No mud, no problems: 4 urban hikes to take across the Pacific Northwest

What makes a walk a hike? It depends who you ask, but in our opinion, it’s mostly about getting some steps in while reaching an impressive payoff (even when you could’ve just driven to your destination). With nature so well integrated into the Pacific Northwest’s urban landscape, there are plenty such paths you can take when you’re feeling cooped up but also don’t feel like driving an hour or two just to come back muddy and soaked.

From the sandy Puget Sound shore, take the Burke-Gilman Trail past the Shilshole Bay Marina (you’ll find food, drink and heated bathrooms here) and the Salmon Bay Bridge until you reach the place where boats begin their journey up into Lake Union and beyond to Lake Washington. Along the way you can spy the Kingston ferry on its voyage, and at the turnaround point, watching salmon swim up the fish ladder is a spectacle for even the most casual wildlife enthusiast.

Starting at North Bank Park, take this circuitous route across a bridge to the rocky rapids surrounding Canada Island above Upper Spokane Falls. A short diversion to Huntington Park opens up an angle on Lower Spokane Falls (ride the gondola lift for an even better view) before looping back around through the Connections Garden, a monument to Spokane’s sister cities, the Great Northern Clocktower, and the Gesa Pavilion built for the ‘74 Expo world’s fair.

Soggy soil isn’t as much of an obstacle on this wintertime trek as snow can be, but climbing up this cinder cone’s spiral road with a fresh, white blanket on the ground does add a touch of magic. At the top, Oregon’s high desert spreads to the eastern horizon, and to the west, ponderosa pines try and fail to reach the lofty peaks of Broken Top and the Three Sisters. From this vantage point, it’s easy to see why so many ignore the tongue-in-cheek bumper stickers to make the city their home.

In a city known for the iconic 4T Trail (that’s trolley, train, trail and tram) and hidden stair walks, there’s another within its limits that quite literally rises above the rest. Mount Tabor, an extinct volcanic butte surrounded by neighborhoods, offers beautiful views of Portland’s distant downtown and glimpses of the Cascades through the trees, but the appeal during the rainy season is that you can reach the summit by sticking to the pavement. A looping road carries you up past several reservoirs, basketball courts and a playground, but there’s also an extensive network of dirt paths that criss-cross its slopes if you’re feeling more adventurous.