Hike and Swiss Chalet Chocolate Factory Tour

After picking you up, your guide will drive you to the trail head, where you'll receive a brief orientation. You'll saunter into the temperate rain forest, hiking alongside a rushing stream strewn with boulders and surrounded by native plants, including an incredible 800-year-old Douglas Fir tree that you'll shake hands with and hug. This 2.6 mile hike (roundtrip) climbs a modest 500 feet and takes you to several viewpoints before coming to a sturdy bridge that crosses beautiful Twin Falls. You'll see plants growing on other plants, mosses, ferns and lichens that festoon tree trunks and branches, giving the forest a "jungle-like" feel. We'll learn about the large old trees that call this place home and find out which plants you can eat, those you should avoid, and which hold medicinal powers. Depending upon the season, you may get to pick and eat salmon berries, huckleberries, native blackberries and thimble berries. Those berries will only be a snack. You'll be treated to a picnic lunch as we stop by the stream for a breather. Once we're refreshed we'll complete the hike and get rewarded with a trip to Boehm's Chocolates, where Olympic runner and competitive skier Julius Boehm built his candy company alongside his authentic Swiss chalet and Alpine chapel after fleeing the Nazis and coming to the United States in 1941. This experience will have you breathing in the fresh air of the forest and tasting the sweetness of chocolate while enjoying what truly makes the Northwest unique. This is a great hike for beginning hikers and families with children, who will be entertained with a scavenger hunt along the way. Fun for all ages.

About Your Guide:

I am a Northwest Native who believes that every day should be a good day. One way to make that happen is to get outside. I'm passionate about hiking, running, walking, skiing and enjoying what the great Northwest has to offer. I want to share that passion with visitors.

Tags & Keywords:

Chocolate Tour - Chocolate Factory Tour - Chocolate Tasting - Factory Tour - Nature Tour - Nature Hike - Guided Hike - Flash Media Services - Cynthia Flash Hemphill - Scavenger Hunt - Fun For All Ages