Break Out Your Boots

Shake off your winter hiking slump with these early-season destinations.

- KRISTIN SMITH

When the weather is warming but the high country is still under snow, it can be difficult to find a place to scratch that hiking itch. These six trails don't require a wait. Plus: Three natural wonders you don't want to miss this spring, and where to find them24

WHERE TO HIKE:

Mary's Peak

Siuslaw National Forest, OR

At 4,097 feet, Mary's Peak is the highest point in the Oregon Coast Range, but not tall enough to be covered by the thick winter snowpack that blankets most of the Pacific Northwest high country. This status makes it a prime early-season peak-bagging objective. Mary's Peak is also the most prominent summit west of Corvallis, which translates to 360-degree views: the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Willamette Valley to the east, and the icy peaks of the Oregon Cascades on the far horizon. Spring bonus: Parts of the peak are a designated Scenic Botanical Area, and the meadows near the summit fill with a rainbow of wildflowers every spring and summer.

Distance 9.6 miles Elevation Gain 2,545 feet Season Year-round Permit None Contact bit.do/siuslaw

First Creek Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Meet spring early by hiking through the Mojave Desert to a hidden waterfall oasis. The route starts on the desert plain, weaving through cacti and yucca toward distant red and-white-striped cliffs. Soon you'll leave the open flatlands behind to head up a canyon and into the cliffs themselves. Pine trees begin to appear as you climb up the split in the rocks beside a streambed that carries water most of the year. The greenery increases as you near your destination: a short waterfall and tranquil green pool hidden in a curve of the cliffs. Cottonwoods and willows shade the oasis while tree frogs croak from the water.