Bandera Mountain(5,200'), WA
This is a great day hike and rated as one of the most popular hikes next to Mt. Dickerman. Less than an hour drive from Seattle you can be on trail. The trail is well maintained and offers a variety of terrain and vistas - treeline, waterfall, lakes, the Cascades range. It's a relatively short hike - 7 miles RT, however, be confident that you are "fit" and not acrophobia because you must negotiate a pretty steep and rocky trail part of the way to reach the summit, gaining 1,000' in a mile. The reward of that is the spectacular and breathtaking vistas at the top. The trail also gives you some other options to choose....hike down to Mason Lake or take the route to Mt. Defiance if you wish. Due to wild fire in eastern WA, the sky was a bit hazy with smoke above 5,000 feet, but it was a beautiful sunny day over all, and the hike was TWO THUMBS UP! Highly recommend.
Driving Directions:
From I-90 take exit # 45. Go left onto
Forest Service road 9030. Continue on 9030 and then veer left onto
Forest Road 9031. Road 9031 is a gravel road and dead-ends at the Ira Spring trailhead
that accesses Bandera Mountain and Mason Lake trails.
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