Five Seattle Mountain Areas Worth Visiting
Want to get out of Seattle and survey the landscape from a Seattle mountain area? Yearn for a chance to see the world the same way a bald eagle does: high in the air? Here are five Seattle mountain areas that make a good day trip, all of which allow you to drive to the top. Check park websites for hours; many are closed to drivers during the winter months.
Mount Constitution: Travel to the San Juan Islands to find this mountain on Orcas Island in Moran State Park. The view includes a vista of blue-edged mountains and the sound includes Vancouver to the north, the Cascade Mountains to the east, and the other islands to the south. A stone tower at the top, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, provides additional elevation.
Mount Spokane: Located northeast of Spokane in Mount Spokane State Park, Mount Spokane's 5,583-foot elevation provides a view that stretches to Canada as well as surrounding states. The park holds 13,919 acres of space for camping and was the first state park east of the Cascades.
Mount Walker: One of the easternmost mountains of the Olympic range, this peak is the only mountain facing Dabob Bay and Puget Sound. Look east to see Mount Baker. North and south viewpoints, separated by a half mile's distance, each present a captivating view of the Pacific Northwest at over two thousand feet.
Slate Peak: Atop this mountain, find the highest elevation possible in Washington State accessible by car: 7,372 feet. From its top, which hosts a fire lookout tower, visitors can see neighboring mountains that include Haystack Mountain, Robinson Peak, and Tamarack Peak.
Hurricane Ridge: Not technically a mountain, the seventeen miles that make up Hurricane Ridge Road provide an elevation of 5,240 feet, from which visitors can glimpse the Olympic Mountains. Named for the fierce winds that sweep it, Hurricane Ridge, like the others, is best visited during good weather, but the surrounding area is a favorite for snowboarders and skiers. Viewpoints are scattered along the road, but the Double Parking Outlook provides the best view.
Posted on May 9, 2011 by Cat Rambo
