Summer hiking

With Summer in full swing I have been itching to get out and go hiking on a more regular basis. As our schedule has settled down and my baby bump continues to grow larger, we plan to spend the majority of the next several months in Seattle. For those of you who are itching to do a little Summer hiking here are a few of my all time favorite places to go hiking:

1. Zion National Park, last May we spent a week exploring Southern Utah and hitting up all the major national parks. From the campsite, to the tram ride and the lodge's restaurant Zion was spectacular from every angle. 

2. Glacier National Park: From the rugged terrain to the diversity of landscapes Glacier National Park offers some of the best hiking we have experienced anywhere. Many Glacier is our favorite region for hiking and we like to spend a majority of our time there. The only drawback in hiking here is occasionally a trail will be closed because of bear sightings, but I would always rather be safe than sorry.

3. Lake Powell: Only accessible by boat, the hike to Natural Bridge is short, but with a spectacular reward at the end. If you take off quickly once the boat lands chance are you will beat the crowds and be able to get some killer photos. Remember to bring lots of water and snacks, between the boat ride and hike it will take up a majority of your day.

4. Leavenworth, WA: From Nada to Stuart and Eightmile Lake, there are endless trails most culminating  at a lake to explore while hiking in Leavenworth. 

5. Snoqualmie Pass: Close to our house and littered with hiking trails and camping spots. Snoqualmie Pass is our go to place for weekend exploring. Snow Lake, Gem Lake, Annette Lake, Rattlesnake Ridge, Bandera Mountain, Talapus Lake, Mount Si, Granite Mountain and Mailbox Peak are all excellent choices. 

6. Waterton Lakes National Park: Here we enjoyed a scenic boat ride from the Prince of Wales hotel to the trailhead of Crypt Lake. Crypt Lake is a fantastic hike ending at a beautiful lake. This is not the type of hike you want to go on if you are afraid of heights or have small children. There are a couple spots where it gets a little dicy and you have to hold onto a rope to walk along a narrow trail with a steep drop.