If you decide to plan a memorable adventure anywhere in the state, here are 15 places with the best views in Washington that you should add to your itinerary: Who would have thought one state could have so much natural beauty?! 7) Beacon Rock State Park: The 848-foot high basalt volcanic plug was stopover point for Lewis & Clark in 1805. Speaking of rain, on day 21 of the experiment theres a transition from sunrises to rain and clouds. If any of these beautiful Washington features spark your desire, we highly suggest taking a weekend trip to go explore more. The proximity of the viewpoint of Mount Shuksan to the parking lot makes it an enticing stop if youre not into a long hike! On the weekends this can be a busy hike & the top can feel pretty crowded. to my monthly newsletter with insider info, free calendar wallpapers and fun exclusives just for you! > Plan your visit to Horseshoe Basin using WTA's Hiking Guide, Location: North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20Length:4.4 miles, roundtripElevation Gain:1,050 feetHighest Point: 6,254 feetBest Season:July - September. Its fun to get little dancing reflections like this one pictured. Flickr / cxlt Please share some locations in the comment section. Once youve made it, relax on one of the rocks at the top, watch as the sun creeps its way over the hills, and admire the peaks in the distance. Less than an hour's drive outside of Seattle is Mount Rainier National Park, which is focused on the towering peak of Mount Rainier itself, the highest mountain in Washington. Larches in the early fall. Liberty Bell Mountain is located on Highway 20 in the North Cascades National Park. Lodging Nearby: Just 30 minutes from Picture Lake is the Mt. For my ladies: The bathrooms close to the FDR Memorial is by far the best bathroom in the entire mall. Classic, wide, central Washington views. Plus there is this overwhelming feeling of peace and calm in a city thats usually hustling and bustling during the day. Dogs & Kids not recommended at the peak. Its also worth mentioning that there are three beaches, respectively named First, Second, and Third Beach. Visit, In the North Cascades Range is a stunning large wilderness area that you can explore while hiking one of the many trails like the one covered in our, Also known as Washington State Route 20, this is a great scenic route if you're looking for a wondrous view. Make sure youre standing on top of the hill and youll see this view. Timpanogos, UT. The hillsides are alive with wildflowers at mid-summer, and the view from the end of Harry's Ridge has you looking straight into the mouth of the crate, not to mention views of Spirit Lake, Mount Adams and even Mount Hood on a clear day. Top 5 Bike Rentals in Seattle: Explore the Emerald City on Two Wheels, Wedding in Seattle: 5 Best Venues and 4 Awesome Tips for a Stunning Wedding, Scuba Diving in Seattle: 8 Best Dive Spots and 6 Diving Schools in Seattle, Plan your trip with experts and get best offers. Long Beach Peninsula, Long Beach. Average Weather: Rainy and cloudy on the west side, sunny and dry on the east side. Thats what its going to be like when you check out one of these incredible sunrise hikes in Washington. Learn how your comment data is processed. Lake Wenatchee has tons of hiking trails that surround the lake. Theres not too many people, so you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the hot springs. If you are heading out on an Olympic Peninsula road trip, Lake Crescent is a likely stop at the beginning of your journey. Come during sunrise or sunset (like we dont recommend this enough, HA!) Spring the mountain will be carpeted in wildflowers, Summer brings the best weather and lush green trails, Fall is crisp & cool, & in Winter the snowy peak is more difficult to summitbut the views are an absolute winter wonderland. Lodging Nearby: Free breakfast and private hotel rooms are what youll find at Nisqually Lodge, just 30 minutes from High Rock. Palouse Falls is one of those rare places that you don't have to go to at sunrise or sunset to get the best light. Bring good hiking shoes and a few good hours to spend exploring the many trails here. An abundance of wildflowers in Spider Meadow. Kerry Park Kerry Park is by far one of the most Instagrammable places in Seattle and one of the best places to see in Washington State. However, the views make the effort so worth it! Source. If you have a bit more time, explore Sunrise Point near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center on your way out of the parking lot. Create and share itinerary, download PDF Guides and free access to Holidify's full content. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Plus, trails are less crowded and youll have more time to sleep before sunrise. There are several places around the building that will get you that amazing sunrise image. Hope you found this guide useful and if you have any additional questions, feel free to drop them in the comments. > Plan your visit to Lost Lake Lookout using WTA's Hiking Guide, Location:Southwest Washington Long Beach AreaLength:variesElevation Gain:variesHighest Point:200 feetBest Season:Year-round. Talk about an incredible view. Just a short drive south of La Push and Rialto Beach is a lesser-known gem of the Washington CoastRuby Beach. For the serious photographers out there, you may be wondering about tripods. 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Second Beach is the most iconic! Its the ultimate sunrise spot to see the big three landmarks (Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the US Capitol) all lined up. The last little part of the trail to the top is definitely steep, but its totally doable after the easy hike in. 3801 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108, www.seattle.gov Kerry Park Similar to Gas Works Park, the real winner of any stargazing attempt from Kerry Park is the Seattle skyline. This place not only has pristine water and beautiful views from the Storm King and Fairholme docks, but you can also hike up Mt. > Plan your visit to Cape Disappointment using WTA's Hiking Guide, Location: Southwest Washington Columbia River Gorge - WALength:7.2miles, roundtripElevation Gain:1,300 feetHighest Point:1,350 feetBest Season:Year-round. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Bring a hot drink and a snack to stay warm and savor the experience. 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The huge trees, the cascading moss, the birds and Roosevelt elk, the Olympic Mountains rising above and the broad river valley extending up and downstream, all make this a hike that must be done at least once in a lifetime. You dont want to miss the sunrise though so give yourself 1 hour & 20 minutes if youre worried. If youve been in Seattle only a little bit, SOMEONE is bound to have recommended you hike Rattlesnake Ledge, of of the most iconic hikes near Seattle. What are some natural wonders in Washington? & for sunrise, you wont find a view better. Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State. This hunk of rock in Banks Lake is a distinct example of massive Ice Age floods 15,000 years ago. Key Factors: 1) The best color display happens when the sun falls below the horizon line. Sometimes, extremely talented photographers will capture this incredible, overlooked phenomena and share their photos with us online! By Melissa Ozbek, author of Moon 75 Great Hikes Seattle, Recommendations from the African Diaspora. In my opinion, the Reflecting Pool is the ultimate sunrise location in Washington DC. Head to our, This incredible natural beauty is located in Palouse Falls State Park in Eastern Washington and was has the distinction of being named Washington's official waterfall. > Plan your visit to Gothic Basin using WTA's Hiking Guide, Location: Snoqualmie Region Snoqualmie PassLength: 12.0miles, roundtripElevation Gain:2,600 feetHighest Point: 5,400 feetBest Season:Late July - September. Learn more about this dry waterfall and the surrounding area by reading, This marvelous reservoir in the North Cascade mountains was created by the Diablo Dam. Seattle, WA 98104. This entire region is free dispersed camping and any open site is up for grabs. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Anywhere you go, Mount Rainier is waiting in the background to blow you away with yet another picture-perfect view. Here are ten sunsets throughout the state that were captured beautifully: This sunset emerges through the Simpson Ave Bridge, over the Hoquiam River. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If you are up for a hike, we recommend the Naches Peak Loop Trail, an easy pathway with an overlook where you can see a valley and Mount Rainier (although the mountain can be seen throughout the entire hike). 5 Best Places to Watch the Sunrise in Seattle 1. I just love how reflective the wall is. (Make sure to download these amazing road trip question to pass the time!). The sky bursts with pinks, oranges, reds and lavenders. When is the Best Time to Hike in Washington? 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