We all know it’s important to be prepared when we go hiking. I remember one time my wife and I went on an Eastern Washington hiking trip and we forgot to bring rain ponchos. Suffice it to say, it was one cold wet night we would never forget. Wearing and bringing the right hiking gear could spell the difference between a good hike and a disastrous one. Trust me, I’ve experienced it.

Here are a few must haves when going hiking:

1. A sufficient supply of water.
2. Rain gear, like waterproof ponchos or rain suits (especially in the Pacific Northwest)
3. First aid kits
4. Sunscreen and other toiletries
5. Extra batteries and flashlights

One of the best things about Washington State is the diversity of its landscape and climate. Most people associate Washington, and the Pacific Northwest, with grey skies and constant showers. Although this is fairly common for cities on the ocean coast, the climate actually varies greatly throughout the state.

Washington is traversed by the Cascade Mountain range, which provides some of the best skiing in the country. The central and eastern portions of the state have vast plains and experience more extreme temperatures, reaching over 100°F in the summer and sub 0°F in the winter. To the south there is the mighty Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam. Despite the rain stereotype, there are many great Washington hiking trails and outdoor activities to take advantage of anytime of the year.

While Washington is known as the Evergreen State, in truth, Eastern Washington is much different than the ‘evergreen’ Western Washington.  Eastern Washington beyond the Cascade Mountain Range is more like scrubland or desert than a temperate forest.  However, the areas in Eastern Washington near lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water are some of the most beautiful in the world.  Near the lakes in Eastern Washington, like Banks Lake, there is a plethora of unique flora and fauna that surrounds the clear and cool water of the lake.  Eastern Washington is renowned for its unique geological formations including Steamboat Rock and the famous Dry Falls, which would be the largest waterfall in the world were it not dried up.  Banks Lake hiking is quite an enjoyable activity with several scenic locations and some breathtaking view of the lake and the land below. 

Banks Lake is also a great place to hike and vacation because there are dozens of different campsites and resorts located along the lake.  The weather is always great in Eastern Washington with more than enough sunshine to last the whole summer (unlike its Western Washington counterpart where it rains for half the season!).