Best Dog Friendly Hikes Washington – Considered one of the best hikes in Washington State, Mount Eleanor is dog friendly! Photo courtesy of The Outdoor Society
With gorgeous trails and all the trees, woods and smells a dog could dream of, Hood Canal on the Olympic Peninsula is a great way to spend a day hiking with your dog. Whether you want to hike through mountains or explore dense forests along wild rivers, the Olympic Hood Canal hike is perfect for two or four legs.
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But first – how do you know if a trail is dog friendly? Easy way to find out where it is. If the trail is in Olympic National Park, you cannot have a dog on the trail. If the trail is in Olympic National Forest, DNR land, or a state park, chances are the trail is actually dog-friendly. It’s important to note that even if the trails are dog-friendly, you’re still responsible for keeping them safe and walking them. There are no dog-only trails and not all are dog-friendly when traveling, so keep that in mind when traveling with your dog.
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We start with an easy, mostly flat trail located near Hoodsport and just off Highway 101. Skokomish Park on Lake Cushman is a dog-friendly destination for dogs and their owners looking to stretch their legs. You can camp for a few days beside the stunning lake. The park has pet-friendly swimming pools and trails, but remember dogs must be on a lead in public areas. Skokomish Park has breed restrictions for pit bulls, mastiffs, rottweilers, dobermans or breeds that contain wolves and/or coyotes, but all other dogs are welcome.
Lake Cushman and Skokomish Park offer incredible outdoor recreation opportunities for all ages, including camping! Photo courtesy of The Outdoor Society
You’ll also find three very popular dog trails at Lake Cushman. Two of them are steep, and the third is more aimed at dogs who don’t do well with cliffs and heights. The easiest of the three trails is the Big Creek Upper Loop, a complete loop with every tree and fern log a dog can imagine, through beautiful cascades. The trail only has 800 feet of elevation gain year-round, with plenty of places to stop and rest throughout the 4.2 miles. The trail is well-marked, easy to follow, and a favorite with two- and four-legged hikers.
West of Big Creek is the Rose Mountain Trail, recommended for those looking for a bit more of a challenge. Located in the Skokomish Mountain Olympic National Forest and Wilderness, Lake Cushman showcases the breathtaking beauty of Mount Rose, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens. At about 6.5 miles and 3,500 feet in elevation, this trail will leave you and your canine hiker breathless. While you enjoy the scenery, your dog will enjoy the smell, the walk, and the land. For dogs and hikers with sensitive feet, there is a less rocky trail while continuing on the direct path to the summit. This route adds miles, but fewer short sections. Don’t expect to find water on this trail from June to October.
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The neglected dog trails on the South Fork of the Skokomish are surprisingly wild and very easy! Photo courtesy of The Outdoor Society
Finally, we find the Mount Eleanor Trail in the Cushman Lake area. Mount Eleanor is a must-see in Washington State and one of the best views in the Pacific Northwest. There are two main ways to reach Mount Elinor, starting at the upper end of the trail or the lower end of the trail. The lower trail starts out much easier than the upper trail, but is about six miles round trip, while the upper trail is only 3.5 miles. No matter where you start, you’ll hike this trail with the upper trailhead gaining 2,400 feet in 2.7 miles and the lower trail gaining 3,300 feet in 3 miles. The income may be tough for you and your dog, but the ride is amazing and the rewards are unmatched. Even if your dog doesn’t mind the beauty, you’ll have the opportunity to experience some of Washington State’s most beautiful scenery.
Another classic hike is Lower Lena Lake, perfect for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Photo courtesy of The Outdoor Society
The upper South Fork of the Skokomish Trail is a great place to hike through some beautiful old world scenery and almost take a trip to yourself. Located near Hodsport, the trail crosses several rivers for about four miles to the border of Olympic National Park. Be aware that the highway is closed five miles before reaching the trailhead between October and April due to wildlife.
Dog Friendly Hikes/parks?
Those looking for something closer to Highway 101 should head to Doswallips State Park north of Hoodsport. Dosewallips has several hiking options, one of the most popular of which is the well-maintained and always beautiful Steam Doki Trail. Only 3.5 miles long with a 400-foot gain, the trail showcases wild and beautiful riverside scenery. With cascades, trails, walkways, and river valley views, this family-friendly, dog-friendly hike will have all your crew members clamoring for more adventures. If you really need more miles, consider going to Lower Lena Lake near Lake Hamma Hamma!
Enjoy a whale of a time at the iconic Grays Harbor County Fair from July 31 to August 3, 2024
Presented by the Olympic Orthopedic Foundation and High Football! Camp Information June 24-28, July 8-12, July 22-26 or August 12-16 Player Development: Children will master fundamentals, techniques and improve their general […]
Leadership comes in many forms. For some it is as natural as breathing. At Olympia Federal Savings, an assistant vice president/relationship banker… locals dubbed the race or competition “The Larch Race” to catch them at the right time and see as many people as possible.
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But don’t let that stop you! Washington still has plenty of hiking trails for you and your dog.
I’ve put together this list of big pitfalls for dogs so that others who don’t move like me don’t let their dogs down.
Spruce trees are deciduous conifers with needles that turn yellow in fall and fall in winter.
Bean trees are hard to see in spring and summer because their stems are green, so they grow with other evergreen trees in the mountains.
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But in spring, their shoots are sometimes lighter and greener than surrounding evergreens.
If you look closely, you’ll see flowers or clusters of tiny needles, and a single flower bud will have just one cone.
As summer progresses, the light green needles darken and eventually turn yellow as the larch tree prepares to drop its needles to conserve energy for the winter.
Most native tree species in Washington State are evergreen, meaning they stay green all winter and do not lose needles.
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Another part of seeing golden larch trees in the fall is that they only grow in certain areas of Washington State, so seeing them is like a treasure hunt.
To add urgency, the date of this larch window varies from year to year, depending on humidity levels and weather.
As the name suggests, these trees only grow in the eastern United States (and parts of Canada).
Specifically, tobacco trees grow in the northeastern United States from Minnesota to West Virginia, and in Canada from eastern Yukon to Newfoundland.
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So if someone in Washington State calls the golden yellow needles of Washington State a tamarack, you can be sure it came from somewhere in the East or learned the name from someone.
“Whether you call Montana’s fall foliage larch or tamarack, it may be a matter of your roots.
Flathead Valley Community College instructor Bob Bell says, “The old families here, they came from Minnesota and Wisconsin and brought the name [to Tamarack].”
Bell, on the other hand, says that many Libyan families came from the Olympic Peninsula. They call it larch.
Dog Mountain — Washington Trails Association
“Technically, here in northwestern Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, it could be a western walleye.
True tamarisks – Larix laricina – are not native to Montana or the western larch of the US Northwest.
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