Out/Back: Boulder River Trail

Back in Washington

Washington state is where I fell in love with hiking. Among her mountains, streams, shores, rivers, hills, deserts, and valleys, I discovered something that makes me happier than almost anything else. After moving to Los Angeles, I promised myself on every return visit I would make it a point to get back on the playground that started it all. For this trip, the trail was Boulder River Trail outside of Oso in the North Cascades. As soon as I found myself underneath a canopy of trees putting one foot in front of the other, I knew was home.

Green Everywhere

The drive to Boulder River Trail is a little challenging for a four-door sedan, but once you are on the trail all of that seems to wash away. Most of the trail follows the length of the river. The highlight is a beautiful cascading waterfall a short distance from the trailhead. From that point, the trail turns inward through the forest. None of the climbs are extremely difficult, but thanks to some mud and downed trees there is enough here to challenge the most seasoned hiker. The trail ends at one of the larger expanses of the river. Without a doubt, it was a beautiful spot to take a break before hiking back to the car. For me, it reminded me of everything I missed about hiking in Washington.