Photo Journal Skagit and Beyond

  As the year winds down and the chill of winter sets in, there's no better way to embrace the season than hitting the trails in Washington's stunning Cascade Mountains. Lake 22, located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest about an hour's drive from Seattle, offers a perfect winter escape. This moderate hike, spanning roughly 5.4 miles round trip with about 1,350 feet of elevation gain, transforms dramatically in the colder months, blending lush Pacific Northwest vibes with a snowy enchantment that's straight out of a fairy tale. I recently tackled it at the end of December, and it was an unforgettable adventure. Let me take you through the journey, share some tips, and highlight why this trail shines in winter—while stressing the importance of safety.   Distance: 5.4–6 miles round-trip (out-and-back to the lake; add ~1 mile for the full loop around the lake in snow-free conditions) Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,350–1,400 feet Highest Point: 2,400 feet Dif...

  Hike stats Distance: 2.5 miles round-trip (road walk) Elevation gain: ~350 ft Difficulty: Easy Some waterfalls wait for summer to show off. Gilligan Creek Falls is not one of them. I went in mid-November after a week of cold rain, and the falls were absolutely roaring.   Getting there & parking   Drive east on Highway 20 to Sedro Wooley and turn right  onto Highway 9  south.  Turn right onto South Skagit Highway and drive for about 5 miles.  Turn right onto Old Day Creek Road. Drive 1.0 mile on Old Day Creek Road (paved, then good gravel). Look for the second gated logging road  (the first one is usually overgrown and blocked with brush). The correct gate is wide, obvious, and has PUD Water related signs. NO restroom. Park along the shoulder near the gate (room for 3–4 cars if everyone parks tight). Tip: Highway 9 North → Old Day Creek Road route is the fastest and most straightforward way from Everett or Marysville. Walk up the gated r...

Pine & Cedar Lakes   Trail Stats Distance: 5 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 1,400 ft Highest point: 1,600 ft Difficulty: Moderate (one steep mile, then easy) Time: 2–3 hours Best season: Year-round — fall is unbeatable Dogs: Allowed on leash   The Hike: A Perfect Fall Morning in the Chuckanuts I started up the wide, soft old roadbed and felt the burn right away — the first mile climbs a steady 12–15 % through second-growth Douglas-fir and hemlock. Thick duff cushioned every step, and big-leaf maple leaves the size of dinner plates drifted down.   After a mile the trail narrowed into rooty Chuckanut singletrack — moss-draped rocks and short wooden puncheon bridges every few hundred yards over the seeps.   At mile 1.6 the grade finally eased. I took the left at the signed junction and rolled gently southeast. Pine Lake hit like a postcard. The water was mirror-still. Two fisherman showed me a rainbow-cutthroat hybrid they had caught, one of several, thick ...

Maple Pass Loop in Washington’s North Cascades during peak golden larch season is an unforgettable destination. Starting at 10 a.m mid October, we faced fog, cold, and light snow at the top, with slippery trails requiring layers, gloves, and trekking poles. The golden larches and red blueberry leaves were stunning, making the 7.2-mile loop worth it despite the weather.  Golden larches, specifically Western larches (Larix occidentalis), are deciduous conifers that shed their vibrant yellow needles each fall, creating a stunning autumn display in Washington State. They thrive in the North Cascades and other high-elevation areas (3,000–7,000 feet), preferring well-drained, rocky soils in cool, moist climates with full sun. In Washington, you’ll find them in places like the Maple Pass Loop, where they glow against rocky slopes and meadows in mid-October. Unlike evergreen conifers, their needles drop annually, regrowing soft green in spring. They tolerate harsh winters but need cold t...