We Challenge You to Correctly Identify These Ten Washington Locations on Your First Attempt (Spoiler Alert: You Can't)

Washington is packed with quirky, remote, and downright tricky-to-identify locations—from tongue-twister towns to hidden natural wonders. Here are ten Washington locations that will challenge even the savviest local or traveler to name on the first try. (Spoiler: You probably can’t!)

1. Aeneas

An unincorporated community in Okanogan County, northeast of Omak and southwest of Republic. Even if you’re familiar with the area, you might not know how to pronounce it (it’s “ANN-ee-us”).

2. Qui-nai-elt Village

A tiny community on the Quinault Indian Nation, near the Pacific Coast town of Moclips. Most people—even Washingtonians—haven’t heard of it, let alone know how to pronounce it (“kwi-nail”).

3. Puyallup

A well-known city, but its pronunciation (“pyoo-AL-up”) trips up almost everyone outside the region.

4. Sequim

This Olympic Peninsula town is pronounced “skwim,” not “SEE-kwim” or “se-KEEM”.

5. Disappearing Lake

A mysterious lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that appears every spring and vanishes each summer, leaving behind South Prairie.

6. Chesaw

A ghost town near the Canadian border, named for a Chinese miner who supplied local prospectors. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot with a fascinating history.

7. Point Roberts

A U.S. exclave accessible only by driving through Canada or by boat. Many people don’t realize it’s part of Washington.

8. Skystone (Bonney Lake)

A giant andesite glacial boulder with mysterious ancient carvings, fenced off and largely unknown even to locals.

9. Molson Ghost Town

A preserved pioneer town near the Canadian border, complete with old buildings and farm machinery. It’s so remote, most Washingtonians have never heard of it.

10. Hall’s Hill Labyrinth, Bainbridge Island

A beautiful, hidden labyrinth created by artist Jeffrey Bale, tucked away on Bainbridge Island—hard to find unless you know where to look.

Whether it’s the pronunciation, the location, or the sheer obscurity, these spots are sure to stump even the most knowledgeable Washington explorer.

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