Hiking & Camping experiences in Washington
Introduction
Hiking along the very impressive natural trails in Washington is a thrilling experience. Pack your trail running shoes and camping equipment in your backpack for a long journey as these routes can be tiring and lengthy. Washington has a number of trails to viewpoints, mountain summits, backcountry treks, natural walks and so on. It is a perfect place for an adventurous weekend getaway. Be prepared for all conditions by packing the right camping gear, including first aid kits!
The ultimate camping equipment list for extended trips:
- Water Bottles (Nalgene Water Bottles are Best)
- Hiking Shoes or Trail Running Shoes
- Backpacks (The North Face makes excellent Hydration Packs, as does Camelback and Osprey.
- Polarized Sunglasses. Oakley sunglasses are exceptionally well made and offer quite a variety.
- Lightweight hiking clothes. Consider garments from Patagonia and The North Face. Both manufactures use lightweight materials that are breathable and fast drying. Men's and Women's clothing is available.
- Sleeping Bags
- Camping Tents
- First Aid Kits
- Camping Stoves
- Hiking Socks
Best hiking trails in Washington
Some of the very best hiking trails in Washington include:
- Granite Mountain, Central Cascades West.
This is an 8-mile-long round trip, and your elevation gain will be 3800 feet. It is a challenging route that requires a lot of effort, but once you’re at the top you get your reward in the form of an absolutely spectacular outlook. This is especially beautiful if you use the route in fall, because of all the great colors.
- Maple Pass Loop / Lake Ann, North Cascades
This is a 6.5 miles long trip, the elevation gain here is 1800 feet. Again, you will be rewarded by amazing views and beautiful colors, especially in fall. A side trip to Lake Ann is a very nice addition to a beautiful day. Since it’s not such a hard route, this is great for a family hike.
- Spencer Island
This one is a good example of a beautiful hike that will allow you to see a variety of wildlife during spring, make sure you bring your binoculars. The best season to go there is winter or spring, avoid going from October to January, because of the hunting season. There is no elevation gain, so again, it is a nice family trip. Other very nice routes for wildlife observation as well as photography include the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, or the Umtanum Canyon – LT Murray Recreation Area.
- Black Canyon
This one is a 7 mile roundtrip, the elevation is about 1750 ft – 3750 ft. It’s located in the desert steppe country of Eastern Washington. A few extra precautions should be taken for such a hike: Bring a map, a compass, extra water, a jacket (it does get windy even on very sunny days), don’t trample on plants and watch out for private property signs, as well as snakes and ticks that are quite common to the area. This hike is best in April and May. The views on top are spectacular. Other good desert hikes would be Beezley Hills, which is only three miles and well known for its wildflowers, and White Bluffs – Hanford Reach, a great place to get views of the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River.
Getting ready for the hike
There are some precautions and preparations that you should take when going on a hike. Some of the most important ones are:-
- Wear sturdy shoes that aren’t slippery
- Depending on the time and climate, dress appropriately
- Carry a source of light (try avoiding gas lanterns)
- Hard plastic hats can be used
- Take water, sunglasses and a backpack with all the equipment with you.
- All of your camping equipment is a must!
The camping equipment should have all the things described above and also anything else that you think is important. But do make sure that it doesn’t get too heavy. Hiking should be done with as little burden as possible.
Washington offers a number of spectacular views, thrilling experiences and lovely memories on its fantastic hike routes. So load your backpack with all the equipment and clothing suited for wherever you think is best. Enjoy and have a care-free hike.