2025's Most Underrated Towns In The Pacific Northwest
The PNW trio, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, encompass unruly lands that peak at Mt. Rainier, drop to the deepest canyon in North America, and underrated towns that peek through the creases in the Cascades and beckon to island hop. Are you sipping on a drink, scrolling for a getaway?
Perhaps in Seattle at a locally based coffee shop? From Snoqualmie Falls to the sunny Methow Valley, hidden east of Washington's rain shadow that has become somewhat of a kitsch, the Pacific Northwest could be right in your own backyard, with landscapes that feel worlds apart.
Camano, Washington
Camano, on Camano Island, is a picture-perfect getaway, some 40 square miles, connected in the north by a bridge to Stanwood on the mainland. Under 65 miles north of Seattle, this authentic island community welcomes visitors for a real treat on a retreat of under-the-radar beaches, easy hikes, and a food scene to explore the whole breadth. Its original name, Kal-lut-chin, translates as “land jutting into a bay.” Camano Island State Park offers 430 acres with hiking trails and a waterfront for boating and fishing, plus 1930s-style cabins.
Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park has no defined path to explore at will between its eclectic mix of sculptures, with free entry, but a donation is encouraged. Catch the sunset from the western edge after hiking the Bluff Trail hike at Cama Beach Historical State Park, a gussied-up '30s fishing resort with cabins, a swimming area, and boat rentals so you can stay put and soothe a nightcap or roast' marshmallows over a fire along the beach. The on-site Cama Beach Cafe and Catering will get you the following morning.
Coupeville, Washington
Neighboring Camano Island, Whidbey Island is home to the state's second-oldest town. Settled in the 1850s, Coupeville proudly carries Captain Thomas Coupe's name. In addition to deep history, the seat of Island County is steeped in natural beauty, from the charming Crockett Lake to the dog-friendly Ledgewood Beach County Park, beneath scenic cliffs overlooking Admiralty Bay. After settling at Rhododendron Campground in the park south of town, venture down Front Street, with bookstores and boutiques, to score local crafts and soak up island vibes with a drink at an outdoor patio.
Minutes west, Fort Ebey State Park, on the site of the WWII coastal-defense fort, features camping and a whole network of biking and walking trails, where you can spend days hiking with blufftop views and descend to the beach for sunset and whale watching along these shores. The Ebey Landing National Historical Reserve offers stunning views over the Puget Sound and other islands, particularly from the Prairie Overlook trailhead, a longer hike with Mount Baker, the Cascades, and even the Olympics visible. Meanwhile, the Prairie Ridge Trail passes the Jacob Ebey house.
Ketchum, Idaho
Snug in a crease of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho, Ketchum is overlooked by mainstream tourism but not in the literary world or by alpine ski enthusiasts. Many descend in winter to hone their skills at the iconic Sun Valley Resort, which sprawls over two mountains. Known for world-class skiing, Bald Mountain turns into a beautiful alpine scene with wildflowers on a hike to the top. Adam's Gulch Trailhead is popular among mountain bikers, while the more local peak, Dollar Mountain, is perfect for families or to level up.
Downtown Ketchum is a real après-ski scene of unique shops, hearty and fine-dining restaurants, plus outfitters for both equipment and excellent guides for fly fishing in the Wood River. Meanwhile, Warm Springs Preserve is a scenic park to the south along the creek for dog-friendly recreation with beautiful mountain views through all four seasons. This Sun Valley gem of Idaho is also home to the Hemingway Memorial, located just north of town, and his grave right on site, for all the literary fans to pay honor to the literary giant.
Mazama, Washington
With the Methow River flowing by, Mazama feels even tinier in eastern Washington in the heart of the North Cascades. Surrounded by year-round mountain splendor, its geography east of the rain shadow uplifts your mood in the sunny Methow Valley with open views of the captivating outdoors. The pleasant weather keeps you outdoors, with trails in the foothills through sparse ponderosa pine groves. The Methow River is a whitewater rafting and fishing heaven, while the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge is a magnificent sight.
The avid adventurers enjoy Goat Peak Lookout Trail, a winding, steep hike worth every minute in fall colors or springtime wildflower blooms. In addition to rock climbing and heli-skiing, many know of some of the state's best backcountry Nordic skiing, with over 120 miles of trails, so adventures never repeat the following season. Meanwhile, Mazama Store is unlike any general gas station store you've ever experienced, with pastries to die for, including their famous sea salt baguette to go along with a bottle of wine or a keg for a nature picnic.
Sisters, Oregon
At the crossroads of two scenic highways, Sisters is undoubtedly one of the best in Central Oregon for those local vibes you seek away from the city. Get settled at Sisters Creekside Campground and explore south along the Whychus Creek to the sparse woods of Peterson Ridge Mountain Bike Trails. It is a quick pedal back to indulge in Sister's under-the-radar culinary know-how and stylized architecture. With an inviting art scene, boutique shopping, and plenty of Western charm, it is still the one-of-a-kind outdoors that keeps many coming back.
Heading west along Mackenzie Highway/State Highway 242, make a detour to the Skylight Cave, a magical place where the sun's rays shine through the rocky openings in the roof. From Dee Wright Observatory, where a crater once oozed lava, leaving behind black lava rock with scant plant life for miles, trails disperse south through the Three Sisters Wilderness. With its iconic sister peaks, South Sister is best for an early morning hike with Moraine Lake's glacier water along the difficult ascent to clear sweat from your eyes for top views at the summit.
Snoqualmie, Washington
Long settled for its vibrant natural beauty and resources, this little town along the eponymous river is a spiritual experience, with a personality larger than life. Just 25 miles east of Seattle, it is home to the state's second-most visited natural landmark after Mount Rainier. Snoqualmie Waterfall is on the National Register of Historic Places. Explore the natural history of Snoqualmie Falls Park to the sparkling veil, complete with a sky bridge and two observation decks, in the mist and thundering sounds, plus narratives, a gift shop, and concessions for a full day out.
For more recent history, the Northwest Railway Museum, Train Shed Exhibit Hall, is the departure point for a scenic ride with a stop by this fall. In the winter, the town draws skiers to the nearby Snoqualmie Ski Resort in the Cascades, which has hiking and mountain biking trails after the snowmelt. With bridges along the river's winding length, Reinig Bridge is great for biking and photo ops. It is a mind-blowing 268-foot cascade, 1.5 times that of Niagara. Its name translates as “sah-KOH-koh,” a Salish word meaning moon, with ancient legends hanging around every inch of beauty.
Whether you're in for summertime splashing or skiing in the winter, the PNW unfolds as a year-round playground. There are no better places than its underrated towns to discover a year-round refuge, soaking in every sight, scent, and sound to return for more.
Yes, these six may have some arduous hikes with unmatched views to match the labor, but also plenty of public land to explore at leisure. Each, brimming with genuine vibes, an art scene, and deep history, is an open door to the captivating outdoors.
