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Picnic season is upon us and seeking the best picnic location is a sport for many. The following are the 10 best picnic locations in the Northwest United States. Organized by state, they are evaluated by scenery, accessibility, and amenities.

Oregon

. The coast of Oregon offers more than 60 scenic points and overlooks. At its most northern point you’ll find Fort Stevens State Park. 10 miles west of Astoria, Fort Stevens is rich in history. It served for 84 years, beginning with the Civil War and closing at the end of World War II. Today, camping, beachcombing, freshwater lake swimming, trails, wildlife viewing, an historic shipwreck and an historic military area make Fort Stevens a park with a lot of diversity

and history. The environment offers spruce and hemlock forests, wetlands, dunes, and shore pine. Coffenbury Lake has two swimming areas, a picnic area, restrooms, and a boat ramp.

2. For a truly unique experience visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument near Bend Oregon. Newberry National Volcanic National Monument offers more than 50,000 acres of lakes, lava flows, and amazing geologic features. Visit the highest point, at the summit of Paulina Peak (7,985 ft.). The summit showcases amazing views of the Oregon Cascades and across the High Desert. The summit area of Newberry Volcano holds two sparkling alpine lakes full of trout and salmon. Seven campgrounds offer picnic facilities, and ten day use sites offer picnic tables and a variety of activities ranging

from caving to fly fishing.

3. Offering eight picnic locations, the Mount Hood National Forest is located in the Cascades Mountain Range of Oregon, about 50 miles east of Portland. The forest features the Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark, at the top of Mount Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. Picnicking, and camping and concessions, can be found at Frog Lake, Carter Bridge, Lake Harriet, Pegleg, Rock Creek, Timothy, Trillium, and Two Rivers. Make a day trip out of it and add a hike, a trip down the river with a guide, fishing, and mountain biking.

Washington

4. Mt Rainer National Park is an amazing experience with tons to do. The park has over 260 miles of maintained trails and 147 miles

of roads. For those interested in a beautiful, and easily accessible, picnic location, look no further than Kautz Creek or Cougar Rock. Both locations offer handicap access, restrooms, short trails to beautiful vistas, and picnic facilities. Before or after lunch, enjoy a scenic drive and visit Mt. St Helens. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Paradise to the west side of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and about 2.5 hours to drive to the east side. Park officials suggest that first time visitors try to schedule a visit to the Johnston Ridge or Coldwater Ridge Visitors Centers on the west side of the monument, to learn the most about the eruption and subsequent changes to the plant and animal life.

5. Olympic National Forest covers more than 633,600 acres and is managed by the United States Forest Service. The National Forest blankets the foothills of the Olympic Mountains and surrounds much of Olympic National Park. Olympic National Forest offers free picnicking at six locations: Big Creek, Coho, Falls Creek, Falls View, Gatton Creek, and Interrorem. Each site offers shelters and tables. Gatton Creek, Coho, and Interrorem offer toilets, and all except Falls Creek and Gatton Creek offer stoves. Each picnic site offers an abundance of activities including hiking, fishing, camping, and boating.

North Dakota

6. Nestled in the scenic Turtle Mountains on the shores of Lake Metigoshe, Lake Metigoshe offers more than 1500 acres. In addition to picnic shelters, complete

with bathroom facilities, there is a boat launch and a swimming area. The park offers a number of hiking trails, education programs for the children and plenty of information about the area. In fact, the lake is well known for its northern pike, walleye and perch, which means that the fishing is top notch!

7. One mile north of Pick City North Dakota, you’ll find the quiet Lake Sakakawea State Park. Located on the south shore of Lake Sakakawea, adjacent to Garrison Dam, Lake Sakakawea State Park offers a wide range of water based recreational activities and facilities. The park has a full service marina, including boat rentals, convenience store, fishing guide services, and 4 designated picnic areas scattered throughout the

park.

Idaho

8. Laird Park, St Joe National Forest Idaho. Looking for an old fashioned swimming hole? Visit Laird Park, just outside of Harvard, Idaho. It is a very popular picnic spot with plenty of rest rooms, swimming, and beautiful mountain scenery.

9. Sand Pointe Idaho is well known for water sports, mountain biking, and beautiful golf courses but it is also a perfect picnic location. Undeveloped picnic sites are located all along the Monarch Mountains. Visitors will have the pleasure of discovering small pocket beaches from the Johnson Creek at the mouth of the Clark Fork all the way to Kilroy Bay. You will be guaranteed privacy because these beaches are mostly reachable only by boat. There are vault toilets at some

sites. If you’re looking for a developed picnic area with facilities and tables visit Springy Point on the south side of the river. There you’ll find a swimming area, launch ramp, camping and picnic spots.

10. Tucked away at the tip of Idaho’s panhandle in the Selkirk Mountains, 30 miles south of Canada and 85 miles north of Spokane, Priest Lake offers a number of secluded picnic locations. Secluded mountain lakes, isolated beach spots, and shady groves are easily found and offer perfect picnic locations for the whole family or for a romantic picnic. Additionally, 7 islands offer you the opportunity to explore, hike, boat, swim, and of course picnic.

Visit mysecretpantry.com to find your favorite picnic basket or picnic cooler for

your summer outing.