Summer is here! And that means Washington is enjoying some of the longest days of the year. Even after the work day, there are still several hours of sunlight before dusk settles in. With this warm summer sun and long, slow evenings, what better to do than sneak in an extra weekday hike?
Here are a few land trust preserves that are an easy 30-minute (or less!) drive from home. Getting out on the land to see the places that land trusts have protected is a fantastic way to enjoy an evening hike, watch birds and wildlife, and celebrate the solstice in your own way.
Horse Lake Reserve, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust
Horse Lake Reserve is a 1,500 acre reserve owned by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, just west of Wenatchee and open to the public April 1 – November 31. Hike or mountain bike over eight miles of trails to catch the sunset views from the top of the Wenatchee Foothills. As you hike, enjoy increasingly expansive views of Wenatchee, the Columbia River, and the surrounding area. Interpretive signs will educate you on the local history, geology, flora, and fauna in the area.
- 25 minutes from Wenatchee
- Map
- Trail information via WTA
Iller Creek, Dishman Hills Conservancy
Ramble over rocky ridgelines, through blooming wildflowers, and under forest canopy in the Iller Creek Conservation Area, owned and managed in partnership with the Dishman Hills Conservancy and Spokane County Parks. An easy drive from anywhere in the Spokane Valley, Iller Creek also boasts one of the best rock climbing destinations at the spectacular Rocks of Sharon.
- 20 minutes from Spokane
- Map
- Trail information via WTA
Darlin Creek Preserve, Capitol Land Trust. Newly acquired in 2016, the Darlin Creek Preserve features 312 acres of second-growth forest, beaver ponds, and streams that serve as vital salmon migration routes in the Black River watershed. Find tranquility hiking along in the waters and woods of this beautiful riparian habitat, a mere 20 minutes outside of Olympia.
- 20 minutes from Olympia
- Trail information via WTA
Lyre Conservation Area, North Olympic Land Trust
Seated on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this 280-acre property protected by the North Olympic Land Trust features an estuary at the mouth of the Lyre River. Meander through a mile of upland forest, explore the tidal flats and kelp beds with your little ones, and catch the sunset from the shoreline. The Conservation area is also a popular spot for surfers to catch a wave!
- 30 minutes from Port Angeles
- Map
- Trail Information via WTA
Stimson Family Nature Reserve, Whatcom Land Trust
This 350-acre nature reserve is protected by conservation easements and open to the public thanks to a partnership between the Whatcom Land Trust, the Stimpson Family, Whatcom County Parks & Recreation, and other partners. Enjoy over four miles of trails through a lush wetland ecosystem – and keep a lookout for the evening activity of beavers, deer, and waterfowl!
- 20 minutes from Bellingham
- Map
- Trail Information via WTA