Away from the Crowds in Washington

Situated in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Artist Point is a breathtaking location. It offers views of neighboring mountains, among them the famous Mount Baker and the majestic Mount Shuksan.

Beacon Rock is a massive basalt boulder that towers over the Columbia River. Climbers love it, and you can reach the rock by a round-trip trail. This challenge is thrilling, and the surroundings are breathtaking. Enjoy the vibrant wildflowers that bloom along the lower slopes as you hike.

Windsurfers can get out onto the river.

Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point of the contiguous US and is located on the Olympic Peninsula at the point where the Strait of Juan de Fuca joins the Pacific Ocean.

A short trail leads hikers through a mossy forest to wooden platforms with amazing views of sea cliffs and waves crashing against them.

Enjoy Tatoosh Island with sea caves.

Between Bellingham and Burlington you’ll find Chuckanut Drive, which stretches along sandstone cliffs with views of the San Juan Islands.

Watch the boats on Samish Bay.

On Whidbey Island, enjoy the Deception Pass State Park with scenic hiking trails.

The park actually spans two islands—Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island—and is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and the iconic Deception Pass Bridge. (pictured above)

Cranberry Lake is popular for boating and fishing.

In the Grand Coulee Area, Dry Falls used to be the largest waterfall on Earth, but now it is a cliff face towering over an empty basin.

Enjoy driving through the surrounding Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park with desert terrain, basalt cliffs, and lakes.

Located on Whidbey Island, Ebey’s Landing is a national reserve with open prairies and ocean views.

Keep an eye out for bald eagles.

Located in Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rainforest has tree branches draped in moss. Everything stays green and succulent due to the large amount of rainfall.

The Hall of Mosses Trail is a popular loop leading you through the massive trees.

For a more adventurous hike, take the Hoh River Trail, where you can see misty meadows and catch a glimpse of Roosevelt elk grazing.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is situated in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and serves as a reminder of how quickly nature and time change. The landscape was drastically altered, and a huge crater was left behind by the Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption.

Among the most popular stops is the Johnston Ridge for a full-frontal view of the volcano crater.

The Hummocks Trail takes hikers through areas shaped by landslides and new ponds.

Explore the Ape Cave, a long lava tube.

North Cascades National Park has over 300 glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and glacial lakes. You can enjoy the alpine beauty at Washington Pass.

Take a hike to Cascade Pass and catch a glimpse of mountain goats.

Enjoy the beauty of crystal-clear Diablo Lake.

Palouse Falls, a massive waterfall in Palouse National Park, plunges into a rocky gorge surrounded by undulating grassland. You can reach the brink of the canyon with breathtaking views by following the trail.

Ruby Beach is part of the Olympic National Park. You can enjoy nature here and see tide pools filled with starfish and anemones.

The San Juan Islands are a group of islands located in the northwest corner of Washington’s Puget Sound.

The San Juan Islands are a top destination for whale watching. There is a large population of orcas (also known as killer whales).

At Kalaloch Beach, you’ll find the Tree of Life. This is a gravity-defying tree that might soon fall into the depths of the tree root cave.