Wilkeson, WA

Tucked into the foothills of Mount Rainier, Wilkeson is a tiny Pierce County community with a rugged past and plenty of small-town character. Originally built on coal and sandstone mining, the town still wears its history proudly, from its historic sandstone elementary school to the remnants of old coke ovens. Today, it serves as a quiet, scenic stop along the Carbon River corridor where neighbors gather for annual handcar races and visitors drop in for famous wood-fired pizza on their way into the mountains.