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black bear sitting on grassy lakeside in wild nature
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Bears in Washington State

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Spread the loveWhen I first thought about moving to Washington I couldn’t help but nervously think of bears. Where I grew up, there were no bears to worry about! In order to get over my fear and start hiking alone in Washington State, I did extensive research on the bear population in Washington and learned how to react if I see one on the trail. In this blog I’ll be talking about the bear population in Washington State. Understanding the Bear Population in Washington Bears, including both black bears and grizzly bears, are here in Washington. While grizzly bears are primarily found in remote areas of the North Cascades, black bears can be seen throughout most of the state. The exact population numbers fluctuate, but estimates suggest there are several thousand black bears and a much smaller number of grizzly bears. The good news is that it is extremely rare to see a grizzly in Washington, so most of what you need to prepare for is bumping into a black bear. Black bears typically run away from people, and many of the bears in Washington state are used to hearing hikers and know to move out when they hear us coming. My personal experience with bears in Washington state has been limited. While I’ve spend more than 100 days outside since moving here, I have only seen 1 black bear. This has brought me a lot of comfort knowing that it I am likely not going to bump into them on every hiking trail. What to Do if You Encounter a Bear While Hiking Despite their powerful presence, bears typically avoid human contact. However, it’s important to know how to react if you do encounter one while hiking. Remember these key tips: Proper Food Storage While Camping Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are attracted to food, garbage, and scented items. To minimize the risk of attracting bears to your campsite: Click here to see what bear canister I love Why Bear Spray and Noise Are Important While Hiking Bear spray is a valuable tool for hikers in bear country. It contains a potent deterrent that can stop a charging bear in its tracks, giving you time to retreat to safety. It’s essential to carry bear spray with you on hikes and know how to use it effectively. Being noisy while hiking serves two purposes: it alerts bears to your presence, giving them the opportunity to avoid you, and it can prevent startling a bear at close range, which could lead to a defensive reaction. Talking, singing, clapping, or using bear bells are all effective ways to make your presence known. Click here to view my favorite bear spray Conclusion Encountering a bear while hiking in Washington State is uncommon. That being said, if you spend enough time outside it is sure to happen. Stay alert and always be prepared. By understanding bear behavior, practicing proper food storage, carrying bear spray, and making noise while hiking, you can enjoy the beauty of Washington’s wilderness while minimizing the risk of bear encounters.

View of Mt Baker in Washington State
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Free Camping in Washington State

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Spread the loveWhen I was living in Utah I used to go camping on BLM land land all of the time. It was free, easy to find, and offered me a place to sleep when I was doing various outdoor activities. When I moved to Washington, I couldn’t find any information on where to camp for free. It took time, but eventually I learned about free camping on forest service roads in Washington. In this blog I will talk about the rules around free camping in Washington State. What is Forest Service Road Camping? Forest Service road camping, also known as dispersed camping, involves setting up camp along designated Forest Service roads on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Unlike traditional campgrounds, where reservations and fees are required, dispersed camping allows you to camp for free in designated areas, often with no amenities. One of the great parts about doing this in Washington is that there is typically a river or lake nearby, so as long as you pack your water filter you will have plenty of water! Rules and Regulations While free camping in Washington is fairly easy, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. By following these guidelines, you can help preserve Washington state while you save a little money. Stay in Designated Areas: When camping on Forest Service roads, be sure to choose designated dispersed camping sites indicated by established campsites or signs. Avoid setting up camp in undesignated areas to minimize your impact on the environment and protect sensitive ecosystems. These areas should be fairly obvious. Look for established fire rings, large pull outs, and as a best practice sleep at least 200 feet away from any stream or body of water. Leave No Trace: Practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash and waste, including food scraps and human waste. Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it to preserve Washington state. I also encourage you to bring an extra trash bag along and take a few minutes to clean up any garbage you can find. I have camped along forest service roads in Washington countless times, and it is rare that I don’t find any garbage to clean up. If we all work together we can clean up Washington state one campsite at a time. Respect Wildlife: Keep a safe distance from wildlife and refrain from feeding or approaching animals. Store food securely in bear-resistant containers or bear-proof lockers to prevent encounters with wildlife and minimize the risk of attracting bears to your campsite. Be sure not to leave food at the campsite when you leave in order to keep future campers safe. A fun fact about bears is that they have incredible memories. They can remember where they found food and they will come back around looking for more. Campfire Safety Follow local fire regulations and restrictions when building campfires. Use existing fire rings where available and always fully extinguish your campfire before leaving your campsite or going to sleep. Consider using a portable camp stove for cooking to reduce the risk of wildfires. This is incredibly important due to the increase in wildfires over the past few years. As a general rule, if you’re unsure about fire regulations just stay on the safe side and opt out. Stay Limitations Most Forest Service roads in Washington state have specific stay limitations for dispersed camping. These typically range from 14 to 16 days within a 30-day period. Where to Find Information For detailed information on dispersed camping opportunities and regulations in Washington State, visit the official website of the U.S. Forest Service. Additionally, the Washington Trails Association offers valuable resources and tips for planning your dispersed camping adventure, including trip reports, trail conditions, and Leave No Trace guidelines.Washington Trails Association Conclusion Sometimes there is no way to get around paying for a campsite, but I almost always opt for free camping in Washington state. I have camped on forest service roads countless times and have had really great experiences. Pack your bags, grab your phone, pull up your map, and start looking for forest service roads that you can camp at for free in Washington. It’s as simple as that! If you liked this post, you might also like..

Waterfall on the way to Rachel Lake in Washington
Destinations, Hiking, Hiking Trail in Washington State, Hiking Trail Near Seattle Washington, Other

Backpacking Rachel and Rampart Lakes

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Spread the lovef you’re short on time but still want to backpack near Seattle, I highly recommend checking out Rachel and Rampart lakes. I did a short backpacking trip up to the lakes my first year living in Seattle and loved it so much I went back the next year! If you’re looking for the perfect beginner friendly backpacking trail you’re in the right place. Getting to Rachel and Rampart Lakes Trailhead from Seattle One of the main reasons that I enjoyed this hike was it’s accessibility from Seattle. It takes me around 1.5 hours to to get here from my house near downtown Seattle, making it a great trip to start after work on a Friday. From downtown Seattle, you get on I-5 and then merge onto I-90 east. You stay on I-90 for about an hour until you get off at exit 65. From there, you’ll take a left. After driving about 5 miles you’ll find a split in the road. Here you want to stay left, if you go right you’ll end up at Lake Katchess Campground. You’ll continue on for .3 miles until you then turn right at a sign that says “Rachel Lake Trail 1313”. Continue on this road for another 4 miles until you arrive at the parking lot. You’ll see a few campsites along the road up to the trailhead. I have thought about driving up and car camping in one of these spots, but they have been taken every time I have driven by. If you really want to car camp in one of these spots I recommend arriving in the morning to snag a spot. Trail Overview Mileage: 8.9 Miles round trip Elevation: 2,526 ft Fees: North West Forest pass or $5 cash at the trailhead After you arrive and get your bags ready to go, you will head East in the parking lot and start on the Rachel and Rampart Lakes trail! The trail starts with you hiking uphill, but it levels out shortly after. You’ll hike along a creek and weave through old growth forest. The forest is dense out here so plan for it to be dark about an hour before the sun actually sets. The trail stays fairly flat until you hit the climb up to the lakes. You climb 2,526 ft in around 2 miles, so be prepared for it to be steep. There are lots of areas along the trial where you can take a break, and even a few spots that have water access. I’m not going to lie, every time I have done this hike I convince myself that we’re almost to the top only to realize I have hit what I will call a false summit. Try to remember that the uphill might seem never-ending, but you’ll get there! There is a waterfall near the top that is the perfect spot to take a break and sit by the water. 4 miles in you will arrive at Rachel Lake. Rachel Lake The blue water, trees, and waterfalls up there are amazing. The camping up here is perfect for someone who hasn’t done many backpacking trips. There are lots of campsites scattered around, a primitive toilet, and lake access for swimming. Every time I have slept up here the spots have filled up quick, so make sure you set up camp and then go explore the rest of the area. If you want to continue up to Rampart Lakes, that is another miles or so up the mountain. This section of the trail is very steep, but you get to look down at Rachel Lake on your way up so it never seems quite as intense. You’ll reach an expansive alpine meadow with what feels like hundreds of little lakes. You can wander around up here, but try your best to stay on the trail as to not disrupt the surrounding area. There are campsites scattered around up here but no toilets. Daily Itinerary This itinerary is for the first time backpacker who wants to have a chill first experience. This will also be a Friday – Sunday itinerary, minimizing the amount of time you’ll need to take off from work. Day 1: Arrive at Rachel and Rampart Lakes trailhead at 2pm and begin hiking at 3pm. Hike from the parking lot to Rachel Lake. Here, you will set up camp, cook dinner, and relax for the evening. Day 2: Spend the morning at Rachel Lake. Depending on how hot the weather is, begin hiking up to Rampart Lakes. If it is very hot I recommend going before 12 or after 4 because this section is fairly exposed. Set up camp at Rampart Lakes and enjoy your evening there. Another alternative is to do a day hike from Rampart Lakes to Alta Mountain. For more information on Alta Mountain, click here. Day 3: You only have a 4 mile hike back to your car at this point, and it’s all downhill. You could spend the day on a day hike, stay by the lakes, or head back home. What to Pack for Rachel and Rampart Lakes If this is your first backpacking trip, just know that you’re going to bring the wrong stuff. It takes a couple of trips to figure out what you really want to be carrying in, and just make do with what you have. The most common thing that I see is beginners over-packing. Thankfully, this trail is a really great beginner trail and you’ll be able to survive if you bring the bare minimum or if your bag is too heavy on the way up. My packing list for this trail is as follows: This trail is seasonally closed in the Winters due to snowfall. Make sure that you check on WTA or AllTrails for up to date trail conditions. If you go in the summer, be prepared for mosquito hell! When I went last July, we had read report after report on how terrible the mosquitos

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