8 Best and Amazing Hidden Gems in Washington State (2024)
Washington is a Pacific Northwest State named after George Washington, the first American President. It is the 42nd state in the entire United State region and is also known as the ‘Evergreen State’. Washington State has diverse scenic wonders, a rainforest, an active volcano, America’s one of longest tube tunnels, and much more. But isn’t it all the very obvious you know about Washington? Contrary to the popular tourist attractions and features, Washington has several mysterious places and hidden gems. These spots are well spread throughout the state and are hidden either due to their seclusion or due to the rinse of how popular attractions overlook them.
Washington State has many less-explored destinations that you can claim as secretive and hidden. You may be living close to them, but since you are unknown, finding them can give you a hard time. But why worry when we are here? Today in this article, we have compiled a list that contains the must-visit hidden gems of Washington State. These gems will impress you to no end.
8 Best and Amazing Hidden Gems in Washington State
Have a look at them:
1. Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens (During the Night)
Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens are though known for being lesser-visited and often overlooked. The attraction is set amidst North Cascades National Park, Marblemount, and is an amazing hidden gem in Washington. During the day hours, you will find a lush and long waterfall within wooded settings. Though once the sun starts setting, the artificial illumination here creates visuals beautiful beyond the moon. The luminescent show has been operating since 1920, and with several enhancements, it is an LED show that takes the night light. You will see various bulbs of red, green, blue, and white light. Their illumination falls directly upon the waterfall. The show runs for 15 minutes with repeated programs from dusk to midnight.
For reaching here, leave Newhalem on Highway 20 and on the right-hand side, reach Gorge Powerhouse. And during winters, take the west side of the route for reaching Newhalem.
2. “1000 steps” of Greenwood Cemetery
Also known as Haunted Staircase, the “1000 steps” of Greenwood Cemetery are one of the spookiest places in Washington. According to what locals claim, any individual who attempts climbing here without a source of light (torch) sees dead human faces. Further, as you keep climbing up, eerie shrieks, weird noises, and painful cries can be heard. The once who successfully reached the top of the stairs claimed to see beautiful landscaping and hundred-year-old tombstones. Though today the area belongs to someone privately, not most of the stairs are to be seen. However, if the owner grants permission, you can still visit and explore here. Do not try trespassing as police regularly petrol here.
For reaching here, go to Spokane Falls Community College. For the exact location, you can ask any local since the stairs aren’t easy to be seen from afar.
3. Poser’s Gravity Hill
Located 10-15 miles north of Prosser, on a stretch of North Crosby Road, Gravity Hill is truly unique. As per claims, while driving on neutral on this road, you will witness a strange pullup towards the hill. This, though, according to Physics, is not at all possible. There is even a starting line (START mark) so that drivers know when to shift to neutral. Later pull your foot from the brake, and instead of staying still, your car will begin rolling up the hill road. When some individuals with the dusted car later noticed, there were two small handprints (Child-like) on the back of their car. This is extremely spooky, and even several experts fail to understand the reason behind the same.
Some also claim it is an optical illusion due to the lack of any substantial horizontal line. Though whatever it is, driving here is worth it.
NOTE: It isn’t the only magnetic road in the world, and there are quite a few around.
4. Camlann Village
Camlann Village is a living history museum in Carnation, Washington. It recreates the rural life of 1376 England is quite a rare attraction in the entire world. However, since not people know about it, Camlann Village is kind of a hidden gem of Washington. A visit here will introduce you to the past life of Medieval England and provides a lot of opportunities to live it. Visitors can rent period dresses and costumes and wear and roam around the area. There are several artists dressed in 14th century England clothing that walk around the village telling old-time stories. Such a setting here will make anyone believe as if they are actually back in time. You will also find individuals and setups like blacksmith, archery, artwork, candle-making, and more. Admissions here are just $5 through the entertainment is assured for 3 to 4 hours. The best time to visit Camlann Village is during any local event. Some of the annual local events include St. James Fair, the Harvest Festival, and Michaelmas.
5. Hobbit House
Hobbit House is, also known as Brother’s Greenhouse, is located in Port Orchard. This tiny house, the little piece of the shire, is right behind the Plant nursery built by Marilyn Davis and Cheryl Pelkey in 2015. The structure is made up of a 14-guage culvert steel pipe, wood, stones, and several plants. From the outside, it looks like a house on the side of the hill, but in reality, it, of course, isn’t. Visitors can enter this tiny half-size house through a round door. Inside there is a closely monitored working fireplace and a carved wooden chair with a lamp. On the different outside, flowers may be in bloom atop the stubby little house, depending on the time of the year. Visitors can buy any of the plants from the nursery itself. If you are in search of something odd and unique, do visit this best and most amazing hidden gem in Washington. It is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours.
6. Wallaby Ranch
Wallaby Ranch in Fall City is Washington’s own Kangaroo country. This ranch is a parallel world where animals like wallabies, wallaroos, and red-kangaroos peacefully co-exist. The ranch is owned by Rex and Tawny Paperd, who are USDA-approved official breeders. The owners offer an educational and fun tour to visitors where one can learn about these creatures and observe their living habits. The owners and center also train young wallabies to act as service animals for individuals who are mentally and physically challenged. Since the animals here are totally harmless, visitors can hold, play and even cuddle them. The owners also provide chances to feed them through one cannot bring food from outside. Rex and Tawny Paperd take deep care of these cute animals and are giving them a happy and healthy life. That is what makes meeting these lovely animals and their owners a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.
7. Twin Sisters
Twin Sisters is a pair of massive basalt columns Touchet. This picturesque location has quite an interesting story behind it. As claimed (by a Native American legend), twin sister pillars are two of the three wives of the trickster god Coyote. Once when Coyote got bored with the jealousy of his wives, he turned two of them into basalt columns and one into a cave. However, if the story isn’t fascinating to you, there is another claim to it. As believed, the twin sister pillars were created by erosion in the area about 15000 years ago. Though whatever it is, the place is definitely appealing to explore.
For reaching here, drive east on US 12, cross the Snake River, and then drive towards the east to a junction with State Route 730. Further continue 2 miles to find the signed pullout parking, which is the base of the attraction.
8. Kalaloch Tree Of Life
Washington is full of natural wonder, and some of it is kept well secretive despite being in popular locations. And one amongst them is the Kalaloch Tree Of Life. This tree is in the Olympic National Park and is an hour south of the Hoh Rainforest. It is the largest type of spruce, the Sitka spruce. The tree has survived despite erosion tearing away its foundation and defying gravity for years. It is standing despite having no roots to hold it in place. It has survived wind, rain, and even harsh storms but still standing strong. What surprises visitors the most is that for a tree with all roots exposed, it isn’t common or natural to survive what one can see as the Kalaloch tree is against all the rules of science and biology. Though it is still standing there freaking out, people. So the next time you are in the Olympic National Park, do reach out to the Kalaloch Tree.