Hiking Guide
WTA's hiking guide is the most comprehensive database of hikes in Washington, and comprises content written by local hiking experts and user submitted information. All data is vetted by WTA staff. This resource is made possible by the donations of WTA members.
We respectfully acknowledge the lands we are visiting are the homelands of Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest, some of whom have reserved rights on these lands. Tribes continue to rely on and share in the management of these lands today. Please tread gently and treat these places with respect.
Results List
4173 HikesDuckabush River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 10.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,750 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
Explore one of the quieter Olympic Peninsula river valleys. Quiet, that is, if you don't count the Duckabush River's constant belching, crashing, and churning as it tumbles over giant boulders and squeezes through narrow rocky clefts.
Upper Duckabush
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 16.1 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,950 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
The Duckabush River trail spans two land management agencies -- the US Forest Service and the National Park service. The first 6.2 miles of the trail weaves through Olympic National Forest. It's a popular early season backpack and a frequent site for WTA work crews. The upper section, in Olympic National Park, melts out much later, but provides a gateway to gorgeous backpacking destinations.
LaCrosse Pass
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 6.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,566 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
The Lacrosse Pass Trail runs up and over the ridge between the West Fork Dosewallips River valley and the Duckabush River Valley.
Lake of the Angels
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,950 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
Tucked high in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula, in the appropriately named Valley of Heaven, is a breathtaking lake — the Lake of the Angels. The heavenly goal is accessed by a trail built for more mortal interests. Keep in mind, though, if you tackle this trail, it's devilishly difficult. In some places, it requires a vertical climb where falling is not an option. Be prepared, both physically and mentally, for this challenging hike.
Sundown Lake Way Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,820 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
This former route towards Sundown Lake in Olympic National Forest is no longer navigable.
O'Neil Pass
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 12.0 miles, one-way
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
The O’neil Pass Trail travels through the southeastern corner of Olympic National Park. It is a trail segment that sits well within the backcountry so you must hike a considerable distance to reach the start of this trail.
The Brothers
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 18.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,050 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,866 feet
9.18.25: The segment of the trail within Olympic National Park is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
A scramble and climbing route to the summit of a mountain in the Olympic range. Climbing gear and expertise required.
Lena Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
The hike to Lena Lake is doable for nearly every type of hiker, and the traffic on the trail is evidence of it. A wide path switchbacks gently at first and then just a little more steeply uphill through old- and second-growth forest to a large lake ringed by silent sentinels--huge old-growth fir trees that keep watch over day hikers and campers who elect to stay overnight at this wilderness refuge.
Upper Lena Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,600 feet
9.18.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
The trail to Lena Lake is a pretty, and popular, weekend destination. But hearty hikers and backpackers who venture to Upper Lena Lake will leave the crowds behind and experience a little bit of nirvana.
Gem Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,857 feet
Gem Lake is nestled at the foot of Wright Mountain and is about two miles beyond the trail junction at Rock Creek trail #1013.1 that intersects with the Snow Lake trail starting at Alpental. Beautiful colors surround the lake in autumn as do the many climbable peaks in the area.
Snow Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
A relatively short and easy hike within a stone’s throw of Seattle, Snow Lake delivers splendorous alpine scenery – crystal clear waters, towering peaks – at a mere pittance of sweat and toil. Just don’t expect to have the trail to yourself – Snow Lake is Washington's most heavily-used trail in a wilderness area!
Indian Heaven
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
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Length
- 6.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Indian Heaven trail provides access to one of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's most popular areas. The Indian Heaven Wilderness is a high, forested plateau dotted with lakes and berry-filled meadows. Its a lovely location for a day hike or a backpacking trip. Some connect this trail with Cultus Creek trail and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to make a popular loop hike.
Umtanum Creek Falls
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 130 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
Hike downhill, enjoy spring blooms and throw rocks into a punchbowl at the bottom of a 40-foot waterfall.
Wapato Lake Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
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Highest Point
- 358 feet
Wapato Lake Park has all the amenities of a big local park, but the draw for hikers will be the loop trail around the lake.
Darlin Creek Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 3.3 miles of trails
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
Just 15 minutes from downtown Olympia, Darlin Creek Preserve is a peaceful getaway where wetlands, creeks and forest come together to create a haven for wildlife. This 312-acre nature preserve, protected by Capitol Land Trust in 2016, offers visitors a chance to explore streams and beaver ponds on a network of gentle loop trails.
Lake 22
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
The trailhead and trail will be closed on the weekend of Sept 20-21 due to maintenance work (in addition to the following weekday closure).
The trailhead and trail will be closed on weekdays (every Mon-Fri) from July 15 through Oct 31 in 2025 due to heavy maintenance work.
The curiously-named Lake 22 is the center of an oasis of alpine wetland nestled on the northern shoulder of Mount Pilchuck. The hike to the lake combines the best of mountain rainforests, old-growth, wetlands and mountain views, yet it is readily accessible. In winter, the route lends itself to snowshoeing.
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge - Mill Butte
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,619 feet
9.18.25: Parts of the north/northeast portion of the refuge are closed due to the Tacoma Creek Fire. For more information: https://dnr.wa.gov/forest-and-trust-lands/little-pend-oreille-state-forest
WTA is helping Little Pend Oreille to develop a trail for refuge visitors in the 40,200 acre Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge 13 miles southeast of Colville. The loop trail starts at the Refuge headquarters and heads upward gaining 600 ft to the regional views from Mill Butte.
Paradise Point State Park
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
The day-use area will be closed Oct 20-22 and Oct 24-25.
Paradise Point State Park packs a lot into a small, often-overlooked park right along I-5.
Crawford State Park - Gardner Cave
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,700 feet
The park is closed for the winter season. It will reopen on May 15.
Descend 90 feet beneath the surface on a guided tour of the third-longest limestone cave in Washington.
Skyscraper Pass
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,079 feet
The trail to Skyscraper Pass makes an ideal dayhike to take you a little further from the popular visitor center at Sunrise, and the crowds that head to Dege Peak and the Burroughs. It's a bit longer, so you'll need to be ready for push. Particularly enthusiastic hikers can push onto Skyscraper Mountain via a bootpath.
Hidden Lake Lookout
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
The Hidden Lake trail is one of the crown jewels of hiking in Washington State. No other trail offers so much as Hidden Lake Lookout: forest, wildflowers, a true alpine environment of stark granite well above treeline, breathtaking summit views of the heart of North Cascades National Park, and a fire lookout with a sweeping history almost as big as the mountainous landscape it gazes over.
Big Tree Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
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Highest Point
- 530 feet
The Big Tree Trail is a short (0.5 mile) trail on Tiger Mountain's Tradition Plateau. It passes one of the largest Douglas firs still standing in the Tigers, and also passes a short section of some of the best true swamp you will find in the area, with lots of hanging moss and standing water.
Cedar Butte
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,880 feet
Take a short hike up a forested butte near Rattlesnake Lake, just 1.75 miles each way with 900 feet of elevation gain. Reach a summit with views toward the north, from Mount Si to Mailbox Peak, and several other peaks in between. Some hikers judge Cedar Butte to be a better viewpoint than the much-visited West Tiger 3 summit, and it requires less effort and has smaller crowds, so when you are ready for a change of scene check it out.
West Elwha
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 650 feet
Take a short but very scenic hike starting from the Altair campground in Olympic National Park. Traverse along the edge of the Elwha River, recently free-flowing thanks to the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 100 feet
More than 5,000 acres of marshes, grasslands and wooded areas are home to more than one hundred species of birds, waterfowl and fish. The refuge has a $3 entry fee, which can be waived with an America the Beautiful/Interagency pass.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 55 feet
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Highest Point
- 60 feet
A birder's paradise, this wildlife refuge is the perfect getaway without a long drive. The refuge includes mixed wetlands and pastures with riparian strips lined with cottonwoods and white oak trees. More than 200 species of waterfowl and songbirds have been recorded here, making it the perfect place to slow down and enjoy nature.
High Rock
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,365 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,685 feet
The trail will be closed through Nov 1 for lookout restoration.
Topping out at 5,685 feet, High Rock is dramatically higher than its surroundings. On a clear day, the exposed summit provides outstanding views all around and down. The trail is moderately steep but short, following Sawtooth Ridge 1.6 miles to the summit, where a fire lookout clings to the top.
Lodge Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 3.75 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 950 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,500 feet
Snoqualmie Pass grows ever more developed each year. Condos go up left and right, the ski area plans new ski lifts (or replacements for existing chairs), and hotels pop up east and west. But even with the development, these are still mountains and there is still stunning mountain scenery to enjoy, even on the fringes of the developed areas. Lodge Lake stands as proof.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Snoqualmie Pass to Olallie Meadow
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 9.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,800 feet
This moderate hike follows the Pacific Crest Trail south out of Snoqualmie Pass to lovely Olallie Meadow, a place to see native carnivorous sundew plants.
Interurban Trail (South)
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 14.7 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 291 feet
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Highest Point
- 93 feet
This old railbed now provides recreation for bikes, hikers, and equestrians between Tuwkila and Pacific.