Changing Of The Guard: Hiking Snohomish County

There are a lot of great Pacific Northwest hiking guidebooks out there, no shortage for sure. But if you have been around MustHikeMustEat.com for a while now, you will have heard me talk about one of my very first hike guide books, Hiking Snohomish County by Ken Wilcox.

Yes, I live in Snohomish County and I will declare that we do have some of the very best hikes you can find in the Pacific Northwest. Lake Twenty-Two? Mount Pilchuck? Gothic Basin? Check, check, check.

Blanca Lake? Lake Serene? Glacier Peak? Yep, yep yep!

Here are just a few images from my hikes around Snohomish County:

As you can see, my first copy of Hiking Snohomish County has seen some love. I would circle hikes as I finished them and write down who may have hiked them with me.

But my version was from 2007 (18 years ago!) and definitely dated. For example, many of the trails and roads devastated in storms prior to that edition had not been repaired yet, like the Index-Galena Road outside Index, Washington.

Well, Ken updated his guidebook in 2024 and I have finally gotten around to getting a copy for my own (the wait was good because there was a second printing in August of this year to make some minor corrections).

NEW in 2024 – At long last, Snohomish County’s most complete guide to trails has been fully updated and expanded, now with 140 hikes and walks (up from 110). Coverage extends from the high peaks of the North Cascades to the marine beaches of the Salish Sea.

The book is illustrated with dozens of maps and 150+ photos. Also included are author recommendations, GPS coordinates, historical info not found in other guides, and dozens of additional parks and natural areas with shorter walking paths.

I am excited to get into this book and discover new hikes in my very own backyard, as well as updates on old favorites that I have not visited in a few years. I really do live in the best place for getting outdoors, whether it is an urban stroll or a wilderness adventure.