Out & About

Bike Carbon River

Sept. 24: $40. Bike through the rainforest of Mount Rainier National Park following the Carbon River five miles toward Carbon Glacier. Parts of Carbon River Road were washed out in the November 2006 floods, and bicyclists now share the road with pedestrians (the road is closed to motor vehicle traffic). Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9:30 a.m.

Visit Mount St. Helens

Sept. 24: $45. Enjoy an exciting day of hiking down to Spirit Lake, which sits at the bottom of the volcano. The Harmony Falls Trail doesn’t live true to its name — the trees lie parallel to each other like matches in a matchbook and the shoreline is still covered in a gritty ash from the 1980 explosion. Difficulty: easy; distance: two miles; elevation gain: 700 feet; time: 2.5 hours. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 7:30 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 8 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

Hike Comet Falls

Sept. 25: $35. Explore Van Trump Park and view one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park. Don’t forget your camera! Difficulty: moderate; distance: 4.8 miles; elevation gain: 1,700 feet. Minimum age: 12. Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 8 a.m. or McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 8:15 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

Kayak Hope Island

Sept. 25: $40. Take a nice paddle and walk around Hope Island’s beaches and tide pools Sept. 25. Hope Island offers visitors the chance to see wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals and starfish. Difficulty: beginner; paddle distance: approximately six miles; time: 4.5 Hours. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9:30 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

After-work climb

Sept. 28: $15. Head to Edgeworks Gym for an evening of indoor rock climbing. Climbing gear, admission and transportation are included. No experience is required. All ages welcome.

Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 5:30 p.m.; no McChord Field pickup. Family-friendly trip.

Snoqualmie Tunnel

Oct. 1: $40 It’s finally open! Ride through the newly reopened Snoqualmie Tunnel. It’s nearly two miles long, and the only light will be from your headlamps! From there, snake your way around the hills and over old train trestles on the way to Rattlesnake Lake. The best part is it’s downhill! Trip fee includes guide, transportation, bike, helmet, gloves and headlamp. Difficulty: easy; distance: 22.5 miles; ride time: 3.5 hours. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9:30 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

Sea kayak Cutts Island

Oct. 1: $40. Don’t miss this South Sound classic. Starting in Horsehead Bay, paddle north in Carr Inlet to Cutts Island. This small island has a steep rock face on the south end, and many birds make this island their home. The water in the area is known to be a little warmer than other places in the Sound, so take a dip while enjoying your lunch and exploring. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9:30 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

Explore lava tube

Oct. 2: $35. Travel to Mount St. Helens to explore the largest continuous lava tube in the Western Hemisphere. Walk deep into the underside of a 2,000-year-old lava flow to scramble and climb over and under volcanic formations. Average year-round temperature remains a constant 45 degrees, so dress warmly. Difficulty: easy; distance: three miles; elevation gain: 250 feet. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 7:30 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 8 a.m. ($35) Family-friendly trip.

Pike Place, Ride Ducks

Oct. 2: $45. You haven’t seen Seattle until you’ve seen it from a duck! Take a musical tour of the Emerald City. The amphibious World War-II vehicles allow you to see Seattle from both land and water.

See downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market, historic Pioneer Square, Funky Fremont and then splash into Lake Union for a spectacular view of the city skyline, luxurious yachts and Sleepless in Seattle houseboats. Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9 a.m. or McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9:15 a.m. (Ages 3 to 2: $35; ages 0 to 2: $30) Family-friendly trip; reasonable accommodations can be made for persons with special needs.

After work paddle

OCT 5: $20. Head out to calm waters close to home for an evening kayak trip. This trip is great for beginners and experienced paddlers. Fee includes all equipment and guide. Minimum age: 12. Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 5:30 p.m.; no McChord Field pickup. Family-friendly trip.

Visit Mount St. Helens

Oct. 8: $45. Enjoy an exciting day of hiking down to Spirit Lake, which sits at the bottom of the volcano. The trees along Harmony Falls Trail lie parallel to each other like matches in a matchbook and the shoreline is still covered in a gritty ash from the 1980 explosion. Difficulty: easy; distance: two miles; elevation gain: 700 feet; time: 2.5 hours. Minimum age: 12. Meet at McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 7:30 a.m. or the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 8 a.m. Family-friendly trip.

Authentic Oktoberfest

Oct. 8: $70. Spend the day with the JBLM Outdoor Recreation program at Oktoberfest in Leavenworth. Enjoy live music, German food, arts and crafts and Bavarian clothing sale. Bring the entire family. Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9 a.m. or McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9:15 a.m. Family-friendly trip; reasonable accommodations for persons special needs.

Rainier on horseback

Oct. 9: $80. Head to Elbe, on the outskirts of Mount Rainier National Park, for a two-hour horseback ride. Bring the entire family. No experience is necessary. Minimum age: 7. Meet at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North at 9 a.m. or McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited at 9:15 a.m.

Register early for tours

Pre-registration is required for all trips. Schedule, fees and trip details, to include meeting times, are subject to change without notice. Register through WebTrac at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/jblmrectrac.html or at the Northwest Adventure Center at Lewis North.

Trip pick up locations are the NAC and McChord Field’s Adventures Unlimited. Group rates/private trips available. For more information, call 967-6263 or visit JBLMmwr.com.