This winter has been incredibly warm, with little snow in the valleys, and that quickly melting in the lower elevations. While this has not been good for winter sports, it makes some of the hiking trails accessible at a time when they typically would not be.

This weekend, we headed up to Ancient Lakes, just outside of Quincy, Washington. This fairly level hike can be adjusted to meet the needs of any fitness level. This time of year, the first part of the hike is a stroll along a gravel road from the outer parking lot about a quarter mile to the trailhead lot. Then take the trail from the end of the parking lot down into the Ancient Lakes basin area. The sites are gorgeous though still brown from the winter. This is a great hike to take with a family, your dogs, or just yourself.

For more specifics on this hike, visit Washington Trails Association’s Ancient Lakes page.

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