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
1522 HikesTrapper Creek
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,050 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,207 feet
This trail climbs from the Trapper Creek trailhead through an old-growth forest to views of the many mountains of the South Cascades from Observation Peak.
Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 130
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
If you're looking for the best workout in the park, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better than this, the longest trail. Circumnavigate the park's namesake peak by following trail 130 "round-the-mountain" for nearly 12 miles of forested trail punctuated by the occasional open meadow, or opt to turn around at any time for a shorter stroll.
Toutle Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 13.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
The Toutle Trail transects five ecozones over more than 13 miles, but can be done in three sections.
Tolt-MacDonald Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 500 feet
Tolt-MacDonald Park is an outdoor recreation treasure for all King County residents! With 12 miles of forested and riverside trails, this is a favorite mountain biking and hiking destination. The backcountry area of the park is located on the west side of the Snoqualmie River across the suspension bridge.
Thunder Knob
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 635 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,875 feet
Hike this easy leg stretcher while taking in the beautiful scenery of the North Cascades Highway. A good stop if you have a car full of restless children or you are showing off the area to visiting relatives. The views from the top are a big payoff for such a short hike.
Thunder Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,900 feet
A pale green creek, big old trees, a variety of understory, and peek-a-boo views of snow-capped peaks. Day-hikers should take it easy, as the joy here is in the journey not the destination. Backpackers, however, may disagree. Families and first-time backpackers will enjoy beautiful camps just two miles from the trailhead. Experienced backpackers will note that Thunder Creek is a gateway to an extensive network of trails.
Tenmile Falls
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,600 feet
8.29.25: The trail is closed until further notice due to the Martin Fire.
Hike a short trail out of Holden Village to see gorgeous falls up close. The 2015 Wolverine Fire hit this area hard and you can see the devastation; if it's windy, be aware these trees could topple. A new viewing platform at the falls opened in 2018.
Tamanous Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 120 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
The name Tamanous derives from local Native American's who initiated their young in their area by sending them on vision quests, called "Ta-mah-no-ous."
Sycamore Access Trail
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,400 feet
Hike the steep Sycamore Access Trail on the northeast side of Squak Mountain. Enjoy the mixed forest and a few small streams. Continue farther on the East Ridge Trail and, optionally, extend your hike to make it an interesting loop across the higher slopes of Squak Mountain.
Yacolt Burn State Forest - Sword Fern Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 7.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,209 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,187 feet
This 2.5 mile long horseshoe trail is part of a nice 8-mile lollipop loop in the Yacolt Burn State Forest. Expect a shaded section of trail and to share the way with mountain bikers.
Swan Creek Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 325 feet
Featuring a wooded canyon and forested hills, a salmon-bearing stream and new community garden, Swan Creek Park is a 290-acre greenspace which lies on the boundary between East Tacoma and Pierce County. Trails, both paved and soft-surface, as well as those for mountain bikes weave over the property.
Surprise Creek
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 1.1 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 656 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,299 feet
This is a short connector trail between Bear Ridge and Shangri-La trails, allowing hikers to create many loops on Cougar Mountain.
Suntop Lookout
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 473 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,238 feet
Reaching the summit of Suntop can require considerable energy (a 16-mile hike), or it can be a simple 2-mile walk, depending on whether or not the 2 gates are open. Wide views of Mount Rainier and the White River valley below are worth it either way.
Summit Lake
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
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Length
- 6.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
The Fairfax Bridge (3 miles south of Carbonado) is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice due to safety concerns. The bridge closure renders this hike inaccessible.
This popular summer trail offers wildflower-filled meadows, a glistening alpine lake, big mountain views and wildlife sighting aplenty.
Suiattle River Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 13.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
The trail winds its way above the Suiattle River through old-growth forest and some mature forest recovering from an old burn from the 1920’s. The vegetation in the upper Suiattle watershed includes a wonderful mixture of west-of-the-crest/east-of-the-crest species.
St. Cloud
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 50 feet
The St. Cloud Day use area features a ½ mile ADA accessible pathway that meanders through an old orchard that was the site of a homestead ranch from the turn of the century.
Spruce Railroad Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 5.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 700 feet
Hop aboard the Spruce Railroad Trail for a scenic and historic hike along the sparkling shores of massive Lake Crescent. With a microclimate of warmer and drier conditions than areas just a few miles away, this trail is a good hiking choice on an overcast afternoon.
Liberty Lake Regional Park - Split Creek Loop
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 508 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,487 feet
Meander alongside Liberty Creek, staying close to the water, on a trail that provides a shorter loop option than the full waterfall loop.
Owyhigh Lakes
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,275 feet
Sunrise Road and White River Road have closed for the winter season.
Walk a very pleasant and well-graded trail through old- and new-growth forest. After a moderate elevation gain, the forest opens into meadowlands filled with wildflowers after the snow melts. A pair of shallow but pretty lakes, with a rocky ridge as a backdrop, completes the scene.
Ollalie Creek Camp
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,940 feet
Stevens Canyon Road is closed for the winter season.
Ollalie Creek Camp offers a walk through old growth woodland, colorful blooms and berries to an isolated creekside campsite perfect for solitude or connecting to the stunning Cowlitz Divide and iconic Indian Bar.
High Lakes Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,425 feet
Stevens Canyon Road is closed for the winter season.
Reflection Lakes are not just a popular photography stop. From the lakes, you can hike to a stunning cliffside view of the lakes and the Tatoosh range. From there, you have the option of returning the way you came or hiking in a loop around the largest of the lakes.
Box Canyon and Nickel Creek
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,400 feet
Stevens Canyon Road is closed for the winter season.
This little stopover off the road that encircles Mount Rainier is a wonderful, short leg-stretcher with gorgeous views of the dramatic canyon of the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River, and a short hike to a box canyon — an unusual feature in this park.
Skagit Wildlife Area
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 0 feet
Each year, from fall to spring, this area is a bird paradise, with snow geese and trumpeter and tundra swans overwintering in huge numbers. There are several access points in the wildlife refuge. The Headquarters area has a two mile trail and staff may be able to point you to other appropriate areas to visit.
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 223 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,905 feet
Conboy Lake is now more of a marsh than a lake but it is home to a variety of wildlife. The habitat consists of oak, pine, and aspen forests, wetlands and grassy prairies.
Elliott Bay Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
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Highest Point
- 65 feet
The Elliott Bay Trail follows the shoreline of Elliott Bay for 5 miles from S Royal Brougham Way near CenturyLink and SafeCo Fields to Smith Cove Park in Magnolia.
Gas Works Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles of trails
Popular year-round, but especially on sunny summer days, Gas Works Park is a popular greenspace with some old remains from an coal gasification plant. A rolling hill on the north side of Lake Union offers a great place to luxuriate in the sun and watch water traffic on the lake.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 439 feet
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Highest Point
- 77 feet
Named for a Duwamish chief who led a village on Lake Union, this six-mile, mostly-paved urban loop connects pocket parks and multi-use paths around Lake Union in Seattle. If you don't stop for a bite to eat in one of the neighborhoods along the way, Gasworks Park (on the north side of the loop) and Lake Union Park (on the south side) both make great picnic spots with lake views.
Greenbank Farm
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 7.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 275 feet
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
Greenbank Farm was saved from becoming a housing community by partnerships with local land officials and the Trust for Public Land. Thanks to protection from Island County and the Nature Conservancy, hikers can explore the many trails that web the more than 500 acres of fields that surround the expansive property of Greenbank.
Rhododendron Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 295 feet
A multi-use county park with a short system of rambling trails through native rhododendron forest in central Whidbey Island.
Fort Casey State Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
This is more of a stroll than a hike, with beach walking. It is of historical interest with interpretive signs along the way. Fort Casey was one of three forts chosen in 1896 to form a triangle for protection of Puget Sound. Fort Worden and Fort Flagler were the other two. All have become state parks. Their use for coastal protection proved to be impractical so their use became a place for instruction and training of troops during both of the world wars.
