It is a charmed land we live in, this Great Pacific Northwest. What better way to see it all than by foot. There are thousands of wonderful hikes to choose from in western Washington. We wanted to know what the experts think are some of the best.

So we conducted an informal survey with various hiking clubs, then our camera crew hiked more than 100 miles through Washington's backcountry to bring you arguably 10 of the best trails our state has to offer.

A word of warning: winter storms and floods have been known to knock out roads and bridges. To make sure that the trailheads to these hikes are accessible, check with the proper ranger stations for road conditions or look for links on our website at KIROTV.com.

And before you begin your explorations, make sure you take the essentials every outdoors person should have with them. That includes:

1. Plenty of water
2. topographic map
3. compass
4. pocket knife
5. waterproof matches
6. sunglasses
7. sunscreen
8. first aid
9. extra clothing
10. hat
11. toilette paper
12. flashlight with new batteries
13. poncho for rain protection
14. plenty of food

It's also not a bad idea to carry with you a whistle or mirror for signaling purposes. And pick up a detailed book or guide on hiking in the Northwest. It doesn't hurt to know where you are going and what elevation gains you can expect.

Follow these simple suggestions and enjoy the magic of Washington's wilderness for years to come.

Go to the main Great Trails page for directions and brief descriptions of 10 of the best Great Trails of Washington.