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hiker
MIKE BARKIN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

  		  Aug. 3, 2004
Hidden hikes in Western Washington
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Have you ever wanted to get away from it all by taking a hike in the mountains - only to discover that everyone else was seeking solitude in the same places you were? Are you ready to venture off the beaten path, exploring overgrown, unmaintained trails and putting your route-finding skills to test? Then these trails are just for you.

Howson Creek Trail (Roslyn)
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Hikers with trail-finding skills enjoy the impressive views of Lemah Mountain and Mount Rainier, and the trail is lonesome enough to make it worthwhile. In early June, the first couple miles of the trail are abundant with wildflowers.
 
Marten Lake (North Bend)
Beautiful Marten Lake is reached via the Taylor River Road, which is no longer open to vehicles. This hike is recommended for hikers who enjoy isolation and are willing to bushwhack to a great destination.
 
Bedal Basin / Bedal Creek Trail (Darrington)
If you hike the Bedal Basin Trail into the valley beneath Sloan Peak in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, you may find the remains of a trapper's cabin built in 1931-1933 by Harry Bedal.
 
Nason Ridge (Stevens Pass)
Nason Ridge is an 18-mile ridge in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest that begins near Stevens Pass and heads east. Three miles of an abandoned trail segment are in good shape and offer solitude and views of the Stevens Pass ski area as well as Glacier and Monte Cristo peaks.
 
Deadwood Lakes (Mount Rainier National Park)
The two small Deadwood Lakes are located just inside the boundary of Mount Rainier National Park, nestled in a landscape of meadows interspersed with forest.