Washington State mountains are year-round attractions for people who love hiking, camping, bicycling, skiing, fishing, horseback riding and all sorts of wheeled adventure. Washington is graced by two major mountain ranges: the Cascade Range, which runs right down the middle of the state from north to south, and the Olympic Mountains, which dominate the Olympic Peninsula (Washington’s far northwest corner) and are largely protected by the parameters of Olympic National Park. Both ranges offer seemingly endless natural beauty and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and fresh air.
The Cascade Range is also home to one of the world’s most famous volcanoes. Mount St. Helens dramatically blew its top on May 18, 1980, losing more than 1,300 feet of elevation, flattening hundreds of acres of trees and burying Spirit Lake in the bargain. You can visit this legendary (and still steaming!) volcano at the awe-inspiring Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
