Exploring Washington State

It’s no wonder that Washington has been nicknamed “The Evergreen State.” Drive almost anywhere through this place and you’re sure to be surrounded by vast green forests, famous mountains, and the opportunity to hop on a scenic hiking trail at almost any time. If you’re staying at a Thousand Trails or Encore resort campground in Washington, here are a few fun activities to take advantage of while hanging out in the Evergreen State. 

Where is your favorite place to visit in Washington state? Let us know in the comments!

White Pass Scenic Byway

White Pass Scenic Byway takes you on a tour of some of the most scenic stretches of highway in the US. Upon exiting the Chehalis RV Campground, head east onto Highway 12 for about an hour and you’ll hit the entrance to the White Pass Scenic Byway, which starts in Mount Rainier National Park. No matter the time of year, you’ll be taken on spectacular journey through Mount Rainier, Mount. St. Helen’s and Mount Adams. Along the way, you may feel inclined to really immerse yourself in the Byway’s natural beauty – kayaking, fishing, bird watching, biking, and boating are just some of the activities visitors can enjoy here.

Sherman Pass Loop

Though not as famous as the White Pass Scenic Byway, the Sherman Pass Loop is just as beautiful. The drive begins heading west from the Little Diamond RV Campground which takes you past miles of rolling hills until you hit Roosevelt Lake. There, you’ll take you and your car onto a free ferry ride, that drops you off across the lake and continues the drive through the Colville Indian Reservation and north along the Sanpoil River. In the wintertime, this is a popular place for avid snowshoers to visit.

Gorge Amphitheater

Located just 33 minutes from the Crescent Bar RV Resort or only two hours from the Leavenworth RV Campground, sits the Gorge Amphitheater. “The Gorge,” as it is often referred to, seats 27,500 and offers majestic views of the Columbia Gorge Canyon, and the Columbia River which skirts along the southern portion of the Cascade Range. The Gorge Ampitheatre was voted one of the “Best Outdoor Concert Venues in America” by ConcertBoom and is a nine-time winner of Pollstar Magazine’s award for “Best Outdoor Music Venue.” It’s not unheard of for visitors to travel thousands of miles just to experience their favorite band or attend a music festival here so if you have the opportunity to see a concert here, you’ll have certainly knocked off a good item from your bucket list.

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of the US. It flows southwest through the state of Washington and then turns west to form a majority of the border between Washington and Oregon states and the Columbia River Gorge is located along this border, and approximately 45 minutes from the Mt Hood Village RV Resort in Oregon or about 90 minutes from the Paradise RV Campground in Washington. There are a plethora of unique activities to experience here – from visiting the Ice Caves in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, to the Carson Hot Springs Spa, and the ancient basalt columns of Beacon Rock, it’s not possible to take a bad photo or go without experiencing something truly magical here.