Have a Refreshing Day on the Chinook Scenic Byway

Published on Nov 20, 2009 in Get Fit! Get Active: Heart, Mind and Soul

Camp, hike or ski in Mt Rainier National Park, mountain bike at Skookum Flats, hike through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest—or simply let the gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains soothe your soul. Whatever the season, there’s lots of opportunities for fun and relaxation on the Chinook Scenic Byway.

Get away from it all in any season on the byway's centerpiece, Mt. Rainier. Love to feel fresh powder under your feet? Strap on your snowshoes and step through silent snowfalls on one of the many snowshoeing trails in the Mt. Rainier area. Or take the turnoff to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort just east of Mt. Rainier National Park and zip around on skis or snowboard over peaks capped with winter's snows. In summer, take a scenic gondola ride to the summit of Crystal Mountain. Let the vastness of nature overwhelm you as you look out over the summit to Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range.

For more summer relaxation, spend a weekend camping at one of many campsites in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, or hike one of many trails through the dense old-growth forests of Mt. Rainier National Park. Pull up a rock and sit amidst a striking wildflower display while you eat your picnic lunch. Bring the kids along to explore the Boulder Cave Nature Trail, about 20 miles from the south end of the byway. This natural stone tunnel is nearly 200 feet long. While there, you may see the Pacific Western big-eared bat and other bat species.

Have a need for speed? Go mountain biking on the Skookum Flats Trail, which lies along the byway about 20 miles east of Enumclaw. Its rises and falls are great for any biker, so you can speed along or take it slow to really absorb the views of sparkling rivers, verdant rain forests, and astonishing cliffs.

Whether you are picnicking on the shores of a peaceful lake, taking a walk along a twisty forest trail, careening down frosty slopes, or simply admiring the stunning views of the glacier-tipped Cascade Mountains, the Chinook Scenic Byway holds wonders to refresh your soul and re-envigorate your life.

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