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Wandering Washingtonian
The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Bucket List
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia are truly exceptional!
Full of natural beauty, outdoor recreation... and enough to fill a lifetime of exploration and adventure.
The items below with a "✔" are experiences we have done, and truly believe should be on everyone's PNW bucket list. Anything without a check mark is an experience that we hope to do soon!
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We will continue to add to the list as we identify more! Let us know if you have advice for us... we are always looking for new ideas.
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Note: This bucket list is heavy with Washington adventures... since we are just wandering Washingtonians.
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Wandering Washingtonian's
Ultimate PNW Bucket List
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100+
Things to do
in the Pacific Northwest
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British Columbia
1. Backpack to Garibaldi lake, and push for Panorama Ridge at sunrise ✔
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2. Explore Lake O'Hara
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3. Take a harrowing boat ride to Hot Springs Cove on Vancouver Island ✔
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4. Stroll the beaches between Ucluelet and Tofino ✔
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5. Bike around Stanley Park in Vancouver ✔
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6. Backpack to Berg Lake ✔
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7. Have a relaxing evening at Emerald Lake Lodge ✔
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8. Feast on the buffet at the Riverside Cafe in Valemont ✔
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9. Hike the Iceline Trail in Yoho ✔
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10. Walk across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge ✔
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11. Camp along the shores of Watersprite Lake ✔
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12. Rejuvenate with a stay at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort​
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13. Dip your toes in the glacier lake above Wedgemount Lake ✔
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14. Gaze upon Mount Assiniboine with your own eyes
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15. Spend the night at Elfin Lakes
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16. Backpack the Rockwall Trail
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17. Ski the slopes at Whistler ✔
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18. River Safari to count the bears in Blue River, BC ✔
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Washington
19. Push for the summit of Mount Adams at sunrise
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20. Take a dive into Colchuck Lake ✔
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21. Visit the Big Four Ice Caves ✔
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22. Have a nice soak in the Goldmyer Hot Springs
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23. Swim in the turquoise waters of Lake Blanca ✔
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24. Spend a night in a fire lookout ✔
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25. Snag a permit to backpack the Enchantments
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26. Snowshoe to Scenic Hot springs
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27. Summit Mount St. Helens during early spring ✔
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28. Camp at Spider Meadows during wildflower season ✔
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29. Relax on the Yakima River ✔
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30. Spend the evening at Gothic Basin ✔
31. Visit the iconic Palouse Falls ✔
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32. Hike Dog Mountain during peak wildflower season ✔
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33. Soak in the outdoor hot tub at Skamania Lodge ✔
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34. Drive Hart's Pass
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35. See Mount Adams' reflection in Takhlakh Lake ✔
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36. Backpack the Wonderland Trail
37. Spend a night (or more) in Stehekin
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38. Test your car's limit & camp at Twin Lakes (4x4 required) ✔
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39. Witness sunrise at Summit Lake ✔
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40. Sit around a fire and eat oysters at Hamma Hamma Oyster Bar ✔
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41. Get a room at Paradise Inn in Mount Rainier
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42. Snowshoe to Artist Point ✔
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43. Stay at Ross Lake Resort
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44. View the golden larches on an autumn hike on Heather-Maple Pass Loop ✔
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45. Swim in Crescent Lake ✔
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46. Hear glaciers cleave on the Heliotrope Ridge Trail ✔
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47. Pose with the world's largest Sitka Spruce ✔
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48. Soak in the Woodland hot tub at Wellsprings Spa ✔
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49. Sip wine atop the Space Needle ✔
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50. Climb to Camp Muir
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51. Sleep in a treehouse on Lopez Island ✔
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52. Toast marshmallows on Shi Shi Beach ✔
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53. Take a seaplane to the San Juan Islands
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54. Attempt to spend the night in the Park Butte Lookout ✔
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55. Experience Oktober Fest in Leavenworth ✔
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56. Catch Sunset at Fremont Lookout
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57. Snag a permit for Royal Lake or Basin ✔
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58. Ride upon a Washington State Ferry ✔
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59. Go fishing or crabbing on the Puget Sound ✔
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60. View the Salmon Ladder at the Ballard Locks ✔
61. Camp at Deception Pass State Park ✔
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62. Search for the abandon chalet in Enchanted Valley
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63. Enjoy appetizers on a rooftop in Seattle ✔
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64. Play wildlife bingo when backpacking Seven Lakes Basin ✔
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65. Spend a quiet weekend on Lummi Island ✔
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66. Go to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival ✔
67. Setup camp at a glacial site on Sahale Arm ✔
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68. Enjoy the jaw-dropping drive along highway 20 ✔
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69. Backpack to Jade Lake
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70. Get your car sandy in Long Beach ✔
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71. Eat a slice of pie at Cooper Creek Inn in Ashford ✔
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72. Tide pool on the Ozette Loop Trail ✔
73. Let your four-legged friend swim in each lake on the Chain Lakes Trail ✔
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74. Traverse Olympic National Park
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75. Catch autumn at Yellow Aster Butte
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76. Spend a cozy winter night at High Hut
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77. Behold peak wild flower season at Mount Rainier ✔
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78. Rest for a few nights at Alderbrook Lodge ✔
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79. Backpack Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak
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80. Hike in the Hoh Rainforest in the rain ✔
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81. Relax after backpacking in Snowgrass Flats
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82. Float through Leavenworth ✔
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83. Weekend getaway in the old western town of Winthrop ✔
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84. Watch eagles fly over head at Kalaloch Beach ✔
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85. Stay in a beach cabin at West Shore Resort on Orcas Island ✔
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86. Cruise around Lake Union in a Hot Tub Boat
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87. Disperse camp along a forest road ✔
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88. Sail to Sucia Island
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89. Early spring backpack to Ancient lakes
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90. Look for Orcas from Lime Kiln Point State Park ✔
Oregon
91. Camp at Sparks Lake ✔
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92. Float through Bend, OR on the Deschutes River ✔
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93. Backpack around Mount Hood on the Timberline Trail
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94. Eat a Voodoo Doughnut ✔
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95. Stargaze at Crater Lake Lodge ✔
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96. Mountain bike around Sun River Resort ✔
97. Stay at Olallie Lake Rustic Resort
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98. Snap photos with the famous Haystack at Cannon Beach ✔
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99. Overlook Cape Perpetua ✔
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100. Hike the Broken Top Trail
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101. Make a toast in Willamette Valley
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102. Avoid dying from Thirst on the Misery Ridge Trail at Smith Rock State Park ✔
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103. Stroll the aisles of Powell's Books ✔
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104. Summit South Sister
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105. Photograph the Painted Hills
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106. Gaze upon 10 gorgeous waterfalls on the Trail of Ten Falls ✔
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107. Spend a romantic weekend at Five Pine Lodge
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108. Trek through the Eagle Cap Wilderness
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109. Drive the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway ✔
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Let us know if you would like a printable version of this list, and we will provide one for you!
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