Some of Washington's less-buggy places

Keep in mind Washington Trails editor Andrew Engelson's warning that "there's no guarantee or foolproof way to ensure you won't find bugs."

Information

Trail reports/conditions: Washington Trails Association, www.wta.org

Mount Rainier National Park, www.nps.gov/mora/trail/tr_cnd.htm

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions

Northwest hikers discussion forum, www.nwhikers.net.

Repellent tips: An overview by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/

The coast: Especially with a good breeze, beach hikes may have fewer bugs.

The foothills: Trails without standing water, such as the Issaquah Alps' Squak Mountain, may boast a lower critter count mid-summer.

Dry areas: In the summer, Maple Valley hiker Sarah Svien hikes the drier areas of the Olympics, such as Hurricane Ridge, Deer Park and Obstruction Point.

Off season: After the first frost in the fall, "the bugs diminish substantially," said Gary Paull with Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Winter is mostly bug-free.