Ask us: Good bases for late June day hikes near Seattle?
Friends are visiting Seattle from late June to early July. They recently asked:
I was wondering if there were a few places that you could recommend for some epic hiking. Your flickr account is filled with gorgeous photos of spots that are easy to get to from Seattle, so deciding based on photos seems daunting. We’re thinking of doing three days of hiking (and we’d stay in a cabin overnight) in one or two locations. We’ll have a rental car also. We’re just looking for gorgeous scenery, and up to a moderate level of hiking difficulty. Are there 4 or 5 favorite hikes that fit this that you’d recommend?
This is a challenging time for planning a hiking trip. Some years, the northwest will have warmed up months earlier and the snow will be gone. Other years, many of our favorite trails may still be covered in snow. So, unless you are prepared to deal with snow, you need a base with some different options. There are a few that should fit that bill. Read on for some suggestions of areas to stay and corresponding hikes.
Paris in January
Paris can be crisp in January, and Paris can be dreary in January. Regardless, it’s wonderful in January. The city is quiet yet alive. Christmas crowds have gone, but lights and decorations remain. It’s a perfect time to go, bundle up, and walk, and walk, and walk, stopping in at sights or for un chocolat chaud.
Rather than summarize any one trip, I’ll mention a few of my favorite highlights, both in the city and day trips, across a few trips.
Southwest Portugal Coastal Hiking: Part 2 – Odeceixe to Carrapateira
Part 2 of our walking trek down the southwestern Portugal coast on sections of the Fisherman’s Trail and Historical Way. This post covers our time after leaving Zambujeira do Mar for Odeceixe, and onward to our final destination, Carrapateira.
Southwest Portugal Coastal Hiking: Part 1 – Lisbon to the Fisherman’s Trail
With a half-day in Lisbon after our flight, we took a scenic train ride to Sintra for some exploring and made it back to the city in time for dinner. The next day, we set out for Porto Covo by bus to begin our trek along the Fisherman’s Trail.
This post covers our half day in Sintra and starting our trip on the Rota Vicentina in Porto Covo. From there, our route took us to Vila Nova de Milfontes, Cavaleiro, and Zambujeira do Mar, with Odeceixe and Carrapateira covered in a subsequent post.
The Dolomites Part 2: Selva di Val Gardena
In June 2016, we spent a week hiking in the Dolomites in Italy. For our hiking days, we split our time between Cortina D’Ampezzo and Selva di Val Gardena. This post describes our hikes in and around Selva di Val Gardena, including on the Sella Massif to Piz Boè and on the Puez-Odle. Continue reading
The Dolomites Part 1: Cortina d’Ampezzo
In June 2016, we visited the Dolomites. This post covers our drive up to Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the hikes from there. We enjoyed three fantastic hikes in the Cortina area. During that time, we hiked a loop around Passo di Falzarego, to Lago di Sorapiss, and a loop at Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We also enjoyed a night and spectacular sunrise at the Lagazuoi rifugio.
The Dolomites Prelude: Venice
In June 2016, we visited the Dolomites, stopping in Venice first. This post covers our time in Venice, while two other posts cover our time in the Dolomites:
An additional post covers logistics of our trip to the Dolomites: where we stayed, some decisions about transportation, and resources we found helpful in planning the trip.
A Circuit of Scotland – Part 2: Fort William, Skye, and Inverness
This is part two of our Scotland trip, covering stops in Fort William to hike Ben Nevis, a few days on Skye, and in Inverness. This part of the trip follows a few days in Edinburgh, on Loch Lomond, and in Oban. The overview covers some of the logistics and planning details. Continue reading
A Circuit of Scotland – Part 1: Edinburgh, Loch Lomond, and Oban
This post covers part one of our Scotland trip, including time in Edinburgh, on Loch Lomond, and in Oban. In the second part, we visit Fort William, Skye, and Inverness. The overview covers some of the logistics and planning details. Continue reading