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 HikesMagnuson Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 15 feet
If you’ve been to Magnuson it is likely that you have walked a section of the trail on the way to a sporting event. However, it is well worth taking the time to explore all the meandering paths – less frequently known as Frog Pond Trail. If you have time to kill while your kid warms up before a game, or if you just want to sneak away for a moment of silence at halftime, these paths are perfect for a calming wander, no matter how much time you have.
Amon Basin Natural Preserve
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 1.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 79 feet
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Highest Point
- 548 feet
Stroll in a peaceful slice of nature tucked into south Richland, enjoying old-growth sagebrush, wildflowers, willows, and cattails. Bring your binoculars to watch birds and riparian wildlife.
Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
This arboretum is located in northern Everett and is free and open to the public. From the arboretum entrance visitors will connect to a series of looping and intersecting paths that go past the different themed areas: a fern garden, a maple grove, a rock garden, and many others.
Ruby Beach
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
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Highest Point
- 60 feet
Ruby Beach offers several miles of beach exploration, with unique rock formations and swirling sun-bleached driftwood.
Wynoochee Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 62 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,136 feet
Wynoochee Falls will entice you to spend more time than you’d expect on a half-mile round-trip hike. The falls are pretty, and the pool at the bottom is nice for wading. There is a gravel bar that is perfect for picnics, and there are some good rock scrambling options.
Big Flat Habitat Management Unit
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 220 feet
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Highest Point
- 504 feet
Get away from the crowds and explore miles of trails through meadows and groves along the
lower Snake River. Watch and listen for songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, deer, coyotes,
wildflowers, tall grass, and sage.
Burnt Bridge Creek - Middle Section
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 7.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 120 feet
-
Highest Point
- 190 feet
The middle section of the Burnt Bridge Creek trail extends from Devine Road to Leverich Park. In this section of the trail, the character becomes more urban and passes close to houses and soccer fields. Nonetheless, the trail passes through some open grassy areas where you may spot a raptor looking for lunch.
Tiffany Mountain via Freezeout Ridge
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,685 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,245 feet
Start at one of the higher trailheads in the state (6560 feet) and follow the trail even higher. In early summer, if the thinner air doesn't take your breath away, the flowers and views will.
Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
-
Highest Point
- 35 feet
The Gordy Jolma Family Nature Area is 118-acre open green space — previously a golf course — opened to the public in fall 2022. Combined with the nearby Salmon-Morgan Creeks Nature Area, this area in Clark County is a great place to spend time surrounded by nature without needing to drive far.
Lower Falls Creek Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,410 feet
Discover a waterfall utopia with triple the falls and a wonderful place to put down your pack, enjoy some snacks and snap some incredible photos.
Washington Park Arboretum
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 150 feet
The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum offers miles of trails that wind through forests of maples, magnolias, oaks, salmonberry, and the famous Azalea Way. Visit the Pacific Connections Gardens to see a variety of plant life from various countries that border the Pacific Ocean, or lose yourself in the many groves of trees that line the paths in the park.
Kamiak Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Kamiak Butte rises out of the rolling Palouse farmland to an elevation of 3641 feet. Forming something of a forested island, it is some of the only hiking opportunities avialable in an area where agriculture is king. Hikers who venture to the summit are rewarded with a rolling patchwork of green and yellow fields in every direction, and bright blue skies overhead.
Finch Arboretum
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
The Finch Arboretum is a 65-acre park found just minutes southwest of downtown Spokane. The site is an extensive botanical and tree garden with more than 2,000 labeled ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Dishman Hills Conservation Area - Iller Creek
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
Take a hike on the edge of Spokane Valley with commanding views of Spokane Valley and the Palouse. On the way, you'll see many plant species typical of western slopes of Cascades, a seasonal stream, and amazing variety of wildflowers through from late March through mid-July.
Riverside State Park - Bowl & Pitcher
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 166 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,165 feet
This short hike boasts a lot of bang for your buck. At just 2.1 miles, the loop won't take too long, but you'll enjoy views of an impressive river, rocky outcroppings, and some expansive views.
South Hill Bluff
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 23.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,340 feet
This local location for after-work hiking in Spokane boasts nearly 25 miles of trails. From a flat traverse high above the railroad tracks to longer loops; there are many possible outings to be done at South Hill.
Saltese Flats Wetland
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 4.5 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,030 feet
Saltese Flats Wetland consists of 4.5 miles of relatively flat trails on recently restored wetland habitat on the east end of the Spokane Valley.
Terrace Creek Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 80 feet
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Highest Point
- 440 feet
Hike a green, forested trail for a mile or so along tiny Lyon Creek in Mountlake Terrace. In season, enjoy a variety of wildflowers or, later in the year, some fall colors. Be alert for squirrels and for a variety of birds. As a hike, it's very easy and relaxing. For a more dynamic experience, put on your trail runners and jog the entire way.
Pipestone Ridge Lower Coulee
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 775 feet
A wildflower-dotted, easy trail near the Lightning Creek campground in the Methow.
China Creek
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 92 feet
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Highest Point
- 750 feet
This is a short connector trail in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and adjoining lands in the City of Newcastle.
Old Government
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
This is a pleasant, short, lowland forest walk, accessed in Barlow Pass, the popular jumping-off point for locations like Monte Cristo and Gothic Basin.
Yellow Lake
Issaquah Alps
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Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
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Highest Point
- 420 feet
Hike an easy loop trail through a wide forested buffer zone around this lowland lake. Appreciate the many tall trees that give the illusion of being in a much more remote location, and enjoy the view from a dock from which the entire lake can be seen. In season, see a variety of waterfowl.
China Creek - Newcastle
Issaquah Alps
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Length
- 0.2 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
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Highest Point
- 400 feet
Just north of Lake Boren, this trail connects Coal Creek Parkway to the Crosstown Trail just across from 129th Ave. SE. Over its short course, this trail passes through the green spaces between the residential areas of the town of Newcastle.
Horse Lake Reserve
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 5.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,410 feet
Horse Lake Reserve is a 1,500-acre reserve located just west of Wenatchee, open to the public from April 1 through November 31.
Ardmore Park Trails
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 170 feet
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Highest Point
- 380 feet
Bellevue's Ardmore Park offers two connected sections of forest habitat, traversed by easy hiking trails. Here, you can enjoy tall conifers and deciduous trees, ferns and other forest vegetation, and small creeks, giving the illusion that you are some distance away from surrounding suburbia. You are likely to find a few wildflowers blooming in season, to hear woodpeckers, crows and other birds, and see a few energetic squirrels
Cascade Park Wenas Wildlife Area
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
A popular camping and birding spot, this area is best known for its free (with Discover Pass) camping, but has some nice hiking options as well.
Hoffman Hill Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 116 feet
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Highest Point
- 320 feet
Tucked away in the neighborhood of Hoffman Hill, this trail this is the longest continuous trail in DuPont.
Tiger Mountain Trail South
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 520 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
Hike the southernmost part of the Main Tiger Mountain Trail - the TMT - for a gentle introduction to the southern slopes of the Tigers. The trail is usable all year unless there has been significant lowland snow. In spring, enjoy blooms of trilliums and other wild flowers. In the fall, appreciate the colors of leaves that carpet parts of the trail.
Redondo Beach Boardwalk
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 7 feet
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Highest Point
- 11 feet
With expansive waterfront views and access to a beach right against the Puget Sound, a walk down the Redondo Beach Boardwalk is a great way to get some fresh air without ever leaving town.
Chamna Natural Preserve
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
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Highest Point
- 350 feet
Explore this network of trails through riparian wetlands and sagebrush along the Yakima River.
