Last fall, some friends and I decided we wanted to get out of the city and spend a day walking around some of Washington’s plentiful forests, and the Big Four Ice Caves seemed like just the right thing! The Big Four ice caves are in an area between the Mt Pilchuck State Forest and the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. A pretty little two-hour drive from Seattle, you can access the caves starting in early summer, after nearby waterfalls and warm winds have worn tunnels through the previous year’s avalanche pileup.

It was a spectacular September day, and after a very pleasant scenic drive we arrived at the trailhead for the Big Four ice caves. The hike itself is very easy: about two miles round trip, with minimal incline and beautiful views. This walk would be great for people of all ages; we saw families with small children, and older people walking with canes, and everyone seemed to be moving in stride. [Read more…]