Washington Wildflower Hikes. Nathan Barnes

obstacles, and the extent to which the trail is maintained. Depending on your fitness level and what you consider a reasonable amount of effort on a given hike, you may find that, for example, a hike rated “hard” is closer to “moderate” for you.

      Hiking Time: The approximate number of hours it will take the average hiker to complete the hike is given, almost always in a range. It is possible that some focused hikers will complete the hikes in less time and just as likely that some hikers will take more time. This entry gives a general idea of the amount of time to set aside for enjoying the hike at a reasonable pace. Hikes that are suitable for overnight trips are called out on the at-a-glance chart.

      Best Season: In general, the best season to hike to enjoy the wildflowers along a trail is late spring to early summer. For each hike, a range of seasons is given for when flowers are most likely to be in bloom, not necessarily aligned with the featured wildflower for that hike. These general guidelines may not hold from year to year: Some years the snow melts weeks earlier than expected, and the flowers are not far behind. Other years wildflowers bloom late. Always check the current trail conditions before heading to the trailhead. As a bonus, we mention when a hike has particularly beautiful fall color.

      Trail Traffic: This entry is based on typical weekend traffic on the trail during summer and includes foot traffic and livestock traffic (mostly equestrian) as well as mechanized traffic. These subjective ratings, measured as light, moderate, or heavy, give hikers an idea of a trail’s popularity with hikers as well as other users.

       A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY

      Safety is an important concern in all outdoor activities. No guidebook can alert you to every hazard or anticipate the limitations of every reader. Therefore, the descriptions of roads, trails, routes, and natural features in this book are not representations that a particular place or excursion will be safe for your party. When you follow any of the routes described in this book, you assume responsibility for your own safety. Under normal conditions, such excursions require the usual attention to traffic, road and trail conditions, weather, terrain, the capabilities of your party, and other factors. Keeping informed on current conditions and exercising common sense are the keys to a safe, enjoyable outing.

      —Mountaineers Books

       Wildflower meadows on the trek up to Lake of the Angels (Hike 5)

       From the Wild Goose Trail (Hike 11), admire the Bagley Lakes in a rugged bowl.

      Managing Agency: This is the group or entity in charge of managing the forest, national park, or wild area that the hike is located in. This is provided for readers that may have questions or need additional information not otherwise provided in the guide. The entries correspond to contact information listed in Appendix: Managing Agencies.

      Permit: The permit or permits required to park at the trailhead are listed here. In most cases this will be either a Northwest Forest Pass, issued by the Forest Service, or a Discover Pass, issued by the State of Washington. Hikes in national parks often require a daily, weekly, or annual parks pass; if you plan to visit more than one national park (or one park multiple times) in a given year, the annual pass may be a good option. Some hikes may require day-use permits, instructions for which will be included in the hike description.

      Maps: United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Green Trails maps are listed for each hike where possible. USGS maps are excellent for hiking off-trail and orienting by compass, while Green Trails maps are a better resource for hiking on trails.

      Trailhead GPS: The GPS coordinates (in decimal degrees) for the trailhead are intended to allow drivers with navigation systems to plug in the coordinates and have an easier time finding their way to the trailhead. Of course, consult the accompanying driving directions to make sure they generally align with where your navigation device is directing you. The coordinates were calculated based on the WGS 84 datum.

      Note: Some trails have significant obstacles or difficulties that hikers must be aware of before embarking on them. A common example might be pet restrictions for certain trails in national parks. Other considerations mentioned in this entry include crowded parking conditions, special permits, or road conditions that require a high-clearance vehicle or four-wheel drive.

       FEATURED WILDFLOWER PROFILE

      Each hike highlights a flower found along the trail, along with a checkbox that you can tick off once you’ve found that flower. The profile features a picture of the flower, a description of the plant, and interesting background information when available.

      Other Wildflowers on the Trail: At the end of each flower profile is a list of wildflowers we encountered or reliably verified that others have encountered along the trail. We list them this way, instead of in the hike description, to allow for significantly longer, more detailed lists. That said, it is by no means an attempt at a comprehensive list, which would be a task well beyond the scope of this guide. In addition, different wildflowers bloom at different times of year, which means that a particular listed flower may not be blooming when you set out on a particular trail. This list is meant as a resource to help narrow your search of what to look out for on the trail. And if you miss a wildflower or two that you had hoped to see, you have a great reason to revisit that hike another time.

       GETTING THERE

      Driving directions to the trailhead start from a nearby city or town, generally along a major highway, such as Interstate 90 or State Route 20. Because trailheads can be approached from more than one direction, the driving directions are written to take this into account. In order to be as accurate as possible, every effort has been made to provide directions that match the actual signage posted at critical junctions on the driving route. Occasionally, online mapping and GPS systems will show information that does not match the posted signs. Where there is a discrepancy, the directions refer to the signs we saw on our way to the trailhead.

       HIKE DESCRIPTION

      This main section of each hike covers the step-by-step hiking directions. They tell you what to do at each junction you encounter and help you reach your destination. Use these directions along with the hike map to find your way.

       HISTORY

      Every trail has a story to tell, a reason the trail was cut through the forest, blasted out of rock, or carved into a mountainside. Sometimes that reason is simply to get to a delightful alpine lake, but more often than not the trail follows in the footsteps of prospectors, lumberjacks, and fisherfolk. The mountain ranges of Washington have drawn people for generations, and where there are people, there are stories. This section provides a window into that history and helps to connect trail users to the trail and the land. Humans are full of curiosity, and knowing what came before can enhance your appreciation of a hike.

      WILDFLOWER BASICS

       Identifying a wildflower along the trail is a skill that requires dedication and time to cultivate. Not only are there a staggering number of different wildflowers in Washington, but plants of the same species can vary a great deal. It takes time, practice, and access to reliable field guides to become skilled at plant identification. This book is designed to get hikers started on that journey.