Restarts Bus Service to Hiking Trails

Skip the parking lot shuffle at Mount Si or Tiger Mountain.

06/01/2021 By Allison Williams

Roll Yuletide

Day Trips from Seattle for Christmas Day

Go the distance for distanced holidays, or skip the Noel altogether.

12/15/2020 By Allison Williams

Float On

Washington Guide to Snowshoes and Winter Hiking

Winter’s most accessible sport—with the goofiest footwear—keeps getting bigger. Here's how to do it safely.

11/25/2020 By Allison Williams

Day Tripper

How to Hunt for Chanterelles Near Seattle

It’s easy. But if you poison yourself, I’m not responsible.

10/27/2020 By Stefan Milne

Gun Shy

How to Hike in Hunting Season

And why the camo crew and the backpack brigade are really on the same team.

10/16/2020 By Allison Williams

Larch Madness

Long Live the Very Short Larch Season

A love letter to the peculiar trees that give our Pacific Northwest fall a golden hue.

09/30/2020 By Allison Williams

Feature

The 15 Best City Trails in Seattle

The greatest urban escape routes in the Seattle area, threading downtown, the waterfront, far-flung neighborhoods, and the abundant nature beyond.

08/10/2020 By Allison Williams

GO FOR IT

Hiking Is the Safest Way to Have Fun This Summer

Bears? Bees? Nah. As long as you bring a jacket and look where you’re walking, Northwest trails are a safe place to spend the pandemic.

07/24/2020 By Allison Williams

Outward Bound

Best Washington Hikes

Hit the trail on 20 of the most spectacular and most accessible routes in the state.

07/02/2020 By Allison Williams, Craig Romano, and Seattle Met Staff

Guide to Mount St. Helens

Visiting the South Side of Mount St. Helens: On Top of Old Smokey

Take a walk on the adventure side of the volcano. Keen athletes can spelunk underground, ski gentle slopes, or climb to the crater rim.

05/06/2020 By Allison Williams

Guide to Mount St. Helens

Visiting the North Side of Mount St. Helens: Crater Crash Course

A road trip down a stunning highway leads to a well-appointed visitor center and easy hikes. Never been to the famous mountain? Start here.

05/06/2020 By Allison Williams

Guide to Mount St. Helens

Journey Into the Crater of Mount St. Helens

A visit to the inner sanctum of a fitful volcano, as Bill Nye the Science Guy tags along.

05/06/2020 By Allison Williams

Potty Plight

Hiking Trails Are Open! But What About Going to the Bathroom?

What to do when nature calls while you're socially distancing.

05/05/2020 By Allison Williams

Recreation jubilation

The Great Outdoors is Open for Business, Sorta

Hiking, boating, and fishing return to state lands, with restrictions; golf tees up, too.

04/27/2020 By Allison Williams