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 treaty 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
3937 HikesSnoqualmie Region -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
7.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2900 ft.
Highest Point: 5034 ft.
Rating:
Hex Mountain is now located partially on private property please and is inaccessible to vehicles.
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 200 ft.
Rating:
This stunning Olympic coastal hike is one of the more photographed places in Washington for good reason.
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
7.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 600 ft.
Highest Point: 1300 ft.
Rating:
Road Closed to Vehicles: The Olympic Hot Springs road is inaccessible to vehicles due to a road washout. Hikers can still access this trail by walking or biking along the closed road from the Madison Falls parking area.
Follow in the footsteps of the intrepid Press Expedition while enjoying the natural beauty, local history and wildlife along the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha River.
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
17.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3200 ft.
Highest Point: 5050 ft.
Rating:
The Sol Duc River Trail is one of Olympic National Park’s most beloved hikes. Thus it is always crowded and a backcountry camping quota is enforced. Roaring waterfalls, lush old growth, and subalpine meadows where elk bugle and bears browse for berries are just some of the many highlights.
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
9.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2240 ft.
Highest Point: 5360 ft.
Rating:
Hike through a fire-devastated forest to an alpine lake set below steep cliffs with a waterfall inlet. Rennie Peak looms to the south and a mature forest shelters many campsites. Come for the day, or camp and explore.
South Cascades -- White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
0.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 40 ft.
Highest Point: 1360 ft.
Rating:
06/23/2022 - Trail closure: This trail and trailhead will be closed June 27 and 28 for construction
A very short trail rewards visitors with views of a lovely waterfall, accessible in the early season. Look for trillium along the trail in spring, and enjoy the sounds of rushing water year-round.
South Cascades -- White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
3.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1365 ft.
Highest Point: 5685 ft.
Rating:
06/22/2022 - Road Closed: High Rock trailhead is inaccessible due to a closure of FR 8440 at the junction with Forest Road 85 for snow and logging operations
Topping out at 5685 feet, High Rock is dramatically higher than its surroundings. On a clear day, the exposed summit provides outstanding views all around and down. The trail is moderately steep but short, following Sawtooth Ridge 1.6 miles to the summit, where a fire lookout cabin clings to the top.
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - OR
7.3 miles, one-way
Gain: 4000 ft.
Highest Point: 4100 ft.
Rating:
This trail, on the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge, weaves through old-growth Doug-firs and offers hikers a nice day hike, or access to longer backpacking loops.
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - OR
3.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 425 ft.
Highest Point: 385 ft.
Rating:
Trail Closure: The area within the walls of Oneonta Gorge between the Historic Columbia River Hwy (Hwy 30) and the Horsetail Falls Trail bridge spanning Oneonta Creek remains closed due to damage from the Eagle Creek Fire
This lovely trail loops around Oneonta Gorge and takes you behind Ponytail Falls.
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 0 ft.
Highest Point: 70 ft.
Rating:
A little history, a little wildlife, a little botany -- it's all here in this quiet little wetland right off a main road in Federal Way.
Snoqualmie Region -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 3200 ft.
Rating:
The Pete Lake trail is a mild-mannered path with something to offer for hikers, campers, children, birders, wildlife enthusiasts, and aquaphiles. This even-tempered route follows the Cooper River 4.5 miles to its headwater, passing through a diverse old-growth forest and terminating at an alpine lake sitting in the shadows of Big Summit Chief and Chimney Rock.
Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2280 ft.
Highest Point: 5580 ft.
Rating:
Parking Restriction on Road 7601: Parking allowed only on the right side of Road 7601 between Eightmile Lake and Stuart Lake trailheads.
Set beneath two of Washington’s tallest peaks, Colchuck Lake is an alpine gem. It is a larger cousin to the nearby fabled Enchantment Lakes and offers many of the same payoffs – including groves of larches on its far shore – but can be reached with less than half the effort.
Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
7.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1800 ft.
Highest Point: 3600 ft.
Rating:
Waterfalls, wildflowers, sheltering forests, mountain views and an alpine lake are offered on this well-maintained trail. At the lake, enjoy the sights and relax for a while. If you backpacked in, stay at the campsites for a sunrise and sunset on the lake.
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
5.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 250 ft.
Highest Point: 700 ft.
Rating:
Hop aboard the Spruce Railroad Trail for a scenic and historic hike along the sparkling shores of massive Lake Crescent. For 5 nearly flat miles you'll saunter along one of Olympic National Park's most alluring natural features. Nine miles long, over 600 feet deep, and surrounded by steep ridges and peaks, Lake Crescent seems more like a fjord. 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.
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
8.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2035 ft.
Highest Point: 2930 ft.
Rating:
For those searching for alpine vistas with fewer visitors than on the most popular trails of the I-90 corridor, Greider Lakes is just right. This trailhead is located in the Sultan Basin Watershed.
Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 0 ft.
Rating:
Visiting Beebe Springs is more of a leg stretcher or bird watching location than a destination hiking location. That much being said, it has bountiful wildlife, an ADA accessible trail, and broad vistas. Do note that it is closed seasonally from December 1 to March 15.
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 750 ft.
Highest Point: 2920 ft.
Rating:
Explore an easy, gently graded trail to Falls Creek Falls just outside of Winthrop. The first waterfall is just a quarter-mile from the trailhead and is accessible via a paved trail.
Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
6.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 4650 ft.
Rating:
Along a moderate trail into the glorious Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, past burnt Ponderosa Pines, chattering mountain streams, plenteous wildflowers and tall mountain peaks, hikers will find beautiful Eightmile Lake and its rocky, tree lined shore.
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 2700 ft.
Rating:
Boulder Cave formed millions of years from volcanic activity. Today the cave is home to a dwindling population of Pacific western big-eared bats.
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 60 ft.
Highest Point: 60 ft.
Rating:
6/21/22 - Ruby Beach area and parking lot are closed until mid-September 2022 for improvement work.
Ruby Beach offers several miles of beach exploration, with unique rock formations and swirling sun-bleached driftwood.
Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 2600 ft.
Rating:
Hiking with kids, new to hiking, or just looking for an easy day hike with a spectacular endpoint? Look no further then Franklin Falls! At just 2 miles with 400 feet in elevation gain it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful!
Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
6.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1900 ft.
Highest Point: 5489 ft.
Rating:
In spring and early summer, the flowers are so profuse and beautiful that you would think that a gardener had planted them. And because this area is usually clear of snow long before many others in the region, hikers can attain Iron Bear Pass, the Teanaway Ridge and views of the Stuart Range and Mount Rainier while much of the Cascade Range is still snowed in.
Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
17.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 4030 ft.
Highest Point: 1700 ft.
Rating:
Looking for an early-season backpack featuring craggy, snow-capped peaks, a sapphire-blue lake, a myriad of wildflowers, and a trail that’s regularly maintained by WTA volunteers? The 17-mile thru-hike on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail might be just the thing for you.
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
7.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 1950 ft.
Rating:
Follow the Diablo Lake Trail up and across talus slopes on the flanks of Sourdough Mountain to impressive cascading waterfalls and stunning views of Ross Lake and Colonial, Pyramid, Davis Peaks, as well as Jack Mountain.
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - OR
4.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1500 ft.
Highest Point: 1600 ft.
Rating:
Hike a short, moderately steep trail to Angel's Rest, an exposed bluff with stunning views into the Columbia River Gorge. You'll be able to see the river glittering below your feet at the overlook, which seems close enough for a quick dip, but be careful, it's a long fall from the balcony.
Mount Rainier Area -- SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 50 ft.
Highest Point: 2200 ft.
Rating:
6/20/2022 - Trail is closed due to winter storm damage to the suspension bridge and is not expected to be open for 2022 or 2023 summer seasons.
Some of the biggest, oldest trees in the Washington Cascades stand tall in the Grove of the Patriarchs. These silent old men of moss tower overhead, with a few lying down to show us just how massive the trunks really are. The Grove resides in a low, boggy area across the Ohanapecosh River, so you'll need to cross a sweet little suspension bridge to get there, offering you a chance to enjoy a bit of adventure on this simple little trail. Youngsters typically love the bridge, and kids of all ages marvel at the massive trees.
Mount Rainier Area -- SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 600 ft.
Highest Point: 2300 ft.
Rating:
The Ohanapecosh River is arguably the most beautiful in Mount Rainier National Park, with water so clear you can see all the way to the bottom in many places. Where it's not crashing over rocks, of course. The Silver Falls Loop takes you upstream along this impressive river, to a majestic waterfall and back through humbling forest, all in just three miles.
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
3.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 280 ft.
Highest Point: 280 ft.
Rating:
The trail to Third Beach provides plenty of suspense for hikers. It’s a 1.3 mile trek through high trees, sometimes shrouded in fog, giving the forest here a spooky aura. But popping out onto the coast at the log-choked mouth of a creek and seeing the grand Pacific Ocean provides the perfect payoff.
Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
7.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1800 ft.
Highest Point: 4400 ft.
Rating:
Multiple avalanche chutes cross the Snow Lake Trail, posing danger for hikers in the winter. If there is snow present at the trailhead, hikers should have experience navigating avalanche territory and the appropriate safety gear.
A relatively short and easy hike within a stone’s throw of Seattle, Snow Lake delivers splendorous alpine scenery – crystal clear waters, towering peaks – at a mere pittance of sweat and toil. Just don’t expect to have the trail to yourself – Snow Lake is Washington's most heavily-used trail in a wilderness area!