5 Best Washington Hikes with Dogs in December

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Now that we’re smack dab in the middle of stuff-your-face-with-all-the-foods season, hiking becomes more about survival for me than pure pleasure. I love the joyfulness of festive gatherings, but the loss of daily walks in the sunshine and the increase in sweets (oh sugar, my one true love) leaves me feeling sluggish and tired. These hikes are more about maintaining a baseline level of movement to 1) keep what is left of my sanity and 2) give my body a shake so that it doesn’t rise up in open rebellion against cookies and cinnamon rolls. The dogs also start displaying signs of feeling cooped up and bored so winter hikes are essential to keeping their crazy in check as well.

  1. Suiattle River Trail: 13.8 miles round-trip, 900 feet elevation gain, North Cascades region, Northwest Forest Pass. This is a lovely forest hike with several creek crossings (don’t attempt in high river flow) and potentially dozens of blow-down trees ranging from saplings to large old-growth. The bridge at Canyon Creek is particularly attractive. Grab a brisket sandwich or a pulled pork sandwich at Moose Creek BBQ in Arlington for some post-hike nourishment.
  2. Four Cedars Trail – Tolmie State Park: 2.0 miles round-trip, 200 feet elevation gain, Puget Sound region, Discover pass. A nice hike through forest and beach, accessible throughout most of the year. After this quick mini-adventure, head to Curry Corner in Lacey for some of the best Indian food in western Washington.
  3. Lower Falls Creek Trail: 3.4 miles round-trip, 600 feet elevation gain, Southwest Washington region, Northwest Forest Pass. This trail features an abundance of cascading waterfalls flowing over moss-covered rocks in old growth forest. The triple falls are an especially beautiful lunch spot. Don’t miss out on Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Bistro in Vancouver for Hawaiian beignets (brunch only), Kalua pork, specialty sushi rolls–my favorite are the Big Kahuna Roll and the Oregon Roll–and poke.
  4. Ruby Beach: 6.0 miles round-trip, 80 feet elevation gain, Olympics region, no parking pass. Walk the beach and enjoy a leisurely stroll as you pass by the famous sea stacks to the north, keeping alert to dodge sleeper waves. Clam chowder and fish and chips are the food of the coast. Stop by Creekside Restaurant at the Kalaloch Lodge in Forks or Breakwater Seafood and Chowder House in Aberdeen for some of each.
  5. Elliott Bay Trail: 10.4 miles round-trip, 0 feet elevation gain, Puget Sound region, no parking pass. Lovely urban hike on a paved path following the shoreline of Elliott Bay, excellent year-round with the added bonus of having a great excuse to stop at some great restaurants in the city–my favorites are Ivar’s Acres of Clams (4 chowder sampler), The Steelhead Diner (ling cod fish and chips and strawberry-rhubarb tart), Sushi Kappo Tamura (black dragon roll), Mani’s Kitchen (lamb tikka masala or butter chicken), Junebaby (Sunday fried chicken dinner special), The Pink Door (risotto, la fettunta, and Saffron and Moscato Wine Poached Pear with blood orange sorbet), and Pike Place Chowder (clam chowder and lobster roll).