An Easy But Gorgeous Hike, Beaver Lake Trail Leads To A Little-Known River In Washington

Washington is an absolute paradise for nature lovers and hikers of all skill levels. And since even the most seasoned hiker can appreciate an easy trail with beautiful scenery, today we'd like to highlight one of our more laid-back trails that happens to be stunning. While it's called the Beaver Lake Trail, the real highlight of the journey is the Sauk River.

The Beaver Lake Trail is located in the North Cascades, just off the Mountain Loop Highway not far from the town of Darrington.

The trail is open year-round, although it shines its brightest in the spring and summer.

The trail is about 3.5 miles in length, and it's considered both easy to navigate and kid-friendly.

You can even bring your dogs along, as long as they're leashed.

For most of the hike, you'll be parallel with the beautiful Sauk River.

You'll also be near the White Chuck River and surrounded by a grove of ancient Western Red Cedars.

Eventually, you'll cross a sturdy bridge over Beaver Lake, which is actually quite small.

You'll also notice some smaller moss-covered bridges that are obviously no longer in use.

Follow the trail a bit further through a small section of large old growth cedar trees to the end, just above the river.

This is the perfect spot to stop and enjoy a picnic lunch before you head back.

The Beaver Lake Trail is often overlooked, but it's a pretty underrated day hike.

Check it out the next time you're in the area.

We've got some pretty amazing hiking trails here in Washington, but it's not every day you can hike almost entirely next to a peaceful river. What's your favorite hiking trail in the Evergreen State?