When it’s raining on the western slope of Washington, I like to head to the Methow Valley. As fate would have it, on this particular day, there was no escaping the rain – east or west of the Cascades. But there’s something to be said for having views like this all to yourself. And on Memorial Day weekend no less! The views from Pipestone Canyon Ridge Trail are expansive and awe-inspiring, but if you happen to be here during April or the first half of May, it’s the wildflowers that steal the show. To be honest, I hadn’t heard of this trail before I started researching spring hikes in Washington for this blog post, and now I’ll make it an annual spring pilgrimage!

Follow the ridge trail for as far as you would like and turn around, or combine the ridge trail with the canyon trail for a beautifully diverse 9 mile loop. Excellent driving and hiking directions can be found on the Cascades Outdoor Store’s blog, so I won’t attempt to recreate them here. Enjoy!

Distance: 9 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,850 ft.

FYI: Some years the Rim Trail is closed between April 1 and May 15 due to nesting Golden Eagles. You can check the status of the trail by calling the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If the Rim Trail is closed, please respect the Golden Eagles and their ability to reproduce by using the lower Pipestone Canyon trail, Lester Road, or by staying at least 1/4 mile from the Pipestone Canyon Rim during the early spring.