The Washington State Hiking Podcast
Welcome to the The Washington State Hiking Podcast with your host, Jennie Thwing Flaming. Along with part time co-host and guidebook author Craig Romano, she provides practical and timely seasonal hiking advice for hikers, trail runners and potential hikers of all skill and ability levels that is practical, accurate, fun and inclusive. We cover hikes near Seattle and Tacoma as well as hikes all across Washington from the rain forests of the Olympic Peninsula to the Shrub Steppe of Eastern Washington. Jennie is a middle aged, plus sized, frequently solo slow hiker and a born and raised Washingtonian and has enjoyed Washington's trails her entire life. Craig is a trail runner and ultra marathoner who also loves the mellow walk close to home. Originally from New Hampshire, he has made his home in Washington for more than 30 years. He the author of more than 20 guidebooks covering trails across Washington State and beyond.
Episodes
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Tyler Davis, bird expert from San Juan County, joins Jennie and Craig to share about the joys of winter birding for hikers.
Thank you to the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau for sponsoring this week's episode!
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite Old Growth Forest Hikes in Washington.
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Jennie and Craig discuss the hikes they each think are overrated in Washington and why - with a bit of debate! We can't wait to hear your thoughts.
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Jennie shares her top recommendations for this year's larch march.
Come to Alaska with Jennie in June 2027!
Craig's *NEW* Day hiking the Olympic Peninsula Guide
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Jennie and Craig discuss the primary trees in Washington's forests and how to identify them as well as find a trail with your favorite tree.
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Jennie shares her best fall hiking recommendations for 2026.
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite lighthouse hikes in Washington.
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Jennie and Craig discuss bootlegged trails - what they are and some of the complex issues around them.
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Jennie and Craig talk about how to evaluate river crossings and how to ford rivers safely in Washington State.
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Mushroom expert River Augenstein sits down with Jennie to share about the secret world of Fungi and mushrooms and how hikers can learn to identify and forage for them as well as some of his favorite mushrooms and where to find them.
Thank you to the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau for sponsoring this week's episode!
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Craig shares reflections on this year's record fire season and some places that are so far less impacted for hikers.
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Denice from the Bronze Chapter joins Jennie and Craig to share about her work teaching outdoor skills and belonging to People of Color in the North Sound and beyond.
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Craig shares his favorite urban hikes in Bellingham with Jennie.
Our sponsor for the month of July is Visit Bellingham/Whatcom County- thank you!
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Jennie and Craig share their favorite hikes of the summer so far and Craig shares his first time hiking Mailbox Peak!
Our sponsor for the month of July is Visit Bellingham/Whatcom County- thank you!
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Christian Martin from the North Cascades Institute sits down with Jennie and Craig to talk about the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades and he and Craig share their favorite North Cascades hikes.
Our sponsor for the month of July is Visit Bellingham/Whatcom County- thank you!
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Craig shares dreamy coastal hikes in Whatcom County that Jennie has mostly never heard of!
Our sponsor for the month of July is Visit Bellingham/Whatcom County- thank you!
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Coach April Katz joins Jennie and Craig to share resources for hikers with disabilities and how hikers without disabilities can support hikers with disabilities on the trail.
Our sponsor for the month of July is Visit Bellingham/Whatcom County- thank you!
Follow Coach April on Instagram
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite loop hikes for day hikes and backpacking across Washington State.
Our sponsor for the month of June is Wonderfully Wild Northeast Washington. Thank you!
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Long time WTA Trail crew leader Holly Weiler sits down with Jennie and Craig to talk about the diversity and solitude and epic hikes to do in Northeast Washington.
Our sponsor for the month of June is Wonderfully Wild Northeast Washington. Thank you!
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Tobi Iverson, writer of the screenplay, Wild Woman of the Woods, sits down Jennie and Craig to share her journey of discovering her Indigenous history and creating a Screenplay based on what she learned from an ancestor's journals and how can we connect more deeply to the land as hikers.
Tobi's website - reach out and make this film!
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