Nature in Washington

Discover 17 places to experience unusual nature in Washington.

Redd, Washington

Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area

One of the northernmost occurrences of western juniper can be found in the sand dunes of Washington's Palouse.

Neah Bay, Washington

Cape Flattery

At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

Sunset over Dungeness Spit. The calm water in the foreground is Dungeness Bay.

Old Town, Washington

Dungeness Spit

The longest spit in the United States ends at a lighthouse in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Looking east off the trail to the top of Steamboat Rock. The campground at the state park is visible in the center.

Mold, Washington

Banks Lake

Every drop of water in this 27-mile long reservoir was pumped up from the Columbia River using power from Grand Coulee Dam.

North Fork Survivors

Toutle, Washington

North Fork Survivors

Outside this souvenir shop is a statue of Bigfoot composed of volcanic ash, and plenty more to see inside.

The 12 rings represent a variety of celestial, seasonal, and Native American meanings.

Bainbridge Island, Washington

The Labyrinth Mosaic and Halls Hill Lookout

Overlooking Puget Sound sits a garden with a Buddhist prayer wheel and an elaborate labyrinth.

Granite Falls, Washington

Lime Kiln Trail

Four abandoned towers hidden above the Douglas fir forest in Washington.

Forks, Washington

Second Beach

A surreal landscape where fanged rocks rise from the ground and the ocean feels like a great mystery.

Olympic National Park: Hoh Rainforest.

Forks, Washington

One Square Inch of Silence

A tiny red pebble marks what may be the quietest outdoor spot in the United States.

Ape Canyon

Cougar, Washington

Ape Canyon

This scenic gorge is named after one of the most famous Bigfoot attacks in pseudohistory.

Palouse Falls

LaCrosse, Washington

Palouse Falls

An obscure waterfall that looks like something out of a fantasy novel.

Coulee City, Washington

Blue Lake Rhino Cave

A cave interior in the shape of the ancient rhinoceros, created by lava cooling around its carcass.

Cougar, Washington

The Ape Cave

The longest continuous lava tube in the continental U.S. offers 2.5 miles of dark explorations for the adventurous.

Stevenson, Washington

Beacon Rock

An extraordinary mixture of natural beauty and man-made phenomena.

Vashon, Washington

Vashon Island Bike Tree

A bike being "eaten" by a tree is the real Vashon legend behind popular children's book, "Red Ranger Came Calling."

Olympic Hot Springs

Port Angeles, Washington

Olympic Hot Springs

Rustic natural hot springs in the deciduous rain forest.