Good hikes around Seattle.

June 15, 2007 10:33 AM

Good hikes around Seattle.

Although it's raining right now outside my office window, us Seattleites are still hopeful for a beautiful Summer weekend.

I'm new(er) to the area and have yet to go on a good day-hike in the area. I've heard that Mt. Rainier National Park is beautiful, but I'm looking for any suggestions from the MeFi-ers.

What are some good (relatively easy/relaxing) hikes that you would suggest?

I don't want to drive more than 2 hours in one direction... gas is too dang expensive. (Also...do any buses run from the city to any parks? I'd love to spare mother nature, as well as my wallet.)

posted by bamassippi to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total)

What about in the city? Discovery Park is pretty, and you can take a bus there.
posted by lemuria at 10:39 AM on June 15, 2007

attrition.ws has reviews and information on a ton of hikes in the Seattle area and you can sort by difficulty, length, elevation, etc.
posted by 0xFCAF at 10:42 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

The Mountaineers have published a wonderful series of books that will give you all the information you want about hikes. It's an embarassment of riches here. Go to Wide World Travel Books and Maps in Wallingford, or check out the travel section in the University Bookstore or Barnes & Noble.

Deception Pass is a favorite of mine.
posted by matildaben at 11:44 AM on June 15, 2007

Mt. Si
posted by Roach at 11:47 AM on June 15, 2007

Here is a list of bus reachable trails on Metro's website. The page is old, so be sure to check that a particular route is still the same.

Two hours will get you to tons of hikes off I90 to Snoqualmie Pass.
posted by sevenless at 12:00 PM on June 15, 2007

The Washington Trails Association at http://wta.org is also a good resource.
posted by ShooBoo at 12:22 PM on June 15, 2007

second Mt. Si!
posted by enaira at 1:09 PM on June 15, 2007

I'm a huge Mt. Si fan as well, but it's hardly "relatively easy" as the asker requested. Rattlesnake Ledge (easier) or Granite Mountain (better scenery) have a much better work-to-view ratio.
posted by 0xFCAF at 1:27 PM on June 15, 2007

Little Si is a good "relatively easy" one too. The trailhead is very close to Mt. Si's trailhead.
posted by ShooBoo at 1:39 PM on June 15, 2007

When I went to visit a good friend who used to live in Seattle, she took me hiking and we did a trail that led to Snoqualmie Falls - it was incredibly beautiful (steep, tho).
posted by Kensational at 2:19 PM on June 15, 2007

Here's another list of Seattle-area hikes reachable by bus.

Hike The Geek Seattle has some good hikes, including some easy ones.
posted by mbrubeck at 7:54 PM on June 15, 2007

Here are some more suggestions.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:10 PM on June 15, 2007