
– Public Service Announcement by the Official Spokesgopher of the Washington Trails & Taps Weekly Recap, July 7–13, 2025.
Washington Trails & Taps Weekly Recap: July 7–13, 2025
As summer stretched its golden limbs deeper into July, hikers across Washington laced up for lupine-lined ridges, glacier-fed plunge pools, and the alpine hush of marmot kingdoms. Yet the drumbeat of burn bans grew louder, echoing from Cascadia’s state parks to sunburnt backcountry clearings. Still, reports rolled in with joy: waterfalls roared, meadows bloomed, and trailheads teemed with the dust-caked and trail-happy. Here’s your weekly dispatch from the trail—and the taproom.
🌿 WTA Trip Report Highlights
- Snowgrass Flat Loop (Goat Rocks Wilderness)
Hiked July 9. Wildflowers exploding—lupine, paintbrush, and avalanche lilies—and views of Mount Adams stretching over misty valleys. Still some snow in shaded gullies. Mosquitoes are active in the meadows.
(WTA Snowgrass Flat page) - Naches Peak Loop (Mount Rainier area)
Hiked July 10. Classic loop in peak bloom, with glacier views, marmots galore, and well-maintained tread. Crowds are building mid-morning, so hit it early.
(WTA Naches Peak page) - Spider Meadow (Entiat Mountains)
Hiked July 7. Multiple trip reports rave about clear trails, minimal blowdowns, and brilliant subalpine scenery. Creek crossings are manageable; bring poles for the morning chill.(WTA Spider Meadow page)
🛡️ Park & Ranger Updates
- Deception Pass State Park – Level 3 burn ban in effect as of July 9; gas stoves only. Increased ranger patrol on Rosario Head and Lighthouse Point.
- Lake Sylvia State Park – Burn Ban Level 2 enacted July 10; no charcoal or wood, propane allowed.
- Brooks Memorial State Park – Level 3 burn ban added July 8; all campfires prohibited.
- Olallie State Park – Some trail sections under maintenance through July 19. Expect brief delays near Twin Falls.
🌳 Regional Burn Bans & Alerts
- Pearrygin Lake State Park – Upgraded to Level 3 burn ban on July 11; no wood fires. Dry brush and wind gusts are a concern.
- Dash Point State Park – Level 2 burn ban remains; fire pits permitted in designated areas only—increased traffic on beach access trails due to sunny weekend.
- Iron Horse Trail (Palouse to Cascades) – Trail construction west of Cle Elum continues through July 31; some reroutes are in effect.
🚓 Ranger & Patrol Notes
- Increased patrols are reported at Goat Rocks trailheads and near Highway 410 due to parking overflows and fire risk.
- Rangers report multiple campfire warnings issued in non-designated areas despite explicit bans.
🔔 Notes for Hikers
- 🔥 Fire Awareness: Stick to propane or butane cooking systems. No exceptions in Level 3 zones.
- 🥾 Trail Timing: Snow lingered above 6,000 feet in Goat Rocks—plan accordingly and pack layers.
- 🚧 Trail Disruptions: Watch for reroutes on the Iron Horse Trail; signage is up but limited.
- 🐝 Trail Buzz: Expect swarms of pollinators in peak bloom zones—great for photos, not for snacks on the go.
🍻 Peaks & Pints Campfire Crowler of the Week
Incline Cider Basecamp Proctor Dry Cider
Incline Cider Company’s Basecamp Proctor Dry Cider is not so much a beverage as it is a crystalline exhale of the orchard gods, a bracing, bone-dry whisper of Washington apples refined to their flintiest essence. This is cider stripped of pretense, unsweetened and unbothered, the kind of thing you’d sip after hammering in the final tent stake or just before that third, possibly ill-advised jump into the lake. It tastes like the clean part of summer—the breeze through canvas, the crisp bite of mountain air, the click of aluminum against enamel under a fir-scented moon. Basecamp isn’t a place. It’s a state of chilled, windburned grace. Stop by Peaks & Pints in Tacoma’s Proctor District for a Campfire Crowler of Incline Basecamp Proctor for your post-hike enjoyment.
Sources: Trail reports via Washington Trails Association; alerts from WA State Parks, King County, and WA DNR.