Alright, it’s March. Ideally, it’s sunny outside and the weather is warm — a perfect chance to peel your eyes off your computer and hit the road! Or should I say, trail? From hiking newbie to hiking pro levels of difficulty, here are five enjoyable and unique trails that all have been trekked, reviewed, and now recommended by me. They’re all within a two-hour driving distance from Seattle (you gotta go deep to hit the jewels) and are an excellent way to spend half (or a full) day with friends, get in touch with your inner self, and explore the beautiful backdoor we call the Cascades. Especially you, seniors.

Disclaimer: All these trails are in the Cascades… and most are lakes. I’m biased; I love lakes, and I’m proud. Get over it. Distances and elevation gain are provided by Alltrails. Difficulties are provided by me… mwahaha.

Gear, Safety, and Conservation:

In classic blogger fashion, it’s important to address gear and safety before we get started. First, you want comfortable, long-sleeved but thin athletic pants and shirts, solid-soled boots, and a hat that covers your entire head. In addition, hiking poles for your knees and a backpack. It doesn’t have to be big — just enough to hold water, snacks, and lunch if you’re on a long hike.

In terms of safety, carry extra water, know your route well, and bring sunscreen. You get dehydrated quickly, especially in the sun. It’s also easy to get lost, so download a map or heck, bring a paper copy. Always have someone at home who knows where you are going and when you’re getting back. Most importantly, always put on sunscreen… I learned that the hard way.

Conservation-wise, please keep trails nice for future hikers. That means pack out whatever you pack in, don’t shortcut switchbacks (where a trail takes a 180-degree turn), avoid frolicking in meadows/trampling plants, keep out of restoration areas, maintain distance from animals, and dig holes for solid waste.

Skyline Lake

Difficulty: Easy(ish)
Distance: 2.1 mi.
Elevation Gain: 990 ft.

Say goodbye to Snow Lake, and say hello to Skyline! Not to be confused with the insanely popular Skyline Loop in Mount Rainier National Park, this trail sadly does not have many cute marmots. What it does have though, is a relatively easy trail (fantastic for snowshoeing too!) with a beautiful view of the Snohomish Valley. And a lake. Don’t forget that.

Before we get too far, this trail taught me something really important: always put on sunscreen, even if you have a hat. I went snowshoeing here and thought my hat would protect me… I came in looking like a Timothy and came out looking like a beet.

Though this trail is a bit steep, it’s pretty wide and follows a service trail through a forest. Straight behind you is Stevens Pass, and to either side, gorgeous views of the valley. Soon enough, you’ll reach a small lake nestled by the edge of a small mountain. The lake is beautiful, and there are many spots to rest.

As a bonus, if it snows, there are several switchbacks where you can glissade down on your butt.

Lake 22

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 5.9 mi.
Elevation Gain: 1446 ft.

Oh man, these trails are honestly some of my favorite kinds — relatively short distances for high rewards. Alltrails says the distance is 5.9 mi., but that’s only if you decide to loop the lake (which you should). If you don’t, it feels more like a four mile hike.

Lake 22 is farther north in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It’s pretty nice for several reasons: one, you’re mostly climbing in the shade (assuming you go in the morning). Two, you can get consistently beautiful views of the valley behind you. The trail is a bit rocky though, but the foliage is very pretty in the fall.

Starting from an odd trailhead, after what feels like a decently steep ascent, you’re at the lake. The grandeur is jaw-dropping. The snow-dotted mountains in the background feel like walls — they wrap the picturesque emerald-blue lake in an embrace that invokes a sense of wilderness.

Lake Ingalls

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Distance: 8.9 mi.
Elevation Gain: 2834 ft.

If I had to shout out one incredibly underrated trail, it would be Lake Ingalls. It’s pushing the 2-hour drive distance, as it’s nestled deep within the eastern side of the Cascades. You’ll need to drive a bit from I-5 on a gravel road to the trailhead. Consider a spare tire (speaking from experience).

I absolutely love this trail. It’s a unique take on the Washington hiking experience — you begin meandering through a subalpine forest until you quickly break into ascending a mountainside. The trail feels very Californian with hazel-colored mountains and sparse forests. Any given moment on the hike guarantees breathtaking views of a secluded valley.

Soon, you’ll approach a pass. You might think this is the end, but don’t get your spirits up. You’ll need to climb back down into a pristine alpine-like forest. Then, continue along a mountain ridge until you reach a short and steep scramble. But after ascending narrowly through a rockfield, there lies Lake Ingalls in all its glory.

Ironically, the lake is very boring. It’s sitting on a rock basin and there is virtually no plant life. Looking at the lake, the untouched water reflects distant summits. It’s terrible for photos, but that’s not where the real treasure lies — Ingalls provides a sense of freedom and seclusion that’s exhilarating. There aren’t too many hikers, and they’re all spread out along a bouldered shore.

This hike gives me a sense of nostalgia. Descending in the warm orange glow of the setting sun while observing the sandy-colored mountains in a narrowly tucked valley emanates a sense of euphoria never felt before.

Granite Mountain

Difficulty: Challenging
Distance: 7.9 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3704 ft.

You’ll find a lot of trail runners on this trail. That alone explains the nature of the trail — it’s great for trail conditioning thanks to the incredible elevation gain. It’s a bit tedious since it’s kind of just 3,704 vertical feet of switchbacks. You might say, “oh Timothy, 3,704 feet? That’s like what, 5.6 furlongs? It must be easy!” Rookie mistake. It’s not the mileage but rather the gain that kills you. Your legs will seriously burn.

But hey, no pain, no gain! You are rewarded with breathtaking views of Snoqualmie Valley, as well as three bonus lakes nestled within the jagged peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

The trail begins with forested ascent. There’s not much until you’re about 2,800 feet up when you begin a peaceful walk through meadows with beautiful wildflowers. Then, it’s a climb up a rock pile to the top, where you can rest easy at a fire lookout tower. Take a deep breath, break out the sandwiches, and admire the cars pass by 3,500 feet below

Hidden Lake Lookout

Difficulty: Very Challenging
Distance: 8.8 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3746 ft.

Okay, I lied. It’s more than two hours away, but I just had to include it. This trail is far: you might want to camp in North Cascades if you want to hike this without waking up at 2 am. The trailhead is a small parking lot on the side of a mountain nestled in a maze of gravel roads but is one of the most scenic trails I’ve ever hiked.

Hidden Lake is, well, hidden. Therefore, accessing it requires first climbing through a brief section of forest before ascending very steeply along an exposed valley meadow. Then, you just trek horizontally for a long distance across taluses, alpine forests (with marmots), and large rock fields. But all this time, a glance to the right promises stunning views of distant mountains, valleys, and glimmering creeks.

After what feels like forever, you will soon reach a super small indent. Go up a bit to a pass, and congrats, you can see Hidden Lake! But don’t be fooled, this isn’t all. You see, you might’ve noticed a very tall, seemingly unclimbable peak comprised of just giant, sharp boulders! Well, you’ll need to climb it if you want to access the lookout. (Fun fact: the lookout is a house that you can sleep in on a first-come, first-serve basis).

After a short but dangerous scramble, you are rewarded with 360-degree views of the North Cascades. Glacier Peak to the south, Mount Baker to the north, and Sahale Mountain to the east. Oh, and there are mountain goats too. As a heads up, don’t pee near the trail since the goats will follow you to lick your pee. Disgusting, but rich in sodium.

The lake itself is the most attractive deep shade of sapphire blue I’ve ever witnessed. No photo has ever done it justice — the hue is so rich that you can only take it in with your own eyes. It’s nestled in a snow-covered hidden basin with the perfect rock-to-snow ratio. Along the banks, there are occasional dots of lustrous evergreens. On the far side, in true Cascade fashion, the basin collapses into a steep ravine with spiky rock peaks in the distance.

And that’s it for your five hiking recommendations! Before you go, Lakesiders, here’s one last tip: be friendly! Wave to your fellow hikers — they’re also out to have fun, just like you.