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 HikesBig Cedar Tree - Quinault
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 80 feet
-
Highest Point
- 100 feet
There are many big trees in the Olympics, but this enormous cedar is so large it has a trail named after it. Plus, it's just a quarter mile from the road. Unfortunately, storms in 2016 felled the large tree, though it's no less impressive. When you visit, be sure to take only pictures -- the Park Service is leaving the giant there in order to perpetuate the natural cycle.
Peabody Creek Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
Found on the outskirts of Port Angeles, the Peabody Creek Trail starts out from the Olympic National Park Visitors Center and follows Peabody Creek through a quiet wooded ravine for 2.8 miles. It’s an excellent short hike for visitors, locals, and trail runners alike.
Slab Camp Creek and Gray Wolf River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,540 feet
This is a classic Olympics river hike without the crowds, and it's downhill all the way to your destination.
Sand Point
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 100 feet
A beautiful hike through an interesting forest, often over boardwalks, ends at the beach with the potential for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. If you plan ahead and get a permit, it's a nice overnight destination.
Frye Cove County Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 110 feet
This small park near Olympia offers a nice meandering loop trail, as well as beaches and playgrounds for kids.
Long Lake
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,300 feet
Long Lake is a great option for those looking for a short hike to get back into the swing of things for the hiking season. It's relatively short and gains elevation steadily, so hikers can choose to make it an easy hike or bring a heavier pack for a bit more of a workout.
Clear Lake Interpretive Trail
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
Located on the north shore of Clear Lake, this interpretive trail forms a lollipop loop that is accessible for all users.
Jensen Family Forest Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 94 feet
-
Highest Point
- 170 feet
This forested park in Bellingham was made possible by the Jensen Family’s generous donation of a public easement. The short, stroller-friendly loop trail includes a picnic table and parking area.
George C Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
-
Highest Point
- 10 feet
Enjoy birdwatching opportunities in coastal, marsh and forested environments while exploring the refuge’s three miles of looping trails.
Shinglemill Creek Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 400 feet
Shinglemill Creek Preserve is located in the northwest part of Vashon Island and encompasses 168 acres along the lower mainstem of Shinglemill Creek – Vashon’s second-largest creek.
Sunrise Point Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
A short dead end trail coming off the High Ridge trail at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.
Rose Creek Nature Preserve
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
Stroll though a remnant of Palouse prairie, wetland and steppe ecosystem.
Aiston Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
There is a small network of trails at the south end of Lummi Island with lovely views to explore!
Gatton Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 400 feet
The Gatton Creek Trail is a short but delightful segment of the larger Quinault National Recreation Trail System. The well-maintained trail gets hikers close to nature as it travels beneath towering conifers through a lush rainforest ecosystem. As either a short stroll or part of a longer journey, this trail is well worth exploring.
Rainbow Falls State Park
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 450 feet
Rainbow Falls State Park is an island remnant of exquisite old growth forest in the upper Chehalis Valley, with a small cascade as the centerpiece of the park. Surrounding a half-mile stretch of the Chehalis River, this fragile patch of stunning Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar is among the last, albeit diminished, stores of Washington heritage to pass onto the future forest of the region.
Moss Lake Loop
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 0.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 40 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,475 feet
The Moss Lake Nature Trail is wheelchair-accessible, by design. Bring along a copy of the interpretive guide for a more informational hike.
Deering Wildflower Acres
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
A little piece of wilderness tucked away in the middle of civilization, originally established in 1968 as a survey site for Western Washington University. Now open to the public and maintained by the City of Marysville.
Sherman Overlook
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 35 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,262 feet
This short, paved interpretive trail provides scenic vistas of surrounding peaks, as well as a look into how fire helped shape the landscape. In the fall, the western larches turn to gold.
Camp Brown
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
-
Length
- 0.45 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
Located approximately eleven miles down the Middle Fork Road, this gently meandering half-mile loop trail, built following Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, provides scenic views of the congressionally-designated Wild and Scenic Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - The Tunnel
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 5.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
Washington State has a plethora of amazingly beautiful trails for the avid hiker to tread, but how many take you through an old train tunnel more than two miles long? The Snoqualmie Tunnel is part of the 250-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (formerly the John Wayne Trail and Iron Horse State Park) and this section is a must do for everyone! Views for most of your trip will be determined by the power of your headlamp, but there will be some sights on the other side. The attraction of this hike is the mysterious, dramatic tunnel itself. However, note that the tunnel is closed November 1st through May 1st, so plan your trip accordingly.
Nolte State Park
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 1.45 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 791 feet
The expansive acreage of this park allows for a wide variety of activities, including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, bird and wildlife viewing, even lawn games such as horseshoes! The hiking trail is a lovely loop around Deep Lake.
Sherman Pass Tie Trail
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 0.8 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 230 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,464 feet
This short trail leads through the forest from the Sherman Overlook Campground to the Kettle Crest Trailhead and it makes a pleasant hike on its own.
Wildside Connector
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 1.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 800 feet
The Wildside Trail runs through the northwest corner of Cougar Mountain Park and offers many connections to other trails.
Yakima Sportsman State Park
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
Visit this 247 acre park on the floodplain of the Yakima River. With two miles of hiking trails, it's a great place to explore if you happen to be camping nearby. With fall foliage, wildflowers, and fishing, it's a delightful destination at any time of the year.
Evans Lake
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,700 feet
While Evans Lake may be less well-known than many of the other lakes nestled within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, it nevertheless offers a pleasant backcountry experience.
Winds of Change
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 0.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,100 feet
Although this trail is short, take time to savor the broad views across the Mount St. Helens volcanic blast zone while interpretive signs help you contemplate the forces that created it.
Ross Dam Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
This forested trail in the North Cascades National Park Complex leads down to Ross Lake and the network of trails in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Look out over both Ross Lake and Ross Dam before making your way down to Ross Dam itself
Green Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 164 feet
The quintessential Seattle walk around the perimeter of a 50,000 thousand-year-old glacial lake, this trail is accessible to folks of all ages and abilities. It continues to be a preserve for hundreds of species of trees and plants, as well as numerous birds and waterfowl.
Glines Canyon Overlook Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 7.15 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 652 feet
-
Highest Point
- 802 feet
Formerly a short, two-mile trail, the washout of the Elwha River Road has made this a 7.15 mile roundtrip hike. Luckily, it's mostly flat road, and you're even allowed to take a bike the whole way, if you don't mind a rough ride.
Phelps Creek
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
Phelps Creek Trail offers relatively easy access to the remote Glacier Peak Wilderness, particularly Spider Meadows and the larch-ridden Carne Mountain.
