13 Best Hikes in Seattle | Condé Nast Traveler

"If you've never seen an alpine lake, Snow Lake will take your breath away. At 6.5 to 8 miles out and back, this is a relatively short hike just an hour drive from the city. Go early on a weekday for some peace and quiet, but even then you won't have the place to yourself. You'll need a Northwest Forest Pass ($30/annual), or a National Forest Day Pass ($5, online and print or pick up at a Forest Service office.) Because of extreme avalanche danger in winter, and snow on the ground late into the spring, most hikers should stick to summer months. This hike isn't for the hardcore outdoorsperson who wants challenging terrain and nary a person in sight." - Hannah Kirshner, Allison Williams