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 HikesKalama Horse Camp to Kalama Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 870 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
The trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Kalama Fire.
There are two routes to Kalama Falls; the longer route starts from the Kalama Horse Camp and takes hikers through the forest.
Rainbow Loop
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,200 feet
Popular with locals and overnight visitors alike, the Rainbow Loop is a short and sweet way to get a feel for the valley and its breathtaking scenery. Combine it with a bike ride and a bakery visit and you'll get the full Stehekin valley experience in one day.
Port Gamble Forest - Ewok Trail Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 377 feet
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Highest Point
- 433 feet
A moderate loop trail takes you through ferns and Douglas firs.
Port Gamble Heritage Park - Stottlemeyer Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 197 feet
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Highest Point
- 393 feet
Enjoy a lowland forest stroll with lots of add-on route options from the Stottlemeyer trailhead on the south end of Port Gamble’s Heritage Forest Park.
Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 50 feet
Located at the head of Hood Canal, Theler Wetlands consists of more than 3 miles of accessible walking trails within 139 acres of protected salt marsh and estuary wetlands. If they’re open, you and your family can discover the displays and hands-on exhibits that teach more about the wetlands ecosystem.
Mirror Lake via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,180 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,195 feet
This short dayhike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a nice alternate route to quiet Mirror Lake, or just a lovely forest hike on a quiet section of a rocky and rooty trail. You could consider it as a first-time backpacking destination, too, since the trail is never particularly steep here.
Old Stage
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 1.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 553 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,048 feet
A trail wide enough for a stage coach, which was its original and still permitted use, Old Stage Trail No. 75 serves as the main feeder trail to the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail for access to nearby Copper Butte.
Pretzel Tree Trail
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 39 feet
-
Highest Point
- 477 feet
This short, easy, year-round trail meanders under the cool, protective trees of Squak Mountain State Park. It is a treat for kids with fun story boards along the way.
Douglas Fir
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 0.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 313 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,668 feet
A connector trail between the Boulder Garden Loop to the main Mount Si trail in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area.
Boulder Garden Loop
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,400 feet
The Boulder Garden Loop offers an opportunity to explore stone giants on a relatively untraveled path, despite its proximity to two of the busiest hiking thoroughfares in the Snoqualmie Pass region. It also is the access route to the Old Mount Si trail, for those who desire a less peopled approach to the Puget Sound region's most well-known hike.
Creekside Loop
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
-
Highest Point
- 690 feet
A barrier-free trail that uses part of the Mount Si trail to give just about anyone a taste of the Mount Si Natural Resource Conservation Area. It can be used to add variety to your Mount Si hike, or as an easy leg stretch after a picnic in the recreation area. This trail manages to feature a variety of wildflowers, ferns, moss-laden trees, and two bridges in its short duration.
Umtanum Creek Falls
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
-
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
-
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.
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.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 55 feet
-
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.
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
-
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.
Honey Dew Creek
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
A quiet route along a creek on an old rail grade in the city of Newcastle.
Wildwood Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
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Highest Point
- 354 feet
This urban park has it all! In a woodsy setting here, you'll find fitness challenge trails and activities for all ages and abilities.
Farrell's Marsh Wildlife Area
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 63 feet
-
Highest Point
- 260 feet
Explore a network of trails through a wooded marshy wetland, sprinkled with poems and quotes on small placards along the way.
Chambers Bay Loop
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 315 feet
-
Highest Point
- 234 feet
This loop combines the Grandview Trail with the Soundview Trail to make 3.25 miles with some serious incline. Walk around the golf course at Chambers Creek Regional Park, and enjoy views of Chambers Bay and the vivid green grasses of the golf course.
McNary Dam Nature Area
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
-
Highest Point
- 315 feet
Venture across the Columbia River, just barely into Oregon, and ramble on easy trails where you’ll see and hear a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles.
Cape Disappointment State Park - Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 220 feet
Breathe in the sea spray on this anything-but-disappointing hike out to the scenic Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which offers a trail through a coastal forest and glimpses of the powerful Pacific Ocean.
Dishman Hills Conservation Area - Flying L Trail
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 2.2 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 660 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,788 feet
The Phillips Creek trailhead and Flying L Trail provide eastside access to the Glenrose Unit of the Dishman Hills Conservation Area from the Spokane Valley.
360 Trails
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.85 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 373 feet
This patch of community forest on the north end of the Key Peninsula has a vast network of trails that are open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. Take the Main Loop to explore the network, with many offshoot trails to extend and craft your own hike.
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,850 feet
Bask in a wide variety of wildflowers—including a rare species of cactus, Simpson’s hedgehog, with its hot pink blossoms—chunks of petrified wood, and panoramic views of the Columbia Basin, under usually sunny, blue skies.
Copper City Ghost Town
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 27 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,076 feet
9.5.25: This trail is inaccessible until further notice due to the Wildcat Fire.
Once the center of mining activity in Yakima County, Copper City served 42 active mining claims from 1907 to 1942. The founders of the town hoped to boom when the railroad came through, but the tracks were never put down. Walk the old mine-to-market road into town, where only the collapsed remains of a few buildings remain.
Japanese Gulch
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 4.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 174 feet
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Highest Point
- 363 feet
Lots of access points to this network of trails right in the heart of Mukilteo makes for great hiking for all ages.
Big Gulch
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 460 feet
Big Gulch includes a system of forested trails in Mukilteo.
