Spokane-based author and award-winning photographer Charles Gurche has been capturing Washington's wonderland of wildflowers on film for years. In this practical guide, he now reveals his favorite places to witness the state's unparalleled floral shows. Through his detailed trail descriptions and gorgeous full-color images, Gurche spotlights the state's 50 best day hikes for wildflower viewing. These excursions, located throughout the state, enable hikers of all fitness levels to experience Washington's diverse backcountry at its finest -- and to identify its many colorful and intriguing wildflower species. Driving directions deliver hikers to each trailhead, and color maps illustrate the trail routes. Washington's Best Wildflower Hikes is the ultimate guide for outdoor enthusiasts who wish to discover where to go for their next wildflower trek, what trailside species they are likely to encounter, and when to catch Washington's floral gems in peak bloom. Book jacket.

* Guidebook to 50 wildflower species and the trails by which you can find them in Washington * Hikes include charts listing trails by featured flowers, peak viewing times, and more Best Wildflower Hikes Washington offers 50 hikes from Washington's ocean beaches to its high alpine terrain and the lowlands in between. Wildflowers reveal their glory only once a year, and this guidebook will tell you where and when you're most likely to find them. Included wildflowers range from the ephemeral (thus rarely seen) Lewisa Tweedyi to common trilliums. You'll enjoy hikes through meadow flowers (from Sitka Valerian to Columbine), flowers of the forest (from Pink Pyrola to Wild Ginger), and plants and flowers you'll see on beach trails. The guidebook includes sidebars on flower habitat and color maps and photos illustrate each hike. A separate section presents in-depth profiles of 50 flowers, including common and Latin botanical names, distinguishing features, where they are commonly found, conditions in which they thrive, accompanying vegetation, their growth and propagation habits, and historical uses (culinary, medicinal, etc.).

* Guidebook to 50 wildflower species and the trails by which you can find them in Washington * Hikes include charts listing trails by featured flowers, peak viewing times, and more Best Wildflower Hikes Washington offers 50 hikes from Washington's ocean beaches to its high alpine terrain and the lowlands in between. Wildflowers reveal their glory only once a year, and this guidebook will tell you where and when you're most likely to find them. Included wildflowers range from the ephemeral (thus rarely seen) Lewisa Tweedyi to common trilliums. You'll enjoy hikes through meadow flowers (from Sitka Valerian to Columbine), flowers of the forest (from Pink Pyrola to Wild Ginger), and plants and flowers you'll see on beach trails. The guidebook includes sidebars on flower habitat and color maps and photos illustrate each hike. A separate section presents in-depth profiles of 50 flowers, including common and Latin botanical names, distinguishing features, where they are commonly found, conditions in which they thrive, accompanying vegetation, their growth and propagation habits, and historical uses (culinary, medicinal, etc.).

Best Wildflower Hikes Western Washington combines the best aspects of hiking and wildflowers into one guide. The Best Wildflower Hikes series features 40 hikes with honorable mentions throughout that focus on the best wildflowers in western Washington.

From flower-filled alpine meadows to streams lined with delicate Scouler’s corydalis blooms, and from lakes covered in water lilies to Dr. Seussian drifts of bear grass, Washington offers something for every hiker--and flower lover. Brothers Nathan and Jeremy Barnes lead hikers on 50 trails to seasonal floral displays, ranging across varied landscapes. Features include: Basics of wildflower identification Tips for photographing wildflowers “Hike Finder,” which includes flowering season, trail difficulty, distance, and more 50 detailed wildflower profiles, including common and botanical names, description, botanical background Stunning images throughout Along with its showcased species, each handpicked route includes a detailed topo map, turn-by-turn route description, history of the area, and list of other wildflowers found along the trail.

* Prime hiking for fall, winter, and spring * Organized by quick access from Spokane, the TriCities, Yakima-Ellensburg, and Wenatchee-Chelan * 100 hikes, from short half-day trips (1-5 miles) to overnighters If you're used to tight, tree-lined trails through (often-dripping) evergreens, it's time for a guidebook to an entirely different world: the high desert of central and eastern Washington. It's desert, yes -- but not the Lawrence of Arabia kind. This landscape of sagebrush and rimrock canyons is starkly beautiful and rich in plant and animal life. It offers mild temperatures in fall, prime wildlife viewing in winter, and an explosion of wildflowers in spring. Best Desert Hikes: Washington is a great way to extend your hiking through three-seasons -- a Hikes at a Glance chart in the front of the book lists best time to go for each trail. Some of these hikes follow designated trails; others guide you along the contours of the land for a more individual experience. There are tips on hiking in desert conditions, too.

This new guide to hiking the fire lookouts of Washington’s Cascades and Olympics is the quintessential Northwest guide and will appeal to a wide range of hikers. Features of Hiking Washington’s Fire Lookouts include: 44 fire lookouts—those that feature access by trail All lookouts are accessible during the typical summer season Only lookouts that are still standing—no hiking up to a barren mound of broken concrete! Routes are not technical—hikers just need boots, trekking poles, and, probably, lunch Lookout history, anecdotes, and full-color photos throughout Each lookout description features the year it was constructed; access details, including overnight stays and winter access; location and land manager; roundtrip distance on trail; trail elevation gain; lookout’s elevation; map info; trailhead GPS coordinates; information about any permits or fees; and driving directions to the trailhead. Introductory chapters provide an overview of Washington State’s lookouts, as well as information about their upkeep, lookout architectural types, and general hiking tips, while an appendix provides an overview to a handful of additional lookouts in the state that are not hikable.