Mt. Rainier is one of Washington States most iconic peaks. You can see the mountain clearly from Seattle.
I was fortunate to grow up in Washington. My brother and I decided to take a longer drive to our cousins wedding, and we drove through Mt. Rainier National Park.
Driving to the Mt Rainier Park Entrance
You can drive almost all the way to the top!
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Gaining elevation as we drive up Mt Rainier
I also brought my adventure kitty, Charles Lickens, along for the ride.
Charles Lickens and I watching the sunset on Mt Rainier
This is an awesome little road trip stop if you find yourself in southern Colorado! This reservoir is small but it’s so beautiful! I drove from Austin, Texas, cut over into New Mexico just before Amarillo and winded through some back highways until I got into souther CO! My grandpa taught me to always take…
I’m always looking for new and beautiful places to explore around the United States! A lot of the time I will just zoom in on my apple maps on a green area or a body of water, and then research whatever names are posted in that area! That’s how I found the Flaming Gorge. I…
Colorado is such a beautiful state! I’m so glad I took this route on my way up to Washington State! I weirdly had never been to Colorado, one of the only states I hadn’t been to yet (aside from the airport)! 🤯 seems like the first place I’d go lol. I also stopped at the…
It hugs the Canadian boarder, you’ll even get some “Welcome to Canada” texts if you happen to have service any point!
It encompasses serene alpine lakes, endless mountain peaks and dense forest! Everywhere you drive or go is another breathtaking view! It never ends. For Forests floors are filled with ferns and moss. I’m sure there are tons of huckleberries too but we went a little to early in the year for that!
The hikes we went on were very dangerous, we got stuck more than once, so I’m not going to publicly recommend them! If you want the details, feel free to email me or find me on instagram, or Facebook!
The dense, lush forest of the Cascades. So beautiful!
Follow me in Instagram for more of my in-the-moment adventures! @maggmountains
Diablo Lake:
This lake is one of the most iconic spots in the North Cascades.
Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park
Yes, the water is this blue in person! It’s breathtaking. This was before we even hiked or camp, just a beautiful stop as you drive thru the park. Every twist and turn has your eye balls exploding out of your head with excitement.
We took these photos at a scenic turnout right off the main road.
We stayed at a campground just across the lake from the scenic turn out! There was a nice little trail connected to the campground that we went did the first afternoon. It had beautiful views of the lake! There was absolutely no phone service. There was an investigation going on for a missing person and we were spooked so we only stayed at this spot for one night!
The forest there is super dense. You can see how sunny it is outside, but it’s pretty dark still back in the trees! (I’m from WA state so I’m used to it). It also gets super cold at night. Bring winter or warm clothes for night time, even in the summer!
We make sure to bring the Jetboil so we can have hot coffee during the chilly mornings! It’s super lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to bring around. Not sure how I survived without one before with how much I’m hiking and camping.
We also usually do car camping. It’s safer for women and a little warmer and secure than a tent!
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IMPORTANT!!!
There are both black bears and grizzly bears in these woods. Do not go anywhere without bear spray! I would bring multiple canisters of it to be safe. You can get it at most outdoors stores or get it on amazon! And some knives you can strap to the front of your pack!
The next morning we went up to the small town of Marble Mount. It’s one of the only place with phone service and amenities! Its about 30-minutes from Diablo Lake. We found a map and hoped online to find an awesome hike. Which we did find, it just didn’t turn out exactly as planned. Ooops.
The Amazing Mystery Hike
I’m not sharing this hike location, it’s too dangerous and I don’t want to set anyone up for failure! I’m sure you can find it on the AllTrails App by comparing pictures!
North Cascades National Park Hike
What’s better than a PB&J on a hamburger bun via mountaintop?!
Were both very experienced hikers, it was just a tricky hike with very high elevation. We probably would have been fine later in the year. We hiked far up the Grand Tetons in July and there was minimal snow! Those few weeks can make a big difference in the mountains.
With any hike you go on in this park, make sure to bring warm clothes. Even if it’s super hot out! The temperature can drop quickly. These mountains aren’t ones to be messed with! We started the hike when it was in the 80’s and we were shivering by the time we got down. We each brought a long sleeve too. Be prepared for temperature changes as the elevation climbs and as the sun fades!
We ended up summiting this peak on accident! Lol.
Summit a North Cascade Peak
North Cascades National Park
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It was incredible but we were stuck up there for a long time. The snow is super easy to climb up, and yet super hard to get down! We fell a long ways at one point! It was super steep. We may or may not have been hanging from bushes with our feet dangling at one point…. while massive spiders crawled over out hands. And no, I’m not kidding. We are both terribly afraid of spiders too haha.
Stranded and stressed. Summit Fever got to us.
Rebuilding energy with a snack on the way back down.
Lesson learned (a few years ago): deeply research every hike before you go on them! And don’t summit a Cascade Peak until at least July! (We went in mid June). Always being extra warm clothes, no matter how short or easy the hike may seem.
There wasn’t a gate or people charging money when we went, but things can change over the year so it’s better to prepared for National Park fees. Mt Rainier National Park was surprisingly the same! No gate but there was a big visitors center at the top.
You can get in for free if you have a National Park Service Pass. The pass costs $75 for the entire year, or you can pay anytime you enter but it adds up fast. A lot of parks charge $20 a car. I always get mine renewed every year! The pass also now comes with a parking pass, which hangs from your rear view window.
This was a quick stop for me on my drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles! I always try to see any many places as possible when I’m on road trips, even if I only have time to stop for a few hours. This place was nothing like I had never seen before! Growing up…
Destin and the entire Florid Panhandle have a ton of very underrated beaches! If you’re looking for white sand, and bright blue water, this is the spot! And it’s a pretty affordable vacation spot! I’ve been to the Panhandle a handful of time and it’s been a blast for all of them! Pro tip: it’s…
I wasn’t sure how I was going to like living in Tennessee, after growing up in the beautiful Pacific North West, but I was pleasantly surprised! Tennessee is extremely lush and has hills and mountains. There a lot of waterfalls to visit! (Here’s another one of my favorite Tennessee Waterfalls). This hike is right off…
Ramona Falls in Oregon is a Hidden little gem found in Mt. Hood National Forrest! My friend from Texas found it on the AllTrails app and we went for it! This hike made you feel like you are walking through a tropical rainforest, it was insanely green and lush!
Follow me in Instagram for more of my in-the-moment adventures! @maggmountains
The Trail Head
It’s not too far from Zig Zag, Oregon (yes that’s the towns real name haha, probably due to the windy mountain roads everywhere). If you type it into the AllTrails App it should pop up!
Luckily, when you get to the trailhead, there’s a nice big parking lot! We went later in the day right when we got into town, there was only one other car there. It said you needed a certain parking pass. It’s in a National Forrest, so I put my National Park Pass up in the dash! I would check online to see if you can get a day pass or something cheaper if you don’t have a National Park pass!
The Adventure Up!
This hike didn’t have a ton of elevation gain, it would be suitable for most skill levels! It was about 7 miles long.
For the first large section of the hike you are walking through the lush forest. It’s green everywhere! You could hardly see the ground aside from the trail because it was all covered in moss and other various plants.
It almost looked fake in some areas!
You follow along the river, which you can also see from the top of Mount hood, on McNeil Point Hike. It’s awesome to hike from ground level on it, and from seeing it up above (you can also see Ramona falls from up above on that hike).
Mt. Hood breaks through the trees in some areas, it’s such a beautiful site to see.
As you get closer to the falls, you start to hear the rushing water. It’s super exciting (at least for a nature junkie like me)!
The falls are absolutely BREATHTAKING!!
Ramona Falls Oregon
There are signs that say not to go off the trail near it, you can damage the surrounding area. It’s covered in moss and other plants.
Ramona Falls
It was bigger in person than I thought it would be!
We started this hike late in the day so we decided to go back the way we came, rather than do the full look just to be safe! We got to catch an amazing sunset as well!
Make sure to always bring your bear spray when hiking in the mountains! You never know what’s going to happen. Bear spray can be used on various animals and humans for self-defense! I usually hike alone, I just happened to have a friend this go around!
I lived in Nashville, Tennessee for a couple years and this waterfall and swimming hole is by far my favorite place in the State. Also… side note! If you’re going to Cummins Falls you should definitely spend some time in Nashville! I will be writing up a post on the best spots to go in…
I spent a couple months in the greater Las Vegas area! Between the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon National Park! All of which are beautiful in their own way! One of my favorite hikes and hot springs is close by as well! It goes along the emerald colored Colorado river. If you…
I was making the trip from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe, and of course decided to take the back roads! (Which also lead to another cool discovery and long dead end). I didn’t have a big plan, I was car camping and was stopping and going as I pleased! Luckily I saw the signs for Big…
If you haven’t been to The Yosemite yet, add it to the bucket list! I give this place an 11/10 for beauty. It truly is one of the most breathtaking places you’ll go to! I drove in from Los Angeles Overnight. I want to say it was about a 4 ish hour drive! My cat,…
The Salton Sea is the largest lake in the state of California! This lake is very close to where they host Coachella! I made a pit stop here on my South West road trip, traveling from Arizona to Southern California. There isn’t a ton to do in the area, but it’s a super unique place…
Mt. Rainier is one of Washington States most iconic peaks. You can see the mountain clearly from Seattle. I was fortunate to grow up in Washington. My brother and I decided to take a longer drive to our cousins wedding, and we drove through Mt. Rainier National Park. You can drive almost all the way…
Sedona is one of the most beautiful places you can visit to hike and explore outdoors in the United States. There’s a mix of Ponderosa Pine forest, red rock, desert and rivers! What to Wear Hiking in Sedona, Arizona: It depends on the time of year! In the spring, summer and early fall, you will…
North Cascades National Park is heaven on earth. It hugs the Canadian boarder, you’ll even get some “Welcome to Canada” texts if you happen to have service any point! It encompasses serene alpine lakes, endless mountain peaks and dense forest! Everywhere you drive or go is another breathtaking view! It never ends. For Forests floors are…
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Growing up in the Pacific North West, good ole PNW, I was spoiled with serene mountainous beauty, clear lakes and endless exploring!
One of my favorite go-to-hikes when I’m back home in Spokane, is Big Rock! It’s right off the Palouse Highway! It’s about 10-15 minutes down the Highway if you’re coming from the South Hill side. I don’t always put exact locations, but a quick Google or DuckDuckGo (non-censored search engine) search will give you the exact location.
There’s a decent sized parking lot! It has a little outhouse as well, always nice when you don’t have to take a nature poop or pee on a busy trail!
I grew up going to Big Rock to ATV with my family, but that’s not allowed anymore! Luckily just the hiking alone is amazing too!
It’s not a super long hike, but it’s definitely a booty burner! I usually have to take 3-4 water breaks on the way up. I always bring my 40oz Hydroflask on all of my hikes. I prefer ice water and it keeps my water cold for a solid 24 hours! Don’t know what I did without it before.
My friend and I brought her pups, I love dog-friendly trails! Just make sure to bring some doggy poo bags just incase!
Follow me in Instagram for more of my in-the-moment adventures! @maggmountains
There a lot of rock climbing opportunities at Big Rock! Some require rope, I’ve watched some people climb some massive boulders! Pretty badass. I’ve only done some freehand climbing, where there’s minimal risk. I love climbing but I’m not experienced, I only challenge myself when I have an experienced climber guiding me!
I’ve never personally seen any wildlife on this trail, but you never know! It is the wilderness after all. Always be aware of your surroundings, for animals and humans.
This was my first time ever going to The Grand Canyon, so you could say I was pretty stoked! I got up early where I was staying, in Flagstaff, which is just a little over an hour from the park! I threw on my spandex and USA hat and hit the road! I knew I…
Ramona Falls in Oregon is a Hidden little gem found in Mt. Hood National Forrest! My friend from Texas found it on the AllTrails app and we went for it! This hike made you feel like you are walking through a tropical rainforest, it was insanely green and lush! The Trail Head It’s not too…
This was hands-down one of the most breathtaking hikes I have ever done in my life! And I have done a lot of hiking in my days. My friend has hiked around America, Europe and South America and he said the same! Mount Hood is Located just outside of Portland Oregon. You can see it’s…
Not gonna lie, when I moved from Washington State all the way over to the North East…. Baltimore to be more specific, I did not expect to find a ton of places to explore outdoors. I moved there for a job and was planning on working as much as possible and saving a ton of…
I’m so thankful I accidentally found Mingus Mountain, Arizona. It wasn’t part of my plan. I headed over to California, and almost all nature was closed due to COVID-19. It was super stressful so I headed back to Arizona. It was hot at this point in the year so I needed to get up onto…
Arizona is an incredibly beautiful state. I appreciate it more and more each time I visit! This previous time… I stayed for 2 months. Ooops! I was there during the chaos of Covid-19, so it felt better for me to stay put for a while! Sedona is one of the most beautiful places you can…
A study done by environmental scientists found an average of 200+ chemicals in the umbilical cords of pregnant women after giving birth. That’s a lot of poison being pumped right into our babies! General hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, bleach, shampoos, and popular daily products are loaded with toxins that have harmful effects on your body!…
Delta Lake Hike was one of the most stunning hikes I have ever done in my 26-years of life! The contrast of the bright blue water, green trees and white snow was unreal. I could have stayed up there for weeks and been happy! This was a very challenging hike but it’s doable for most…
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There is nothing quite like relaxing in an all-natural hot spring in the middle of the mountains while it’s snowing. It’s a dream… well for me!
One of the many hot springs at this location.
I was told about these hidden hot springs from some locals while I was living in Montana. I seem to find the best and most beautiful when I rely on locals rather than the Internet. Not everyone wants to share all of his or her hidden gems with the world, but luckily for you I’m willing to share a few. If I hear of them being trashed in anyway, I will remove all the locations on my posts! Leave no trace.
Follow me in Instagram for more of my in-the-moment adventures! @maggmountains
Getting to the Springs
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs are located of Hwy 12 in Northern Idaho, just outside of Lolo Montana. You can get to them driving from Lewiston Idaho or from Lolo Montana. TIP: If you are going in the winter time, double check online to make sure the Hwy is open so that you can actually get to them.
If you are having a hard time finding the exact location, download the AllTrails app (green icon). This app shows pretty much any hiking trail you can imagine, and they include reviews, photos and other important information. Once you have the app, type in Jerry Johnson Hot Springs and once you find it, click on directions and it should open up into whichever map app you use on your smartphone.
Video of the steamy waterfall gushing into the hot spring.
Follow me in Instagram for more of my in-the-moment adventures! @maggmountains
There isn’t service, so make sure not to end your GPS because you won’t be able to get the directions again once you hit the mountains… or even sooner. I didn’t have service for a good while. And yes, your maps should still continue to work if keep it going even if you don’t have service.
Once You Are at the Springs
There is a marked parking lot with a restroom at the trailhead; you can’t miss it if you know where you are going.
Make sure to bring A LOT of water. I usually bring my Hydroflask to hot springs, it keeps my water super cold regardless if its in the hot spring with me or not.
The hot springs are about a mile in so make sure you have shoes built for hiking… or snow if there’s snow. You can’t see the hot springs directly from the trail but you can see the steam and find your way down to them once you get to that point in the hike.
There are some pretty icy spots in the winter, and a few minor steep spots. My micro spikes helped so much! They hook right over my hiking boots.
The hot spring I went to in my photos was in the first set of springs (There’s bigger ones further up). These ones aren’t always accessible because the creek water gets too high certain times of the year. I went in the first week of January; I think winter would be a safe bet! But there are other very beautiful ones you can go to even if that one isn’t there.
The water was about the same temperature you would expect a hot tub to be. I even got hot and had to get my upper body out of the water from time-to-time to cool off.
Don’t be intimidated if there are a lot of cars in the parking lot. Not everyone is there for the springs; it’s also a beautiful hike. I had the spring all to myself and saw tons of people hiking. My brother said the same thing when he went.
Be sure to bring a lot of water! The combination of hiking and sitting in a hot spring can dehydrate you very quickly. It’s also smart to bring a dry bag (they make dry bags specifically for this) for your phone and keys, there are not a lot of fully dry areas to set your still, the springs are right on the river!
Growing up in the Pacific North West, good ole PNW, I was spoiled with serene mountainous beauty, clear lakes and endless exploring! One of my favorite go-to-hikes when I’m back home in Spokane, is Big Rock! It’s right off the Palouse Highway! It’s about 10-15 minutes down the Highway if you’re coming from the South…
Traveling with my cat, Charles, has been so joyful! I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cats can be trained just like dogs, people just choose not to train them for some reason. To prove it, he’s a video of my kitty cat going pee outside! He digs a little toilet, plops on top of…
I get a lot of questions on how I life the “Van Life” without having an actual Van or RV. It’s taken a lot of trial and error to find the best ways to live like this, but I have found ways to make it cozy, comfortable and affordable! I also love that car camping…
Hot springs are not only beatific and relaxing, they have a lot of benefits to our health! Our skin absorbs the many minerals that naturally occur in the springs through a process of transdermal absorption. Our skin is permeable and porous and absorbs a lot of what’s in our environment. Don’t worry, if you can…
Hiking alone, especially the first time you do it, can be daunting and very intimidating. I for one was very nervous and scared the first time I did it, but now I do it all the time! It’s so freeing and peaceful, it’s almost a form of meditation for me. Nothing but the wilderness and…
I had seen a lot of photos of these bright blue hot springs on Instagram but didn’t know where to find them! Luckily, one of my best friends lives in Salt Lake City and she knew exactly where these springs were! We packed our backpacks up early Super Bowl Sunday and headed for the springs…
When I started my second cross-country road trip, I didn’t have the highest hopes for New Mexico (not sure why because it’s gorgeous). I hopped onto my apple maps when I stopped at a gas station; I was tired of being in my car and needed to see some scenery. I zoomed in to a…
I had been in LA for a few days and one evening I decided to pack up and hit the road and drive overnight to the Yosemite. I mean, the sunrise from the top is every hikers dream so I made it a goal. If you aren’t familiar with Yosemite, it’s a large National Park…
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