**Remember to always check conditions, weather and read recent trip reports before deciding on a trail to hike. Bring with you the ten essentials, enough water and food, and whatever else you may need to prep.
Also, don’t leave valuables in your car. Make sure you have the right passes for the hikes you choose.
Colchuck Lake I did this hike in August of 2017. It was a pretty warm day and a couple dips and swim in the lake was a nice way to cool off. This is one of my favorite hikes. I would stay in Leavenworth and make this a weekend trip.
Eightmile Lake 6.6mi roundtrip; 1300ft elevation gain; NW Forest Pass
Icicle Ridge 6mi roundtrip; 1800ft elevation gain; no pass needed
Issaquah Alps
Poo Poo Point – Chirico Trail 3.8mi roundtrip; 1760ft elevation gain; no pass needed. This hike we did towards dusk. Once we got to the top, we were able to catch the sunset. We had headlamps to help guide is back to the car.
Green Mountain 8.5mi roundtrip; 3300ft elevation gain; no pass needed
Lake 22 5.4mi roundtrip; 1350ft elevation gain; NW Forest Pass. good warmup hike
North Cascades
Blue Lake 4.4mi roundtrip; 1050ft elevation gain; NW Forest Pass. This is a nice one during the summer on a real hot day. We dipped in this but beware, it’s ice cold and you risk hypothermia.
Ptarmigan Ridge 9mi roundtrip; 1350ft elevation gain; NW Forest Pass. We did this one as a backpacking trip around beginning of September. There was still some snow in some parts so poles are good and pack traction for your boots in case. We also woke up to goats nearby our camp. Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you. The background of Mt Baker was just awesome especially at night when it was lit up by the moon under the clear skies and many bright stars.
Explore the PacNW 