[VirgoHiker]

Hello all...I'm new to this site, so I apologize if I posted this request in the wrong section. I'm fairly new to hiking and I'm a spur of the moment hiker, therefore I'm looking for suggestions on fair to moderate day hikes that are safe for a woman to hike alone (with or without personal protection). I'm from Seattle and prefer short roadtrips since I'm a spur of the moment kinda gal. BUT, if you can suggest a nice hike within a couple hour drive of Seattle, I'm game. Thanks for your help!

[Dane]

Welcome to the site! Your post is in the right place. However, it just begs the question of what is "safe for a woman to hike alone". That is so hard to define it practically renders the question meaningless. Some people feel safer on busy trails, but that may actually raise the odds of a bad encounter...and there's no guarantee it will be busy on the day you go, anyway. My advice: carry some mace, or better yet bear spray, if it makes you feel safer, and then stop worry and start enjoying wherever you're at. You might meet a weirdo every now and then but odds are you'll hike your whole life and never get into any real trouble. Sorry I can't recommend any specific trails, I usually hike outside of your posted driving range.

[VirgoHiker]

Thanks Dane. I understand what you're saying and I suppose it is a silly question. I do enjoy my hikes and I don't ruin them with worry. I guess a bad experience to one person, isn't to another. As for weirdo's, heck I meet them everyday ! Thanks for your comment! Happy hiking!

[realityguy]

I see a lot of the local ladies hiking by themselves in the northern Puget Sound area on the more popular routes when there are more people on the trails....I guess safety in/around numbers.Pilchuck,Goat Lake, Lake 22,Heather,all seem to retain a lot of ladies hiking by themselves or with a female partner..unfortunately I'm married. More than likely you'll find some hiking partners here or on the trails in a similar situation.If it bothers you,pick a pretty busy day(saturday or sunday),grab your bear spray,sharpen your trek poles,and not worry about it too much..

[VirgoHiker]

Excellent Realityguy...thank you very much! I'll definitely check those places out. I'm cool with hiking alone on day hikes...I'm just making sure I don't wander into any bad places (if there were any). And hey, you're suppose to say "fortunately I'm married." Be safe and happy hiking!

[canyonwren]

[Slide Alder Slayer]

Well it kind of depends on what your definition of safe and personal protection is. As a fellow soloist my levels have certainly changed over the years and fair or unfair men are less victimized in the wilderness then women. Be that as it may one may feel safer on a popular trail during higher volume traffic, but in actuality I believe I am safer midweek and it certainly is more enjoyable. One can get to a lot of places within two hours of Seattle so I will suggest either your local library or hit the book section of your nearest REI store for the type of trails that might interest you. Having said that I recommend the Katwalk and go on the Ridge Lake. Then at just two hours drive to the Teanaway for either Iron or Earl Peaks. Some off trail to the top, but the view Stuart from Iron and Enchantments from Earl is amazing! Plenty of trail reports on this site regarding the Kendall Katwalk, Iron Peak, Earl Peak.

[VirgoHiker]

Thanks Canyonwren. I've been enjoying the TR...great info!

[mountaineer ordinaire]

Welcome to the site. While some hikers turn up their nose at the thought of spending money on guide books, they're a great resource for people new to hiking and/or the region. Here are two recently published books which detail hikes (in most cases) within two hours of Seattle: Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region Day Hiking: North Cascades: Mount Baker, Mountain Loop Highway Once you find a hike that interests you, as you're aware, you can research up-to-date road and trail conditions here and at www.wta.org. Since they're outdated, cheaper older guide books are best avoided. EDIT: Checkout this this wta.org beta site I just discovered.

[VirgoHiker]

Hello SAS: Thanks so much for the list of places...several of the names are new to me. I'll do some research tonight and pick one of these spots to hike. I prefer weekday hikes too. As for my definition of personal protection, it appears that I shouldn't mention that in this section of NWH. I'm not so concerned with running into hungry animals large enough to eat me in the areas I'll be hiking, but I'm thinking about buying some bear spray. This site is really great and it's nice there are so many helpful hikers! Thank you!

[VirgoHiker]

Thanks for the welcoming MO. I will purchase guide books and I appreciate your recommendations...knowledge is good, especially for a rookie like me. Don't want to get myself in a position I can't get out of. Thanks again!

[jimmymac]

Two+ hours from Seattle will get you to plenty of fine hikes. Personal injury from people and animals (to both genders) is so unlikely in most of Central and Western Washington's backcountry as to be a non-issue. The best chances for crimes against property and exposure to weirdosity are going to be found: 1) within population centers or close to them 2) at trail heads close to good roads 3) on trails within urban parks or close-in trails with little elevation gain. 4) on trails that offer a concentrated stream of potential victims The slimmer the pickings, and the harder the work for the criminal, the less attractive the area becomes for crime. By hiking in a remote area, you are removing yourself from an urban center, and thereby decreasing your exposure to personal attack. City streets and freeways are typically safer places to drive than the two-lane highways that access trailheads. I believe that the biggest small hazard of hiking is getting surprised by some idiot passing or losing control on a secondary road when I am in his path.

[letsgobobby]

Just back from the Alpine Lakes and I would say that any halfway nice Saturday or Sunday you should see about 100+ people on hikes in the Snoqualmie Pass region, such as Snow Lake and Rachel Lake. Other nearby hikes include Denny Creek and the PCT north, both of which seemed to have a fair number of hikers, too.

[realityguy]

[Bryan K]