Kim's HW4 - Hometown

This image was taken at the Tomie Peak fire lookout, featuring a spectacular view of Mount Rainier and Eunice Lake from below. The Tomie Peak Trail is located inside the Mount Rainier National Park, the most iconic national park in Washington State. The trail is 5.8 miles roundtrip out and back with a little over 1500 feet of elevation gain. It is considered a moderate day hike and can be completed by people of all ages. The trailhead is located at the end of Mowich Lake Road and requires driving on unpaved gravel road to reach the destination. On any sunny summer day, the view of the blue water combined with the green forest and dust of snow on top Mount Rainier creates a mesmerizing site of Washington’s nature. Unfortunately, this trail is currently inaccessible due to the closure of the River Fairfax Bridge for reconstruction.

North Cascade National Park is one of the most beautiful yet underrated park in Washington State. One of the most popular day hike in the region is the Maple Pass Trail Loop, located just outside of the park in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Maple Pass Trail Loop offers an incredible 360 degrees view of Lake Ann with the North Cascade Range in the background. The trail is approximately 6.6 miles long with over 2100 feet of elevation gain and is considered a moderately challenging hike. This trail is very popular among locals, especially in the fall for its stunning color from the golden larches. However, due to further distance from Seattle compared to Mount Rainier, the North Cascade is among the least visited national parks in the U.S.

Cape Flattery is located at the northwesternmost point of the Washington State and is a nature sanctuary protected by the Makah Indian Tribe. The Cape Flattery trail is a short 1.2 miles round trip hike with only 200 feet of elevation gain. The end of the trail offers stunning view of steep wave-eroded cliffs and narrow coves. Aside from its incredible nature, the area is also known to be home of many different types of seabirds, whales and sea lions. Puffins is the most well-known species and can be spotted during sunset in the summer months. A permit is required to visit the reservation, which can be purchased in advanced online or at the site in Neah Bay.