Washington is a state located in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States of America. Washington is the 18th largest state among the 50 states of the United States with an area of about 71,362 square miles and it is the 13th most populous state with more than 7.7 million people. This state attained its statehood on 11th November 1889 and it is the 42nd state to join the union. The bordering states of Washington are Idaho and Oregon. Washington’s capital is Olympia and the state has 39 counties.
Washington is the top lumber producer and its surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, larch, and white pine. It is the largest producer of pears, apples, hops, red raspberries, sweet cherries, spearmint oil, and it also ranks high in the production of asparagus, grapes, lentils, apricots, potatoes, and peppermint oil. There are two national parks that are more popular in Washington and they are:
- Mount Rainier National Park
- North Cascades National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park lies in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. This national park was recognized on 2nf March 1899 and it is the fifth national park in America that preserves 236,381 acres. It is covered by glaciers and snowfields which is about 35squaare miles. Carbon Glacier is the largest glacier by volume in the United States whereas the Emmons Glacier is the largest glacier by area.
Mount Rainier is an icon in the Washington landscape that is about 14,410 feet above sea level. Mount Rainier is a covered peak in the United States and it spawns five major rivers. Mount Rainier has five developed areas like Paradise, Sunrise, Longmire, Ohanapecosh, and Carbon River & Mowich. Parking is limited in many areas of this national park.
Things to do in Mount Rainier National Park
- Day Trips
- Hiking
- Air Tours
- Helicopter Tours
- Forests
Top attractions in Mount Rainier National Park
- Mount Rainier
- Skyline Trail
- Grove of the Patriarchs
- Tipsoo Lake Loop
- Paradise Loop
- Paradise Valley
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is located in the state of Washington. It is about 500,000 acres which is the largest of the three National Park Service units. North Cascades National Park has two sections, the northern and the southern section, divided by the Skagit River that flows via reservoirs of Ross Lake National Recreation Area. North Cascades takes about less than 3 hours from Seattle.
North Cascades National Park offers many outdoor adventures, hiking trails, and breathtaking views. You will have to explore the jagged peaks which are crowned by more than 300 glaciers. You can listen to the waterfalls in the forested valleys. This park is perfect for photography. The best time to visit North Cascades National Park is from mid-June to mid-September.
Things to do in North Cascades National Park
- Hiking
- Camping
- Visit Ross Lake
- Ladder Creek Falls
- Rainy Lake
- Blue Lake Trail