Welcome to the Good
Grah Life
Check out our favorite places
The Backpackers Gift Guide –– 50 Best Gifts in 2024
Browse posts by topic
Arizona | California | Oregon | Utah | Washington
Arches | Canyonlands | Crater Lake | Mount Rainier | North Cascades | Olympic | Redwoods
Hikes | Backpacking | Hiking Gear | Permits
Search Posts
21 Spooky Hikes in Washington
From ghost towns and historic military forts to Sasquatch and ghost sightings, Washington has plenty of spooky trails to keep you on your toes this fall.
Columbia River Gorge: Top Hikes, Waterfalls, and More
The Columbia River Gorge is a treasured part of the Pacific Northwest. Visit to find iconic waterfalls, beautiful views, adorable towns, and great hiking and biking trails. While it’s not a national park, it was one of the very first federally protected national scenic areas and the very first scenic byway. It’s incredibly gorgeous and is the perfect destination for a quick road trip or extended weekend getaway.
Best Hikes at Mount Rainier (and Why We Like Them)
With over 250 miles of hiking trails featuring waterfalls, forests, rivers, and of course, incredible mountain views, visiting Mount Rainier National Park should be on every hiker’s bucket list.
Day Hiking Packing List: Our Favorite Gear
After nearly a decade of hiking, this list has our favorite gear from the must haves to the extra conveniences. It has everything you’ll need for incredible sunrise hikes to rainy days and everything in between.
Dry Camping in Washington: What, Where, and How
Dry camping goes by many names: you’ll also hear it called dispersed camping, wild camping, and boondocking. Simply said, it’s camping outside of designated campgrounds — meaning you’re finding legal spots to park overnight and camp, usually in national forests or on BLM land.
How to Camp on the Alvord Desert
It’s surprising that the Alvord Desert isn’t better known. It’s like the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah but located in the Pacific Northwest. Near the southeastern tip of Oregon, the desert is nestled at the base of the Steen Mountains, near natural hot springs, and has miles of desert to explore and camp — truly an overlander’s paradise!
12 Best Milkshakes in Washington
Two of our goals in life are to adventure hard and eat well. So far, all our blogs have been about the adventure side, but not today! This post is all about the best milkshakes in Washington.
Olympic National Park: Best Hikes, Itinerary, and Sights
Covering 922,641 acres, the Olympic National Park is so large and diverse! The park has seven distinct ecosystems, including glaciated mountains, rainforest, and the coast. There is something for everyone to enjoy here, and there is so much to see. We recommend staying between two and seven days near the park.
The Ultimate Cascade Loop Itinerary
The Cascade Loop is a 440-mile road trip through some of Washington’s most gorgeous scenery. As it circles through the Cascade Mountains, it’s the best way to explore the North Cascades National Park. This trip can be completed in one to five days, with epic hikes, waterfalls, and cute towns along the way.
Mount St. Helens Activities
Mount St. Helens is an incredible, and dare we say, underrated area. The volcano has erupted more frequently than any other volcano in the Cascade Range – most recently in 1980, when the blast and record-breaking landslide drastically changed the landscape. Over the years, the landscape has come back to life. Now, you can relive the eruption at visitor centers, view active seismographs, climb the mountain, and laze about rivers in the area.
How to Train to Climb Mount St. Helens
Climbing Mount St. Helens is by permit only, but between July and September, the climb doesn’t require technical mountain climbing skills. That means that if you can hike long, steep, distances and snag a permit, you can summit this active volcano!
Guide to Climbing Mount St. Helens During Peak Season
Hike to the edge of Mount St. Helen’s crater in the summer months and you’ll be able to see the active volcano steaming! It’s a strenuous climb with unusual terrain, but there no technical skills required to summit. If you can hike long distances, you can climb this volcano!
How to Backpack to Stehekin
When we returned from backpacking the Chelan Lakeshore Trail to Stehekin and claimed it was our favorite place we’ve ever been in Washington, it raised eyebrows — it’s a bold statement coming from us!
15 Best Beginner Backpacking Trails in Washington
We’re huge fans of removing barriers to trying new things — and figuring out where and how you can backpack in the Pacific Northwest is a huge one. We’ve compiled our 15 favorite beginner-friendly backpacking trips in Washington below.
Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking in Washington
If you like camping and hiking, you’re going to LOVE backpacking! We started backpacking in 2016 and remember how intimidating it was to begin. Figuring out routes, gear, campsites, and permits is a lot to handle — and that’s why we’ve created this blog. It’ll walk you through everything to consider, from how to choose a trail to pack weight and more.
Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary (From Locals)
At 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. It’s so distinct that locals refer to it as “the mountain” and have an unofficial motto: “Live like the mountain is out.” We recommend spending between one and five days near the park and suggest erring on the side of more time if you enjoy hiking and scenic drives.
5 One-Day Washington Waterfall Road Trip Guides
Washington state is known for its stunning natural beauty, and one of our favorite ways to experience it is through a scenic road trip. With many waterfalls scattered throughout the state, a day trip spent exploring them is a must-do activity.
50 Best Spring Hikes in Washington
Spring can be a difficult time to find safe and enjoyable hikes in the Pacific Northwest— roads and trails at higher elevations haven’t melted out yet and it can still be rainy in the lowlands, but there are plenty of beautiful things to see! This list shares where you’ll find the best spring wildflowers, waterfalls, trails that are free of avalanche danger, and hikes with the highest odds of sunny weather.
Best Hikes in Washington (According to Locals)
As local Washingtonians, we’ve hiked more than 100 trails in the state, and we’ve narrowed down some of our favorites! This list has all the details you need to know about each trail, including which passes are needed to seasonal availability. Grab your boots and get hiking!
How to Train to Thru-Hike the Enchantments
As beautiful as the Enchantments are, thru-hiking here shouldn’t be done on a whim. It’s a grueling 18-mile trek, best done with preparation and training. It’s as rewarding as it is difficult, and along the way, you’ll be treated to some of Washington’s finest alpine lakes and rugged mountains.
