Lumberjacked up

How to Cut Down a Christmas Tree in the Woods

Want a tree straight from the forest? Buy a permit, grab a saw, and head to the woods.

11/23/2021 By Allison Williams

Muddy Boots

Shoulder Season Hikes for National Take a Hike Day

From short day hikes to longer-haul backpacking opportunities, here are the best fall hikes near Seattle.

11/17/2021 By Allison Williams, Craig Romano, and Seattle Met Staff

Bicycle Diaries

Never Have I Ever: Commuted via Bike

A casual weekend bicycle enthusiast straps on a helmet and heads to work downtown.

09/16/2021 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

Guide to Electric Bikes

Don’t Call an E-Bike a Bicycle

A guide to Seattle's plugged-in pedals.

06/22/2021 By Allison Williams

ELECTRIC AVENUES

Washington's Best E-Bike Routes

Six routes made for an e-bike adventure, from sleepy streets to formal trails.

06/22/2021 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

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

Winter walks

10 Best Snowshoe Hikes in Western Washington

Trails look a little different in winter, but with the right footwear there's no reason to stay inside.

11/25/2020 By Allison Williams

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

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

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

Cabin Fever

How to Get Outside: An Updated Primer

We're all craving the great outdoors. Get the latest on how and where to get some nature.

03/16/2020 By Allison Williams

WIDE OPEN SPACES

How to Get Outside to Beat Cabin Fever

Social distance yourself right out into the woods and ski slopes—but take a few precautions.

03/13/2020 By Allison Williams

Day Tripper

To the Woods—It’s Wild Mushroom Season

Want to try foraging for fungi? Now’s the time to do it.

10/16/2019 By Stefan Milne

Shade Index

Washington's Worst Hiking Trails

Deception Pass and Cape Disappointment aren’t even the half of it.

07/23/2019 By Mac Hubbard

Get the Dirt

10 Best Hikes at Mount Rainier National Park

A totally subjective list from a lifelong Rainier hiker.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Hiking & Biking