Trot outdoors on turkey day

TACOMA — There are a number of outdoors-related options if you are looking for something different to do this Thanksgiving holiday.

If you want to skip the tryptophan-induced visit to slumberland, take the family and relatives to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. If you want to make an overnight trip, consider the Hoh Rain Forest at Olympic National Park.

If you want to get your day started with a run, there are four taking place Thursday morning in South Puget Sound.

If you don’t want to do the cooking Thursday, three lodges within the parks will be serving Thanksgiving dinner.

Here are some events taking place this week, as well as some suggestions for getting out of the house:

Christmas tree hunting

Wesern Washington’s national forests, including Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Gifford Pinchot and Olympic — are selling permits to people wanting to cut their own Christmas trees.

Recent snows might make accessing trees at higher elevations more difficult, but there should be snow-free roads at lower elevations. Be sure to check each forest’s website for current road conditions.

You can get details on obtaining permits by reading the News Tribunes previous story at tinyurl.com/n82reh9.

Dining

Venture inside Mount Rainier’s Nisqually entrance and enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet at the National Park Inn at Longmire. The inn’s traditional buffet will be available Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. The cost is $19.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 10 and younger. Reservations are required, so contact the inn at: 360-569-2411.

The Lake Crescent Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park also will serve meals on Thanksgiving.

The Lake Crescent buffet will be served 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The cost is $29 for adults, $25 for seniors, $12 children ages 4-12 and for children 3 and younger. To make reservations, call 360-928-3211.

At Kalaloch Lodge, the kitchen staff will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the Creekside Restaurant from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. To make reservations, call 360-962-2271, Ext. 4007.

Mount Rainier

The Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The visitor center will also be open on Thanksgiving and Friday, as well as Dec. 21-Jan. 1.

While there is not enough snow to open the snowplay area, there should be enough to try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or hiking up and skiing or snowboarding down.

During weekdays, rangers will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Longmire Visitor Information Center, inside the historic Longmire Administration Building.

Olympic Peninsula

The Quinault Lodge will host a rainforest tour each day at 9:30 a.m. The guided trip takes participants through the Quinault Rain Forest, including a number of photo stops. The cost is $30 for adults, $15 for children ages 7-12 and free for children 6 years old and younger. To learn more about the three-hour tour, go to tinyurl.com/ONPrainforesttours.

Also on Thanksgiving, the lodge is hosting pumpkin bocce ball at 3 p.m. using its leftover Halloween pumpkins.

Salmon viewing

This time of year, area rivers and streams are full of chum salmon making their way upstream to spawn. Watching these large fish, some topping 20 pounds, makes for a great way to spend part of a day and includes an educational bonus for youngsters.

Among the best options are Minter Creek on the Key Peninsula and Kennedy and McLane creeks outside Olympia. There are numerous streams on the Kitsap Peninsula, including Big and Little Mission creeks near Belfair, Salmon Berry Creek near Port Orchard, Seabeck Creek near Seabeck, Twanoh Creek at the south end of Hood Canal and Clear Creek near Silverdale.

———

Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Ian Saltzman
Everett Public Schools superintendent wins state award

A group of school administrators named Ian Saltzman as a top educational leader.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.