5 Best Washington Hikes with Dogs in March

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Spring is almost here, my impatient groundhog friends. The lowlands are coming back to life, the sun is warming the soil, osoberry is leafing out, and cherry blossoms and wild trillium are starting to bloom. The gloom of winter is fading and I’m starting to look forward to all of the adventures the nicer weather brings. In winter, I have to force myself to get outside and go for a hike. I’m always glad I made the effort, but it is a struggle to peel myself out of bed in the dark, drive in the rain, and climb some steep hill. My motivation is less forced as the days lengthen and the dogs are just as excited to get outside as I am. These are some of my go-to hikes for March.

  1. 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.
  2. Moulton Falls: 4.0 miles round-trip, 90 feet elevation gain, Southwest Washington region, no parking pass. Meandering river-side trails, dozens of shades of green in the thick forest, a picturesque bridge crossing, and waterfalls galore. If you want a low-key adventure, get here early or on a rainy day and you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Dozens of local brewery offerings are on tap at Sproos Tap House and Wine Bar in Woodland with a tapas-style snack menu to round out a lovely day.
  3. 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).
  4. Gold Mountain: 4.0 miles round-trip, 1087 feet elevation gain, Puget Sound region, Discover Pass. Spectacular views of the Olympics from the top so save this one for a clear day. Stop by Leonard K’s Boat House Restaurant in Allyn for some killer crab cakes or El Balcon in Bremerton for delicious pupusas.
  5. Heybrook Lookout: 2.6 miles round-trip, 850 feet elevation gain, Central Cascades and Snoqualmie region, no parking pass. Great views can be had by climbing the many stairs to the top of this old fire lookout so save this moderately steep hike for a clear day. This is a very popular hike and can get busy on weekends, so get there early or go during a weekday. If you’re craving a delicious milkshake and some fried goodness, check out Zeke’s Drive-In in Gold Bar. If you’d like something a little different, Benjarong in Monroe is a Thai restaurant with delicious Phad See-Ew and Crab Fried Rice that you won’t commonly find on menus.