Washington Outdoor Adventures: Top 5 Activities
Washington State, wow, it’s almost overflowing with ways to get outside and explore, is that right? You know, it’s got basically everything, like really dramatic mountains and really shimmering coastlines and what could be some pretty thick forests. Finding, like, your adventure here tends to be mostly about figuring out where to start, which could be a bit much, actually. I think this guide just points out some top picks for getting that outdoorsy experience in Washington, I feel.
1. Hiking in Olympic National Park
The Olympic National Park, very, very honestly, it could be its own planet because it has just a ridiculous amount of environments kind of jammed into one spot, very, very truly. I mean you can explore, you know, rain forests practically untouched by folks, climb, almost, those glacier-covered peaks, and actually walk on rather wild beaches, apparently. I think hiking here is so accessible, it’s like the park just has trails, right, for folks of totally all skill levels. The, like, super popular spots might be Hurricane Ridge (for mountain vistas) and the Hoh Rainforest (for that deep forest thing), I’ve heard, in some respect. Read our full review: hiking olympic national park Full Review and Details
But if you ask me, that is that it? You may want a lesser-known trail. Consider the hike to Marymere Falls near Lake Crescent or, actually, you might check out the trails that begin at the Quinault Rain Forest, you know? These, for example, tend to offer equal beauty without basically all of the crowds, right? The, basically, key is to peep, just a little, at conditions before you go, since parts of the park might be basically snow-covered until, actually, it’s the later spring, honestly. Also, keep in mind that even the park roads close depending on conditions, I think. But basically, with a little planning, basically you can have like a superb experience getting closer to nature in one of America’s treasures, isn’t that right? See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Olympic National Park Hiking)
2. Kayaking in the San Juan Islands
Alright, I think if you are into water and wildlife, a trip in a kayak around the San Juan Islands? Uh, I want that for me. This bit of Washington offers the awesome opportunity to like paddle in water so incredibly pristine it’s kind of dreamlike and peep at orcas (if you get quite lucky) as they are passing, kind of honestly. I mean there are companies all over Friday Harbor and a little bit around other towns, yet they can rent you kayaks or, almost, they could just, like, set you up with a guided tour, so, too, if you like it, that’s true. Basically, going with guides is like superb if you need help learning how to handle being on the water, in some respect, but basically, too, for spotting wildlife that is kind of trickier on your own, right? Read our full review: kayaking san juan islands Full Review and Details
Think what you like: this is your adventure! Those tours just last around a half-day thing to some things that are super extensive, honestly. For me, a solid half-day one let me visit so many hidden bays and small spots, which really does offer more close peeks at the seal life there, right? And a warning? It gets a little bit breezy on open water here, which tends to make the paddling like surprisingly tough if you are brand new to this kayaking thing, yet! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (San Juan Islands Kayak Tours)
3. Mountain Biking at Tiger Mountain
Mountain bikers, I think this one is yours, for real. Right near Seattle, and even being pretty super well known around Washington as one of the state’s real superb riding areas. You can bet Tiger Mountain, of course, offers quite many trails with jumps, a bit of steep riding, and just superb opportunities, right? It is actually also kinda where you go to just kind of climb for the pure sake of climbing to actually be rewarded on a big flowy downhill section, wow! But this stuff also lets you see a lot, you know, like a little bit of the forests and, basically, of the surrounding foothills on nice days, if you slow down and notice, but will you? Read our full review: mountain biking tiger mountain Full Review and Details
The fact is, a very little section called “NW Timber” it tends to be particularly popular just if you like the more parklike atmosphere (with burms and like tabletops and stuff), yet many prefer that classic trail riding. And very importantly? Some kind of way you have to have a Discover Pass on you. That keeps, still, like, public lands around Washington looked after for, arguably, people, too. Also, you need to check the trail conditions, since parts of Tiger can still be pretty closed during wet months when that can tear trails, still, all up, anyway, really! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Tiger Mountain Bike Trails)
4. Rock Climbing at Vantage
If you ask me, what’s it even really like? Washington’s climbing culture has, pretty truly, like a lot of pockets all, almost, over the state. Near the Columbia River (really quite on the east side), though, you may see Vantage — probably famous for some kind of basalt columns with these almost totally cool climbing routes going up, actually, isn’t that right? Some are bolted, a bit are traditional (do that if you can handle gear setting); if it’s true for you, you almost for real should get beta ahead of you just getting there, by the way, pretty genuinely. Read our full review: rock climbing vantage Full Review and Details
Basically, folks like it at Vantage, just kind of, it seems pretty solid pretty much whenever for its warmer climates as climbing areas kind of happen; because east of the mountains? Less rain tends to fall here at any point than it really does nearer to, kind of, Seattle or a bit around it. Because that’s on the eastern side that faces away from storms hitting the coastline hard all the time, honestly. Yet this part of Washington tends to have like really really warm (if not brutally very very scalding) days over summer and colder periods during winter, which is important, but if you’re just like going climbing during those shoulder months I think it would work out superb? See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Vantage Climbing Info)
5. Whitewater Rafting on the Wenatchee River
Pretty well located near the touristy town of Leavenworth you might have heard of, what’s more I hear the Wenatchee River tends to be, like, a premier location out here for people who adore that whitewater-rafting kind of thing, true. Really many tour operators that give you spots in, really, a group deal for rafting so basically anyone from almost no skill up a tier can get just sort of something solid out of being around the river, isn’t that right? The level? It hits a Class III almost, in sections; for real. Which generally means that in, sort of, whitewater-difficulty stuff, like it tends to get just, I think, a moderate feel during that, right? Read our full review: whitewater rafting wenatchee river Full Review and Details
You get options that range pretty extensively but that also could fit your budget well with basically the more laid-back-type tour which could almost just cruise down bits of the Wenatchee with like some, actually, pretty big waves that you paddle kind of almost right through that, actually, goes around Leavenworth. Just so you know though I feel during, still, really high snowmelt or really high rain periods, that almost always tour operators put tour opportunities on temporary pause to, arguably, be safer with potentially much less skilled river goers. Call ahead, kind of. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Wenatchee River Rafting Tours)
- Hiking in Olympic National Park: Basically, explore rainforests, glaciers, and beaches all at once!
- Kayaking in the San Juan Islands: It’s kind of magical, truly pristine water and also orcas sometimes!
- Mountain Biking at Tiger Mountain: Jumping spots galore, and then flowy trails!
- Rock Climbing at Vantage: Just Climb in the Eastern Basalt with all sorts of options available, so many.
- Whitewater Rafting on the Wenatchee River: Big splashes around basically scenic areas around Leavenworth really are yours!
Find what you search for on these pages:
Read our full review: hiking olympic national park Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Olympic National Park Hiking)
Read our full review: kayaking san juan islands Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (San Juan Islands Kayak Tours)
Read our full review: mountain biking tiger mountain Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Tiger Mountain Bike Trails)
Read our full review: rock climbing vantage Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Vantage Climbing Info)
Read our full review: whitewater rafting wenatchee river Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Wenatchee River Rafting Tours)