Trip Report: Mt. Teneriffe

Spring is my sweet spot for travel planning. It’s when I’m shaking off the dregs of winter and planning a kickass year ahead. This year, I’m ballin’ on a budget and finding exciting new places to explore in my own backyard. So, though my heart yearns for the vibrancy of a place like Spain’s Tenerife Island, I chose instead to hang out at the drearier Mt. Teneriffe in Washington state.

Mt. Teneriffe has a colloquial reputation of being Mt. Si’s shy cousin. I paid my Washingtonian rite of passage by completing Mt. Si months ago, so I showed up to Teneriffe’s trailhead eager to compare the two. My first on-trail observation: I’m so glad I brought trekking poles! There are meandering spots through meadows, but a large portion of the trail ended up being steep. My hips and knees were thankful for the extra support.

As a seasoned hiker but newbie trail runner, I’m always nervous around rocks and tree roots. I’m no stranger to falling while hiking, but falling while running is scarier because you fall faster and with more momentum. There were certainly some ankle twister sections on this trail, but not enough for a fresher like me to back out with my tail between my legs.

Okay, now for the actual report piece of this article:

Observation #1: Parking aplenty and cleanish restrooms! I arrived at the trailhead at 8:30am on a Friday. The parking lot is large, affording even the late sleepers a spot on a busy weekend. There were signs urging visitors to secure their valuables and lock their cars. I heeded this advice but did not sense imminent car prowl danger. There were permanent restrooms and porta potties available. Both were stocked with hand sanitizer. That’s a win in my book.

Observation #2: Healthy mix of green tunnels and exposed areas: I enjoyed making my way through dense tree cover and open air views. During the more forested bits, glimmers of sunshine poked through the leaves just long enough for me to catch out of the corner of my eye. The more exposed, rockier bits were brief but beautiful. Critters flitted in between the cracks in the rock fields, offering only brief flashes of their round, furry bodies.

Observation #3: The falls are crowded: This may seem obvious since the falls are considered the highlight of the trail. But it feels important to note in case you’re looking for more solitude. I didn’t run into many people until I reached the falls. There were large groups of people posted up there. I enjoyed a granola bar pit stop while sitting close enough to be misted by the falls. I visited after a heavy rainfall, so they were roaring. The sound drowned out the voices of fellow recreationists. I appreciated this because I could close my eyes and pretend I was there all by myself. You may not get this same illusion if you visit during a drier season.

Observation #4: This is a good place to get your scrambles in: If you keep following the trail beyond the falls, you’ll reach more scraggly and scrambly terrain. I ventured into this a teeny bit but was intimidated and backtracked. More seasoned or brave trail runners may enjoy this natural interpretation of a jungle gym.

Observation #5: This is also a good place for vert: Though it’s not as intense at Mt. Si, Mt. Teneriffe has a few tricks of its own. I found myself happily huffing and puffing throughout. I used it as an opportunity to practice pace and measured breathing.

Observation #6: The best part of the trip is when it’s over: Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big proponent of enjoying the journey. But I’m an even bigger sucker for the post-run glow and endorphins. It’s one helluva drug! I love the lingering cool on my cheeks from a day spent in the brisk outdoors. Mt. Teneriffe gave me that, so it ranks 10 out of 10 for me.

Observation #7: The best part of the trip is when it’s over you stop at Lil’ Jon’s to get a cinnamon roll bigger than your head: One thing I won’t gatekeep is the larger-than-life cinnamon rolls at Lil’ Jon’s. Seriously– the rolls are so big that they’re served with a steak knife. If you’re traveling west from Mt. Teneriffe, this diner is a must on your way home. From the classic vinyl booths to the inexpensive pricing to the fast service, it’s a local favorite for a reason.