Cascade Mountain Range

Seattle's backyard is the Cascade Mountain Range, a vast wilderness of forested hills and snow-capped peaks extending from California to British Columbia. It would take a lifetime just to fully explore the Washington Cascades and the recreational opportunities it has to offer, but a day-trip to the ski slopes or two weeks spent hiking the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park are excellent ways to start. In Washington, the mountain range is roughly divided into three regions: the North, Central and South Cascades.

A playground for hiking, climbing and skiing is less than a two-hour drive from downtown in the Central Cascades. On summer weekends, hikers flock to the trails for short day hikes or longer overnight backpacking excursions. Both Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass have several ski resorts to choose from for an evening of night skiing and snowboarding or day trips to the slopes.

The North Cascades is devoted to wilderness throughout the North Cascades National Park and several National Wilderness Areas. But recreational opportunities abound on Mount Baker and in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. In winter, ski, board or cross country ski at Mount Baker's resort and in the spring and summer months explore the trails, lakes and rivers on the eastside of the mountains.

Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are the dominant natural features of the South Cascades. These mountains rise above the surrounding hillside and attract climbers of all skill levels. Mount St. Helens is known for its easy routes, while Adams and Rainier offer more challenging climbs.

In 1980, Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption left a path of destruction in its wake, but the comeback of the vegetation and wildlife has been tremendous. A driving tour on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway is an excellent way to see the National Volcanic Monument. Trails, lava caves and interpretive centers along the route provide further options to explore the mountain.

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All photographs on this page taken by Steve Salipante. Location: Green Mountain in the Casades