Holiday Season Hikes

This holiday season give your family a healthy, environmentally-friendly present: a day of enjoyment on a Washington State trail. Whether your family is visiting from out of state or just down the road, they'll love a mountain snowshoe or a stroll along one of our many saltwater shores.

Washington's mountains abound in snowshoeing opportunities. Mount Rainier is a superb destination as is, further north, the Wenatchee Crest near Leavenworth. Our Great Snowshoe Hikes lists eight more recommendations.

If you're looking for still more snowshoe possibilities use our Hiking Guide and Trip Reports. Just search for "snowshoe" or click "Show advanced search options" on Trip Reports and click on "Snowshoe/XC Ski."

Puget Sound area hikes are likely to remain free of snow. With its wide range of terrain including beach walks and steady climbs, the Sound offers a different adventure for each day of the holiday season. Deception Pass Headlands and the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge are just two of ten great hikes featured in Hiking Around Puget Sound.

This time of year it's especially useful to check WTA's Trip Reports. Although conditions can dramatically change day to day, Trip Reports can help determine which trails remain open to hiking and which necessitate spikes or snowshoes.

Before you hit the trail, read our Winter Recreation Page for information on winter safety and Sno-Parks.

Remember, this is your chance to gather your relatives and give them a gift they'll never forget. And, of course, if you can't get a hold of your family, it's quite alright to treat yourself to a day on the trail! Happy Holidays!