In the winter months it can be hard enough to find the motivation to get outdoors, never mind adding an arduous trek into mix. Here are a few hikes to help kick your winter blues that won’t leave you exhausted and reaching for the aspirin.

The Hoh Rainforest

Located in Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rainforest is named for the Hoh River, which runs through the forest. You can get to the Hoh Rainforest via Upper Hoh Road, off of U.S. Highway 101.

The Hoh River Trail can be taken as far as one wishes, up to 18.5 miles out to the Blue Glacier moraine.

There are multiple camping opportunities along the way, with the last being Glacier Meadows, at 17.3 miles. Day hiking opportunities include First River (0.9 miles), Mineral Creek Falls (2.7 miles), Five Mile Island (5 miles) and Cedar Grove (4 miles).

Hurricane Ridge

Located in the Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge is full of opportunities for a wide variety of recreational activities. Located just 17 miles south of Port Angeles along Hurricane Ridge Road, Hurricane Ridge is one of the national park’s easiest to reach mountain areas.

Heart O’ the Hills Campground is located just 12 miles north of Hurricane Ridge and its 105 campsites are open year-round. Ranger programs are offered June through September with snowshoe walks offered in the wintertime.

A number of trailheads can be found at Hurricane Ridge, ranging in length from 0.5 miles to 8 miles.

Marymere Falls

Located near Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls can be accessed via a one-mile trail off of the Olympic Highway at the Storm King Ranger Station.

Visitors will be treated to a very accessible route that crosses Barnes Creek and Falls Creek as it ascends about 200 feet.

Visitors can enjoy two viewpoints of the 90-foot-tall waterfall. A hillside viewpoint looks down the falls and a platform below gives a view opposite the falls.

Mount Walker

With spectacular views at over 2,800 feet above sea level, Mount Walker offers mountaineering-level views with drive-thru levels of commitment. Those who wish to hike the mountain’s 4-mile round trip will be treated to about 2,000 feet of elevation gain along the way.

For the less-ambitious, a paved roadway offers visitors the opportunity to drive right up to the top to enjoy the commanding views of Mount Baker, the Cascades, eastern Olympics and Hood Canal.

Spruce Railroad Trail

Following a little sprucing up, the Spruce Railroad Trail was reopened in December. Located along the shores of Lake Crescent, the trail sees only about 250 feet of elevation gain over its 5 miles (one-way).

About a mile into the hike, visitors can find the main attraction with a bridge spanning a section of lake and arrives at a pool, known colloquially as “the Punchbowl.”

To get to the Spruce Railroad Trailhead take a right at East Beach Road after traveling west on U.S. Highway 101. After about 3 miles, turn left onto Boundary Creek Road and continue for just shy of a mile to arrive at the trailhead. Bathroom facilities are available at the trailhead.

Washington State Parks offers several free days when a Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park. So, mark your calendar for a day of visiting Washington State Parks for free:

Feb. 15 - Presidents Day Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service

March 19 - State Parks Birthday Washington State Parks

Apr. 17 - Start of National Parks Week, National Park Service

June 5 - National Trails Day, Washington State Parks

June 12 - National Get Outdoors Day, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Parks

June 13 - Free Fishing Day, Washington State Parks.