Suggested Hikes
The forests and parks of Washington offer so many hiking opportunities that sometimes it is hard to pick just one to visit. And every season offers its own set of wonderful destinations.
- Great Blue Herons are one of many species that thrive on Puget Sound. Photo by Paul Raymaker.
Below you will find past features about where to hike. If you see one that looks like a fit, check out our Hiking Guide and Trip Reports. We have more than 900 actual guidebook entries from Mountaineers Books in the Hiking Guide and more than 30,000 Trip Reports from hikers like you!
Where to Go Now
You can hike year-round in Washington. Many trails remain snow-free and offer something special to off-season hikers: solitude, a greater chance of viewing wildlife and more. But hiking this time of year takes a bit more preparation to anticipate changing conditions. Please review our Late Fall Hiking Safety Tips (for hikes) and our Winter Recreation page (for snowshoeing).
- Puget Sound Hikes - Ten great hikes around the Sound that are almost always snow-free.
- Great Snowshoe Hikes: Ten excellent snowshoe routes around the state.
- Snowshoeing Mt. Rainier: Three wonderful snowshoe trips in the park.
- Winter Hiking Destinations: Seven usually snow-free hikes throughout the state
- Winter Hikes with Kids: Guidebook author Joan Burton's picks for hiking with kids during the gray season.
- River Walks of the Olympics: Three hikes up different river valleys of the Olympics.
- Rainy Day Hikes: Where to go when it is wet.
- Balmy Winter Hikes: Places to go when the winter weather is warm!
Spring Hikes
- State Park Hikes: Great hiking across the state in eleven parks you may not have heard about.
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge: Searching for wildflowers, fabulous views and no snow in April, May or June? Look no further than the Columbia River Gorge!
- Wildlife Hikes: Six hikes in wildlife refuges and wildlife areas all across Washington.
- History Hikes at Cougar Mountain: Walk back in history during a trip to Cougar Mountain in the Issaquah Alps.
- Great Desert Hikes: Ten excellent hikes that feature the best spring wildflowers, bird watching and vistas of Central and Eastern Washington.
- Weekend Getaway for March: Visit Washington's Pacific Coast during the off-season.
- Spring Hikes with Kids: Guidebook author Joan Burton suggests seven trails perfect for spring hiking with kids.
- Ten Great Waterfall Hikes: Spring is the best time for viewing waterfalls, but these hikes are fun all year round.
Summer and Early Fall Hikes
- Wildflower Hikes - Where to find wildflowers at the end of summer.
- Fire Lookout Hikes: Ten fire lookout summits with great views from the top.
- Alpine Lakes Hikes - Ten beautiful lake hikes within Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
- Weekend Backpacking Destinations - Classic backpacking destinations 15-23 miles round trip.
- Overnight Backpacking Destinations - Fourtenn backpack trips under 14 miles round trip.
- Ten Hikes for Right Now - Summer-worthy, snow-free hikes for early to mid-July 2011.
- Fourth of July Hikes - Where to find sun and no snow on the 4th - plus patriotic hikes.
- Hiking Mount St. Helens: Ten hikes to check out the mountain that erupted on May 18, 1980.
- Conditioning Hikes: A dozen trails that will help you train for The Big Hike later in the year.
- Barrier-free Hikes: Some of these are good for spring; others need to wait until summer. All are barrier-free and good for kids and people with disabilities.
- Suggested Hikes for Toddlers and Young Children: Excellent first hike suggestions for summer.
- First Backpack Trips with Kids - Eight easy backpack destinations that kids will love.
- Snohomish County Hikes: Ten great choices for spring and summer.
- Huckleberry Hikes: Where to find the juicy berries!
- Fall Color Hikes: Can't miss hikes for fall foliage and larches in late September and October.
- Fall Hikes for Families: Joan Burton selects ten hikes for families with children for autumn.
- Haunted Hikes: Boo! Spooky hikes for Halloween.
Other Hikes
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
