Mt. Adams View from Tarn on Mt. Hood / Photo by Peter Marbach

A Place For Refuge & Recreation: A Haven for All

Majestic mountains, blue-ribbon trout streams, lush forested valleys, and refuges brimming with wildlife draw residents and visitors into the wild every season. Whether you prefer long backcountry treks or a short drive along a scenic byway, there’s a place in the Cascades for you.

“I spend almost every Saturday hiking or snowshoeing in the mountains, and several times a year on longer backcountry expeditions or a climb of one of the many peaks or volcanoes. I can be in total wilderness within a 90-minute hike, and spend a week wandering without seeing another soul.”

—Mark Griffith, computer technician, avid outdoorsman, Issaquah, WA

Examples of A place for Refuge and Recreation

  1. Gifford Pinchot National Forest

    The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one of the oldest National Forests in the United States. Included as part of the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve in 1897, this area was set aside as the Columbia National Forest in 1908. It was renamed the Gifford Pinchot…

    Location: Trout Lake, WA 98650

  2. Northwest Trek

    Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a treasure for families and individuals to see free-roaming wildlife up close. Ride the tram through this 723-acre park and see bison, bighorn sheep, and woodland caribou. Follow the forested trails on foot to view wolves, bobcats, lynx, cougars, owls,…

    Location: 11610 Trek Dr East, Eatonville, WA 98328

  3. Oregon Cascades Birding Trail

    The Cascades Birding Trail offers outdoor adventure for birders of all interest levels. From the snow-capped summit of Mt. Hood to the marshlands of the Klamath Basin, more than 300 species of birds are found on the trail.  This auto trail takes the adventurer along…

    Location: Along eastern and western slopes of the Cascades, from Mt. Hood , Bend, OR 97701

  4. Pacific Crest Trail

    How better to see the Central Cascades than to hike through them?  The Central Cascades offer a unique experience because of the nature of how the Cascades were formed: volcanic activity.  New peaks come into view on the northern horizon and act as “sign posts” to…

  5. Wonderland Trail at Mt. Rainier National Park

    Encircle Mt. Rainier as you wind your way up and down over deep canyons, along valley floors and across magnificent rivers fed by the 24 glaciers found on this majestic mountain. A network of trails with awe-inspiring views form a fabric of experiences to last…

    Location: Ashford , WA 98304
National Geographic