The Scenic Route Most Tourists Miss: Driving the Nisqually River

Experience the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest on a winter scenic drive through Washington state and its ancient volcanic valleys. This route heads south along Highway 7 starting near La Grande, winding through dense forests of Douglas firs and western redcedars. The landscape here was carved by glaciers and lava flows, leaving behind striking dark basalt rock formations. Driving alongside the Nisqually River gorge offers a look at waters fed directly by five Mount Rainier glaciers. The glacial flour grinding off the mountain gives the river a distinct milky blue tint. This corridor is also rich in logging history and impressive engineering, highlighted by the massive 330 foot Alder Dam built in 1945 to create Alder Lake. Cruising this historic stretch of Highway 7 serves as the perfect preparation for exploring the deep woods on foot. The drive wraps up at the Bud Blancher Trailhead, setting the stage for an intense twelve-mile dark mode hike up to Little Mashel Falls and the Hugo Peak loop. Thanks for watching, and make sure to join us on our next adventure! Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Highway 7 Scenic Drive 02:04 Starting Out Near La Grande 03:59 Geology of the Pacific Northwest 06:04 Ecology: Exploring the Dense Forests 08:01 Pit Stop and Trail Prep 10:00 Local History: The Logging Industry 12:06 Approaching the Nisqually River Gorge 14:02 Alder Dam History and Alder Lake 16:00 Nisqually River and Glacial Flour 17:59 Teasing the Little Mashel Falls Hike 20:05 Arrival at Bud Blancher Trailhead 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au SOCIAL: TWITTER: https://twitter.com/adventurewithbg INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/adventureswithbg FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/adventureswithbg BLOG: http://adventureswithbg.com #highway7 #scenicdrive #washingtonstate #nisquallyriver #alderdam #littlemashelfalls #hugopeak #pacificnorthwest #winterdrive