Daylight saving time starts: 18 evening hikes for when sunset starts later

When daylight saving time starts in the spring, sunset starts an hour later. For those of us with set work or otherwise busy schedules during the day, now it's more possible to hit the trail in the evenings! Here's some shoulder season hiking inspiration.

Daylight saving time starts in early March. While we technically “lose” an hour it does extend the evening daylight hours. Sunset was around 6 p.m., and after daylight saving time starts, it sits around 7 p.m. in spring.

For some folks who work or are otherwise busy with fixed, specific schedules during the day, they might have a better chance of hitting a trail or heading outside in the evenings now with the time change.

If you’re itching to head outside now that daylight is technically pushed out a bit later into in the evening now, here are some hikes that are not too far from metro areas or civilization, hikable in our current shoulder season, to get you excited and ready for peak hiking season — which is almost here!

(And don’t forget: The days are only going to be getting longer from here on out!)

Eastern Washington

Colfax Trail

Location: 20-minute drive from Pullman
Length: 6.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 260 feet

A sign on the Colfax Trail on a partly cloudy day. Photo by trip reporter 2zOutdoors.
Photo by 2zOutdoors.

This trail right outside of Colfax is also just a short drive from the larger Pullman area. It offers hikers a relatively flat, wildlife-laden path to trek alongside the Palouse River. With its wide open skies, you've got a pretty good chance of catching nice sunset colors here.

> Plan your hike on the Colfax Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide

Little Spokane River Natural Area - Knothead Loop

Location: on the edge of Spokane
Length: 7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet

A winter's day with a dim sun on the Knothead Loop in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. Photo by trip reporter TrailKat.
Photo by TrailKat.

You barely have to leave Spokane to get to the trailhead of this workout of a trail, which is a great hike throughout all four seasons. Between its forested areas, you'll get nice views of the Little Spokane River and peeps of early sunset colors. (Note that the trailhead may be closed at dusk so you'll want to be sure you can be back to the trailhead soon after; this may be a good hike for trail runners.)

> Plan your hike on the Little Spokane River Natural Area - Knothead Loop using WTA's Hiking Guide

Central Washington

Jacobson Preserve and Saddle Rock

Location: on the edge of Wenatchee
Length: varies
Elevation gain: varies

A cloudy day along the Saddle Rock Traverse trail, which connects the Jacobson Preserve and Saddle Rock Natural Area. Photo by trip reporter Handbook.
Photo by Handbook.

This is a signature Central Washington hike, rife with wildflowers and vast views of the Wenatchee surrounding area, right on the edge of the city. You can connect your hikes between the Jacobson Preserve and Saddle Rock by hiking along the Saddle Rock Traverse Trail. It's incredibly exposed, which means it's great for the shoulder season when it's not too hot, and that it's perfect for sunset-watching.

> Plan your visit to Jacobson Preserve using WTA's Hiking Guide
> Plan your hike to Saddle Rock using WTA's Hiking Guide

Horse Heaven Hills

Location: 20-minute drive from Tri-Cities
Length: 6.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,220 feet

View of rolling hills and the Tri-Cities from the Horse Heaven Hills. Photo by trip reporter trenchfeet502.
Photo by trenchfeet502.

The best time to visit Horse Heaven Hills may be around April for the wildflowers, but they are still a great hiking destination in March, where the green will start popping, and it won't yet be too hot, as this hike has no tree-cover. Plus, it's a great spot for sunset colors.

> Plan your visit to Horse Heaven Hills using WTA's Hiking Guide

Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve

Location: 15-minute drive from Yakima
Length: 2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 102 feet

View of Cleman Mountain from Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve. Photo by trip reporter mytho-man.
Photo by mytho-man.

You can get some incredible views of Cleman Mountain from Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve, just a short drive from Yakima. Like many hikes in Central Washington, there's nothing to block your view to catch the changing colors of the sunset. The preserve also has plenty of wildlife to enjoy, but take care as you may find snakes and ticks as it gets warmer.

> Plan your visit to the Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve using WTA's Hiking Guide

North and Central Cascades

Rasar State Park

Location: 45-minute drive from Mount Vernon or Bellingham
Length: 3 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 20 feet

A cloudy day along the water at Rasar State Park. Photo by trip reporter Loren Drummond.
Photo by Loren Drummond.

Under an hour's drive from Mount Vernon and right on the Skagit River, Rasar State Park has trails to wander, river access and even a campground that's open all year, if you're hoping for a shoulder-season car-camping adventure. Along the water, on a clear day, you'll have plenty of open sky to catch the changing sky colors around sunset time.

> Plan your visit to Rasar State Park using WTA's Hiking Guide

Ross Dam Trail

Location: 2-hour drive from Mount Vernon or Bellingham
Length: 1.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 500 feet

The Ross Lake Dam with North Cascades mountains in the distance. Photo by trip reporter SavvyExploring.
Photo by SavvyExploring.

The Ross Dam trailhead is more of a drive from a metro area than anything else on this list, but it is a great shoulder-season hike; it takes you right up to the Highway 20 seasonal closure, and you'll get to walk right on the massive dam, giving you majestic views of both the mountains and Ross Lake.

> Plan your hike along the Ross Dam Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide

Southwest Washington

Beacon Rock State Park - Beacon Rock

Location: 40-minute drive from Vancouver
Length: 2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 600 feet

Photo by Ryan Ojerio.

Take in some beautiful views of the Columbia River Gorge from Beacon Rock along this hike under an hour's drive from Vancouver. Drive a little bit west to the Doetsch Ranch Day Use Area and the Che-che-op-tin Trail if you're looking for something more low-key. Either place offers a great place to catch some sunset sky.

> Plan your hike at Beacon Rock State Park - Beacon Rock using WTA's Hiking Guide

Sams Walker Nature TRail

Location: 40-minute drive from Vancouver
Length: 1.1 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 50 feet

Some dry grass around the trail in the wintertime. Photo by WTA crew leader James Alexander.
Photo by James Alexander.

Though the trail isn't as green as in the winter, the Sams Walker Nature Trail is the perfect place for a post-dinner stroll or all-family hike. With its sparse forest, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get the last of the daylight and peek some sunset colors.

> Plan your hike along the Sams Walker Nature Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide

Forest Park

Location: 20-minute drive from Vancouver, transit-accessible
Length: varies
Elevation gain: varies

A trail within Forest Park in Portland. Photo by trip reporter Old School.
Photo by Old School.

This 5,200-acre park is just on the edge of Portland, and offers an intricate, forested trail network for hikers, bikers and equestrians. Though the thick forest may offer fewer opportunities to view the sunset, it's a great place for an evening hike to get a breath of fresh nature air.

> Plan your visit to Forest Park using WTA's Hiking Guide

Olympic Peninsula

Salt Creek Recreation Area

Location: 20-minute drive from Port Angeles
Length: varies
Elevation gain: varies

A view from the beach at Salt Creek Recreation Area. Photo by trip reporter OutdoorAl.
Photo by OutdoorAl.

The Salt Creek Recreation Area is just outside of Port Angeles, which consists of a campground and a lovely beach for visitors to explore. There are small trails weaving through the campground as well. And what better place than the beach to catch a beautiful sunset?

> Plan your visit to Salt Creek Recreation Area using WTA's Hiking Guide

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest

Location: 20-minute drive from Port Townsend
Length: 4.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 330 feet

View of some farmland and a mountain range in the distance from within the trees from Chimacum Ridge Community Forest. Photo by trip reporter Strider.
Photo by Strider.

This small community forest offers hikers several miles of trails to wander, most of which is forested, but some of which opens to wide open views. It's open until dusk, so it's a nice spot to hit up before the sun sets as the days get longer.

> Plan your visit to the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest using WTA's Hiking Guide

LBA Park

Location: on the edge of Olympia
Length: 4 miles of trails
Elevation gain: varies

Trees lining the trail in winter at LBA Park. Photo by lpick10.
Photo by lpick10.

LBA (which stands for "Little Baseball Association") Park is a lovely urban park right in Olympia, with a few miles of trails that wind through the forest. The trails are good for hikers of all experience levels.

> Plan your visit to LBA Park using WTA's Hiking Guide

Puget Sound and Snoqualmie Region

Japanese Gulch

Location: on the edge of Mukilteo
Length: 4 miles of trails
Elevation gain: varies

Views of Mount Baker and the Puget Sound from a trail at Japanese Gulch. Photo by MeLuckyTarns.
Photo by MeLuckyTarns.

Though much of the Japanese Gulch is forested, there are plenty of open spaces and viewpoints throughout that may give you views of the Puget Sound and Olympics, as well as Mount Baker. You can even get close to the water, which can be a great place to take in the sunset sky.

> Plan your hike at Japanese Gulch by using WTA's Hiking Guide

Little mountain park

Location: on the edge of Mount Vernon
Length: varies
Elevation: varies

View from the north viewpoint at Little Mountain Park on a work party. Photo by trip reporter OneHundredMilesAYear.
Photo by OneHundredMilesAYear.

This great "Little Mountain" is just outside of Mount Vernon, easy to access and hikable all year. Craft your own hike or follow one of ours using our Hiking Guide after work and get some nice time in nature before the sun sets. Though a mostly forested hike, there are a couple of viewpoints that may offer open skies.

> Plan your hike at Little Mountain Park using WTA's Hiking Guide

Palouse to Cascades Trail - Thorp Trailhead

Location: 10-minute drive from Ellensburg, 20-minute drive from Cle Elum
Length: 22 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 160 feet

One of the old railroad tunnels along the Palouse to Cascades Trail near the Thorp Trailhead. Photo by trip reporter Bluebellied Toad.
Photo by Bluebellied Toad.

Though you'll be able to catch the edge of daylight on this flat hike with its open skies and few trees, one of its unique features is the two railroad tunnels along it: Tunnel 46 and Tunnel 47. This trail has several access points; the trailhead in Thorp is only a short drive from both Cle Elum and Ellensburg. Its wide open trails offer a great space to grasp the last hours of daylight.

> Plan your hike along the Palouse to Cascades Trail - Thorp Trailhead using WTA's Hiking Guide

South Cascades and Mount Rainier area

Packwood Lake

Location: 30-minute drive from Randle
Length: 10 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,200 feet

A reflection of the island on Packwood Lake in winter. Photo by trip reporter KateA.
Photo by KateA.

Packwood Lake is a rare South Cascades hike that is great all year; in the summer, it's a lovely backpacking spot, and in the winter, it's perfect for snowshoeing. If it's more of a backcountry experience you're searching for, this is the hike for you.

> Plan your hike to Packwood Lake using WTA's Hiking Guide

Merrill Lake Conservation Area - Kalama River Falls

Location: 1.5-hour drive from Vancouver
Length: 3.9 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 300 feet

A long-exposure shot of the Kalama River Falls. Photo by trip reporter Cyann100.
Photo by Cyann100.

Although the Merrill Lake Conservation Area is a bit of a drive to get to no matter where you start, it's a worthwhile shorter hike as the days get longer, and its overall relative altitude means it tends to stay snow-free all year long.

> Plan your hike to the Merrill Lake Conservation Area - Kalama River Falls using WTA's Hiking Guide