Mt. Washington, WA

This is a great hike for both views and workout. As WTA's description says, ditch crowds in North Bend if you prefer much less foot traffic and less monotonous trail with better vistas than Mt. Si. However, the hike is not an easy one. Be prepared to get your heart rate going as you trek up and down steep switchbacks.

 
The trail offers a variety of terrains....forest line, creek crossing, granite wall, rocky trail, meadow and open sky. I really enjoyed the hike as it felt like much shorter than 8.5 miles RT....perhaps, because of less monotonous trail and views. There are several trail junctions you have to pay attention to in this hike, but they are well marked except the trailhead. Start the hike from the south end of the parking lot of Ollalie state park and follow John Wayne Trail/Twin Falls sign. Soon you pass a couple of trail junctions and take the third junction which has a small rock cairn for the trailhead/Mt. Washington. It is easy to miss, so pay attention. There are a few more junctions along the way, but well marked and follow the signs. 

Mt. Rainier and I-90 corridor peaks greet you near and at the top after the hard workout. You can also see Chester Morse Lake and Masonry Pool down below in the valley. They are the watershed for the greater Puget Sound area and look pretty full in spite of the state wide drought emergency....well, let's hope they remain that way this summer.