Hitch a ride and take a hike: Easy to difficult trails in the Seattle area

Pretend, for a minute, that you’re finished with finals and you have a whole glorious week to revel in the joy of no class, no homework and no exams. But what in the world are you going to do? You don’t have the money to book a plane flight and you don’t have the time for that good, long, grungy cross-country road trip.

Thankfully, here in the Pacific Northwest there is a great collection of activities to keep you busy and active (in a good way) during the break. In fact, five of them are a short drive from Seattle. Put on your boots, grab a PB&J sandwich and get out of the city this spring break. It’s time to take a hike.

Twin Falls Natural Area

and Olallie State Park

For those who have less time or are looking for a less demanding hike, this trail offers a short and easy way to see beautiful sights, including two waterfalls along the south fork of the Snoqualmie River. The falls are a good 2.5-mile hike from the bottom and offer a good turnaround point. However, the trail does continue to connect with trails in Olallie State Park. Later in the summer, the trail offers several good swimming holes to cool off in.

STATS

Length: 2.5 miles

Elevation gain: About 250 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Time: Two hours

Hiking trails open year-round. Washington State Parks pass required for parking; available at trailhead.

GETTING THERE

Get on I-90 East and take Exit 34. Turn right onto 468th Avenue Southeast. Turn left on Southeast 159th Street after driving a short distance. The parking lot is at the end of the road.

Chirico (“Pilots”) Trail,

Tiger Mountain State Forest

Issaquah’s Tiger Mountain has a variety of available trails, ranging in difficulty. This trail offers one of the better viewpoints available in the “Issaquah Alps,” but is also one of the steepest on Tiger Mountain. On sunny days with a breeze, you could be treated with the opportunity to watch paragliders launch from the top of the mountain.

STATS

Length: 4 miles round-trip

Elevation gain: About 1,600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: Two to three hours

Hiking trails open year-round. No fees.

GETTING THERE

Get on 1-90 East and take Exit 17. Turn right on Front Street and drive through the town of Issaquah. Follow Front Street until it becomes Issaquah-Hobart Road. The parking lot will be on your left.

Rattlesnake Ledge

Situated right across the Snoqualmie Valley from Mount Si, Rattlesnake is the perfect length and elevation gain to get your heart and legs pumping, while rewarding you with an astounding view of Rattlesnake Lake and the Snoqualmie Valley at the top. Take a minute to try a small trail (on your left as you start out) to the lake before or after your ascent. The trailhead has plenty of parking but the trail doesn’t feel too crowded, even on weekends. Take a packed lunch to munch on while you enjoy the view from the rock ledge. Or, if you’re looking for something more challenging, the trail continues from the ledge for another 2.5 miles and about 1,500 feet to Rattlesnake Mountain’s East Peak.

STATS

Length: 4 miles round-trip

Elevation gain: About 1,200 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Time: Two to three hours

Hiking trails open year-round. No fees.

GETTING THERE

Get on I-90 East and take Exit 32. Turn right on 436th Avenue Southeast and follow the road as it becomes Cedar Falls Road. Go about 2.5 miles until you see a sign for Rattlesnake Lake. Turn right at the sign and the parking lot will be on your right.

Mount Si

If you’re looking for a good view, Mount Si is the place to go. On sunny days, the peak offers views of the Snoqualmie Valley, Mount Rainier, downtown Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula. However, the 8-mile trip includes about 3,500 feet of elevation gain, but it’s worth the trip, and the steady uphill climb is made easier by regular maintenance. At the top of the hike is an optional rock scramble called the Haystack. Hikers familiar with Mount Si strongly encourage taking on the Haystack if you’re up for it: The view is even better from the very top and includes Mount Baker and Glacier Peak. One downside to the hike is that it’s crowded year-round.

STATS

Length: 8 miles round-trip

Elevation gain: 3,500 feet

Difficulty: Difficult

Time: Four to six hours

Hiking trails open year-round. No fees.

GETTING THERE

Take I-90 East to North Bend and take exit 31. Turn left on Bendigo Boulevard South. Turn right on East North Bend Way. Just east of town, turn left on Mount Si Road and turn right at the next intersection. Drive about 2.5 miles to the parking lot on the left.

Bare Mountain

Unlike much of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness where it is located, Bare Mountain provides an escape from its high-traffic relatives in the area. The drive is a little imposing in terms of time, but very much worth the trouble. The trail offers access to Bear Creek and a 360-degree view at the 5,300-foot summit. The fact that the summit was previously a site for a fire lookout tower is evidence of the panoramic view from the top. When it’s clear, the Seattle skyline, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak and Mount Rainier are all visible.

STATS

Length: 7 miles round-trip

Elevation gain: 3,250 feet

Difficulty: Difficult

Time: Five to six hours

Hiking trails open late spring to early fall. No pass.

GETTING THERE

Get on I-90 East and take exit 31 in North Bend. Turn right on East North Bend Way. After two blocks, turn left on Ballarat Avenue North. Follow the main road for about 4 miles until the road forks. Take the left fork (North Fork County Road). About 18 miles from the fork, you will come to another intersection. Turn left to cross a bridge over Lennox Creek. Make a quick right onto Lennox Creek Road. Drive 3 miles and the trailhead will be on the left.