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
3906 Hikes
Company Creek
Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
11.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 5400 ft.
Highest Point: 6600.0 ft.
Rating:
A trail that climbs out of the Stehekin River valley and into the Glacier Peak wilderness.
Suiattle River Trail
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
13.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 900 ft.
Highest Point: 2500.0 ft.
Rating:
Trail Closed: The Suiattle River Road is closed just west of the Downey Creek Bridge until October 6 2021 due to forest fire damage.
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-fo-the-crest species.
Downey Creek
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
13.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1280 ft.
Highest Point: 2400.0 ft.
Rating:
Trail Closed: The Suiattle River Road is closed just west of the Downey Creek Bridge until October 6 2021 due to forest fire damage.
This trail provides access to Bachelor Creek Trail, Bachelor Meadows, Cub Lake and the Dome Peak area.
Sulphur Mountain
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4200 ft.
Highest Point: 6000.0 ft.
Rating:
Trail Closed: The Suiattle River Road is closed just west of the Downey Creek Bridge until October 6 2021 due to forest fire damage.
This trail has a brutal elevation gain in a short time, but the views from the peak of Sulphur Mountain are worth the climb.
Sulphur Creek
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
3.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 900 ft.
Highest Point: 2250.0 ft.
Rating:
Trail Closed: The Suiattle River Road is closed just west of the Downey Creek Bridge until October 6 2021 due to forest fire damage.
Not the easiest hike, but the reward is a hot springs if you are persistent.
Garfield Ledges
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 830 ft.
Highest Point: 1860.0 ft.
Rating:
Built with the help of Washington Trails Association and Mountains to Sound Greenway crews, the trail to Garfield Ledges will offer visitors expansive views of the Middle Fork valley and a short but steep workout.
Bridal Veil Falls
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1000 ft.
Highest Point: 1600.0 ft.
Rating:
A beautiful waterfall flows out of Lake Serene and cascades below the rugged east wall of Mount Index at the end of a trail on the west side of Bridal Veil Creek. Take time to see and enjoy a stunning view of Bridal Veil Falls and climb flights of steps paralleling the falls.
Mount Rose
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
6.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3500 ft.
Highest Point: 4301.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike a steep trail to a rocky perch with views of Lake Cushman and the southeastern corner of the Olympic Mountains.
Interlaken Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 325.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike a series of short trails through this hilly forested park at the northern end of Seattle's Capitol Hill.
Rattlesnake Trail
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2900 ft.
Highest Point: 5700.0 ft.
Rating:
Located deep in the Wenaha-Tucannon wilderness, the Rattlesnake Trail promises wildflowers, expansive views, and even solitude. It's possible to do an out-and-back hike to Indian Corral, but many opt to do the loop with the Panjab Loop.
Mouth of the Tucannon
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 80 ft.
Highest Point: 580.0 ft.
Rating:
A low-key stroll to riparian wild-life viewing along the Tucannon River.
Tucannon River - Rattlesnake Loop
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
21.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2700 ft.
Rating:
This backpack loop starts low where water and trees abound, then climbs high to take in the views on the Mount Misery trail's open ridges. An easy one- or two- night backpack trip, give some thought to campsite locations to take advantage of the few springs that are available in the high country.
Panjab Trail
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
5.6 miles, one-way
Gain: 2500 ft.
Highest Point: 5600.0 ft.
Rating:
Wildflowers, wildlife, and great views of Eastern Washington’s wild Blue Mountains: the Panjab Loop Trail offers it all.
Tucannon River Canyon
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1200 ft.
Highest Point: 3680.0 ft.
Rating:
A refreshing hike through shady forest along one of the rivers that lends its name to the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness.
Mount Storm King
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2065 ft.
Highest Point: 2600.0 ft.
Rating:
Hikers flock to Mount Storm King for that signature shot, standing on a rocky outcropping above Lake Crescent. But it's a grind to get there, and the climb to the summit can be dangerous in bad weather. Luckily, there are several outcroppings about halfway to the top offering similar views. It's still a steep hike to get to them, but at least it's shorter.
Cady Creek
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
5.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 4300.0 ft.
Rating:
A trail that can help hikers create multiple loops in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, the the Cady Creek trail is a steep ascent from the brushy and mucky Cady Creek valley bottom.
Lower South Fork Skokomish River
Olympic Peninsula -- Olympia
8.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 800 ft.
Highest Point: 900.0 ft.
Rating:
Venture up the Lower South Fork of the Skokomish River for an abundance of flora and fauna amid lush old growth.
Enchanted Valley via East Fork Quinault River
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
26.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1700 ft.
Rating:
The famed Enchanted Valley chalet has been a destination for weary travelers since the early '30s, when it provided a mountain retreat for hikers and horseback riders. During World War II, the chalet served as an Aircraft Warning Station, and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's occasionally used as an emergency shelter and ranger station, but the precarious position over the Quinault River has caused it to be closed to hikers until it is moved.
Wallace Falls State Park
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
5.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 1500.0 ft.
Rating:
An accessible hike for seasoned veterans and neophytes alike, Wallace Falls provides visitors with breathtaking views of the Wallace River and the surrounding falls on a relatively low difficulty, scenic 5.6 mile round-trip. Although well attended and often busy, the trail stands as a true showcase of the diversity and majestic beauty that the Central Cascades can offer to hikers who journey into the heart of this sublime mountain range.
Shelton View Forest
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
5.0 miles of trails
Rating:
This forest is tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Bothell. A series of short trails wander through forested ravines, and provide opportunities to see birds and other wildlife.
Icicle Ridge
Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1800 ft.
Highest Point: 3000.0 ft.
Rating:
Often free of snow as early as April, this excellent early season hike offers hikers what they have been missing for months: a good chance of sun (this being the sunny side of the Cascades, a bountiful array of wildflowers, and stunning views of Tumwater and Icicle Canyon, the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers and surrounding mountains.
Duckabush River
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
10.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 1750.0 ft.
Rating:
Explore one of the quieter Olympic Peninsula river valleys. Quiet, that is, if you don't count the Duckabush River's constant belching, crashing, and churning as it tumbles over giant boulders and squeezes through narrow rocky clefts.
Sauer's Mountain
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 3116.0 ft.
Rating:
Parking is limited here; only about 10 spaces are available. Do not park beyond the posted signs.
This trail is on private property, and is made accessible thanks to the property owner who built it. There is only room for about 10 cars at the trailhead, so if there are more than that when you arrive, please head elsewhere, since parking beyond the signs is not allowed.
Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route
South Cascades -- Mount St. Helens
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 5699 ft.
Highest Point: 8364.0 ft.
Rating:
The Worm Flows Climbing Route, from Marble Mountain Sno-Park, is the most direct route to the summit of Mount St. Helens during the winter season. Ice axe, crampons, and avalanche awareness are necessary when attempting to summit St. Helens in the winter. Skis with climbing skins or snowshoes with cleats are also highly recommended.
Driveway Butte
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
8.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3030 ft.
Highest Point: 5982.0 ft.
Rating:
Spring, summer, and fall all beckon hikers up the slopes of Delancy Ridge toward Driveway Butte, attracted by the views, seasonal flowers, or just a hard workout. The trail tells the tale to two forests, a mature pine forest in the first half and a forest recovering from fire in the second.
Cape Horn
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
7.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 1350.0 ft.
Rating:
This rugged hike is bound to become a classic, if it isn’t already. The full trail loop provides fantastic views of the Columbia River Gorge, an intimate look at the Cape Horn Falls and a challenging workout as it climbs and descends the rocky slopes of Cape Horn.
Two Dollar Trail
Puget Sound and Islands -- Bellingham Area
3.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 550 ft.
Highest Point: 1100.0 ft.
Rating:
The Two Dollar Trail is one of three approaches to Fragrance Lake. It is popular with runners, bikers and hikers alike because of its good surface throughout. It traverses a west facing ridge through a forest of cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock, bigleaf maple and red maple with views out to the Salish Sea. The trail wanders through a groundcover of salal, Oregon grape and a variety of ferns and a small waterfall whose configuration changes with the seasons.
Mount Si
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3150 ft.
Highest Point: 3900.0 ft.
Rating:
There are many reasons – besides its proximity to Seattle – why Mount Si is the most popular hike in the state: beautiful views, wildlife (some of it not so wild), old growth forest, and a dramatic summit worthy of a more remote peak. Rising dramatically above the Snoqualmie Valley, it serves as a literal and figurative gateway to the Cascades for thousands of hikers.
Little Mountain Park - Darvill Loop
Puget Sound and Islands -- Bellingham Area
4.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 860 ft.
Highest Point: 934.0 ft.
Rating:
An old trail made new! The land on this southwest side of the park was recently donated to the Skagit Land Trust and Mount Vernon Parks to prevent it from becoming a big housing development. Now, the land will be kept for posterity for all to enjoy. Hike this loop for some fine forest walking on the south slope of Little Mountain.
Little Mountain Park - Up Quick
Puget Sound and Islands -- Bellingham Area
0.2 miles, one-way
Gain: 241 ft.
Rating:
This short connector trail on Little Mountain Park helps visitors connect the Darvill Trail with the Ridge Trail, making for a direct route to the summit of this little park.