Urban Trails: Bellingham is aimed at those of us looking for an accessible nature outing--trails we can get to quickly, via public transportation or a short drive, that offer a quality outdoor experience without the need for special gear or major effort. These are trails perfect for families, first-time trail users, or athletes looking for a quick fix after work. Urban Trails: Bellingham focuses on the trails and parks in and around Bellingham, including the Chuckanut Mountains and Skagit Valley. Features in this guidebook include: Trailhead directions, including public transit where available "Know before you go" tips for park hours, events, and more Trail distance and high point Indication of best use for walkers, runners, and/or hikers Trailhead amenities Info for families and dog owners Sidebars on area history, nature, or special sights Reprinted and updated in 2019.

For thousands of years people have traveled across Washington’s spectacular terrain, establishing footpaths and roads to reach hunting grounds and coal mines high in the mountains, fishing sites and trade emporiums on the rivers, forests of old growth, and homesteads and towns on prairies. These traditional routes have been preserved in national parks, restored by cities and towns, salvaged from old railroad tracks, and opened to hikers by Indigenous communities. In this new, full-color edition of the first-ever hiking guide to the state’s historic trails, historian and hiker Judy Bentley teams up with veteran guidebook author Craig Romano to lead adventurers of all abilities along trails on the coast, over mountains, through national forests, across plateaus, and on the banks of the Columbia River. Features include: • 44 hikes, including 12 new additions • Full-color trail maps • A trails timeline that connects hikes to key events • Updated trail descriptions • Accounts from diaries, journals, and archives • Historical overviews of 8 regions of the state • Contemporary and historical photographs Bentley and Romano offer an essential boots-on-the ground history of some of the state’s most fascinating places.

Trails specifically selected with younger hikers in mind Tips for family vacation destinations Features easy-to-access “nature fixes” throughout Western Washington Author Susan Elderkin has seen her kids express wonder and glee at discovering insects and flowers, melt down in tearful defiance in the middle of a trail, and triumphantly reach a summit and view. In short, she’s a regular mom who wants to encourage other parents to get their regular kids out into nature too. While Susan is an expert hiker in her own right, it’s her children who helped her to see hiking from a kid’s point of view. The result is Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington, a fresh and wholly new guide for families looking for quality time together away from their distracting devices. Guidebook features include: 125 hikes—carefully selected and vetted by both parents and children Routes range in length from less than 2 miles (great for toddlers) to as much as 6 miles (for older kids who want to test themselves) Handy info blocks give a quick snapshot of each hike: best season, difficulty, length, high point, and elevation gain 13 “Great Getaways”—weekend or vacation destinations around the state with hiking trails and other family-fun activities Colorful icons indicate star attractions of the hike: splash zone, wildflowers, old-growth, dog-friendliness, stroller-accessibility, and more “Best of” lists make it easy for families to match hikes to their kids’ interests Driving directions, complete trail information, GPS trailhead coordinates, and color map included for each hike Tips on how to motivate kids on the trail, what’s appropriate for different ages, nature facts, and more Whether you’re looking for the best hikes to hug a really big tree; take a fun and refreshing dip; see birds, animals, or waterfalls; go on a winter day; or stuff yourself with berries, Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington has you covered.

Seattleites often play in the mountain ranges they can see from their city—but sometimes you just need a hike you can do before lunch. That’s what you get with Urban Trails: Seattle. A thriving city of more than seven hundred thousand residents within a metropolitan area of nearly four million, Seattle has become a big city, with rapid growth and an increasing number of new arrivals every year. Thanks to the foresight of early city planners, however, the city's large park system contains a wide array of trails that traverse manicured lawns, nature preserves, old-growth forest groves, historic districts, and vibrant neighborhoods—as well as trails that travel along lakeshores, cascading creeks, and stretches of Puget Sound shoreline. Within this sprawling metropolis you'll also find some of the best long-distance paved trails in the Northwest. They thread together parks and greenbelts that call out for further exploration and adventures. Whether you like to hike, run, or walk, you’ll find countless options among Seattle's urban trails, giving you many reasons to never leave the city when seeking excellent outdoor adventures. Features of this guide include: Easy to reference maps Trail distance and high point Indicates trail suitability for walkers, hikers, and runners Trailhead amenities Info for families with kids and for dog owners Sidebars on area history, nature, and sights

A passionate skier since he was a child, Anders Morley dreamed of going on a significant adventure, something bold and of his own design. And so one year in his early thirties, he decided to strap on cross-country skis to travel across Canada in the winter alone. This Land of Snow is about that journey and a man who must come to terms with what he has left behind, as well as how he wants to continue living after his trip is over. It is an honest, thoughtful, and humorous reckoning of an adventure filled with adrenalin and exuberance, as well as mistakes and danger. Along the way readers gain insight, both charming and fascinating, into Northern outdoor culture and modern-day wilderness living, the history of northern exploration and Nordic skiing, the right to roam movement, winter ecology, and more. Throughout, Morley’s clear, subtle, and self-deprecating voice speaks to a backwoods-genteel aesthetic that explores the dichotomy between wildness and refinement, language and personal story, journey and home.

Spokane-based author and award-winning photographer Charles Gurche has been capturing Washington's wonderland of wildflowers on film for years. In this practical guide, he now reveals his favorite places to witness the state's unparalleled floral shows. Through his detailed trail descriptions and gorgeous full-color images, Gurche spotlights the state's 50 best day hikes for wildflower viewing. These excursions, located throughout the state, enable hikers of all fitness levels to experience Washington's diverse backcountry at its finest -- and to identify its many colorful and intriguing wildflower species. Driving directions deliver hikers to each trailhead, and color maps illustrate the trail routes. Washington's Best Wildflower Hikes is the ultimate guide for outdoor enthusiasts who wish to discover where to go for their next wildflower trek, what trailside species they are likely to encounter, and when to catch Washington's floral gems in peak bloom. Book jacket.