Planning Your Time
Print
Email
Save to Favorites
Recreation junkies can spend a whole summer or a lifetime wandering the trails and peaks of the South Cascades. When you’ve got limited time, the big visits are to Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Seattle visitors can conceivably drive by both in a single day, as they are only a couple of hours away from one another, but most of that time would be spent in the seated position. Travelers should ideally plan a week at minimum to get out on the trails.
Ideal summertime exploration falls between snowmelt and first snowfall, usually between July and September. Visitors need to be aware of weather conditions prior to heading out. This area of the Cascades typically sees heavy snowfall from as early as October until as late as May, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your perspective.
Certain roads and attractions are closed, but others open up to a whole new dimension of recreational activity only possible when snowdrifts are present.
© Ericka Chickowski from Moon Washington, 8th edition
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.