Brandon Fralic - Urban Hikes Washington: A Guide to the States Greatest Urban Hiking Adventures

Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

Chief Seattle

Its hard to argue against calling Washington the Evergreen State. The western half experiences frequent rainfall, resulting in dense conifer- filled forests. And even though its considerably drier, the eastern half of the state is blanketed by the green of agriculture. The Columbia Basin is a patchwork of grape vineyards, fruit tree orchards, and green swaying Timothy hay.

Youll also find ample green spaces within Washingtons biggest cities. Inspired by the City Beautiful Movement influenced by the Olmsted Brothers, the states most celebrated urban public spaces retain an emerald hue. From perennial favorites like Washington Park Arboretum to hidden gems like Lake Sacajawea Park, many city parks were planned to echo Washingtons natural beauty, flowing into the urbanity of the city surrounding them.

Outside of the dense Greater Seattle Area and sprawl along the I-5 corridor, cities become islands of modernitysurrounded by untamed swaths of forest and fertile valleys in the west, or scablands and rolling prairies to the east. This abundance of nature is what draws many transplants to Washington. However, harm has come to the environment due to human influence. Restoration is happening across the statefrom the clean- up of once-industrial shorelines to rerouting trails and stopping erosion in fragile prairie lands. The green spaces just outside our cities that we flock to for recreation are also places balanced on the line between wild and tamed.

The urban hikes in this guide showcase the diversity of Washington State. From water-front walks along rivers, creeks, lakes, and saltwater shorelines to botanical gardens, nature preserves, and old-growth foreststheres a hike for every age, ability, and interest in Washington. Typically, these trails are found in city and county parks. They can also exist in state parks, national parks, and other public and private lands. Since most urban areas in Washington are near sea level or at relatively low elevation, urban hikes are generally accessible year round.

Urban hikes are defined by their ease of access. The hikes in this guide are located in or near (within 30 minutes drive of) the city. We wont send you out any pothole- filled forest roads to reach them. And once youre there, the whole family can participate. Most recommended trails are dog friendly, and many of our suggested hikes are as little as 2 miles round tripa perfect introduction to the outdoors for little legs. Many urban trails are paved, allowing access for both strollers and wheelchairs. Finally, youll often find amenities like restrooms, water, picnic areas, and playgrounds at the trailhead.

Why write an urban hikes guidebook? Were glad you asked. Over the past several years, we have written about both hiking trails and travel; urban hikes are the ideal intersection of both. Some of the hikes in this book are old favorites from two lifetimes spent wandering Washington, while others are new discoveries made during our research. The cities that host these hikes make great travel destinations, ideal for a quick stopover or long weekend away.

To aid in your travels, weve included some of our favorite stops near the trailheadfrom eateries and taprooms to nearby accommodations. Just like urban hikes themselves, this guidebook is a bit of a hybrid: part traditional hiking guide, part travel companion. These hikes are just as ideal for after-work exercise as they are a supplement to your Washington road trip travels. Need a leg stretch during a long drive across the state? Weve got you covered.

Contrary to popular belief, it doesnt always rain in Washington. The western half of the state (west of the Cascade Mountains) is generally the wettest, with somewhere in the ballpark of 66 inches of rainfall per year, on average. Keep in mind that this number is an average, skewed heavily by the massive amount of rainfall received along the Olympic Peninsula. Seattle sees closer to 35-40 inches of annual rain. Central and Eastern Washington receive roughly half (or less) the annual rainfall of Seattle. So if youre looking for a drier climate, head east!

Western Washington enjoys cooler summers and milder winters than Central and Eastern Washington. Summers on the west side, which includes Seattle and Puget Sound, are sublime, while mid-summer in Spokane can be downright stifling. Therefore, the best time for urban hiking in Washington depends on which part of the state youre in. While wetter, the western half of the state is generally hikeable year round. In Central and Eastern Washington, shoulder season (spring and fall) are most favorable.

Always check current weather conditions before setting out on a hike. Youll find accurate, up- to- date forecasts at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov.

The Cascade Mountains are the dividing line of Washington State. The mountain range separates the wet, temperate western side from the drier, continental-like climate of Eastern Washington. Its no wonder that each side of Washington State has its own cast of plants and animals that call the area home.

Western Washington, hit frequently by Pacific Ocean- fueled rain showers, is home to moss- covered forests of cedar, hemlock, and Douglas fir. Along its coastline you may spy a spotted harbor seal, or (with some luck) the dorsal fin of a Southern Resident orca. River otters, beavers, and croaking frogs inhabit the wetlands and rivers here.

Eastern Washington experiences true seasonsscorching summers and freezing winters. Quail and magpies burst from sagebrush in a flurry of feathers, while western rattlesnakes may warm themselves on the sunbaked trails. You might even catch sight of a skunk, ambling through tall grass. In the spring, hillsides burst into bloom with bright yellow arrowleaf balsamroot and purple lupine.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind during any animal encounter or sighting: if the animal is changing its behavior (a rattlesnake starts to coil, a Canadian goose hisses at you) then you are too close. Give them space, and respect that you are a visitor to their home.

Urban trails dont always offer the best representation of native Washingtonian plants. Many of the trails in this book cross through botanical collections and city parks. These green spaces are curated and manicured by humans, for humans. Of course, this is not the case for all the trails found in these pages: many hikes explore areas of old-growth and second- growth forests, which are better representations of Washingtons wild side.

Washington is made up of a patchwork of public lands. According to the Washington Public Lands Inventory, city, county, state, and federal lands make up 19.8 million acresabout 43 percent of the states total acreage. Thats a whole lot of public land, and each agency has different access requirements. Weve listed fees and parking pass requirements under the Fees and permits section for each hike. Most urban hikes in this guide are located in city and county parks, which generally do not require a parking pass (unless otherwise noted). Weve only included one urban hike in a national park (Hike #2, Spruce Railroad Trail in Olympic National Park). At the time of writing, no parking pass was required at the Spruce Railroad Trailhead.

That leaves state lands, which include Washington State Parks and Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-owned properties. On these lands, youll need a Discover Pass ($10/day or $30/year) for parking. Discover Passes can be obtained online (www.discoverpass.wa.gov), at state park offices and kiosks, and from any of nearly 600 recreational license vendors where state fishing and hunting licenses are sold. You can also take advantage of state park free days, during which no pass or fee is required for parking. Free days usually fall on holidays and are listed on the Discover Pass website.