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
3903 Hikes
Deadfall
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
7.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2240 ft.
Highest Point: 4273.0 ft.
Rating:
A longer, steeper, pass free, alternate route to the summit of Mount Zion.
Ebey's Landing
Puget Sound and Islands -- Whidbey Island
5.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 260 ft.
Highest Point: 260.0 ft.
Rating:
Perched on a bluff overlooking majestic Puget Sound is the unique acreage of Ebey’s Landing. In addition to the Bluff Trail, visitors can experience the seaport town of Coupeville, observe working farms, and get their fill of wildlife viewing, all in a tiny National Park on Whidbey Island.
Sculpture Rock
Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
0.9 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 3400.0 ft.
Rating:
This short leg-stretcher winds through old growth fir and ponderosa forests with amazing geology
Rooster Mountain
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
14.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4500 ft.
Highest Point: 5340.0 ft.
Rating:
Once a popular I-90 guidebook staple, Rooster Mountain trail is actually an unofficial trail up an old road bed. The Forest Service does not maintain it. Route-finding skills to tackle this overgrown, ghostly Cascades excursion. There are far easier and more rewarding peaks in the area, but if you are looking for a challenging trail off the beaten path, quite literally in this case, Rooster Mountain may be just the hike for you.
Quartz Creek/Lake Blethen
Snoqualmie Region
11.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2550 ft.
Highest Point: 3700.0 ft.
Rating:
Less of a trail than a road walk, the route up Quartz Creek offers quiet and solitude in the Middle Fork Valley.
Nordrum Lake
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
19.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4172 ft.
Highest Point: 3675.0 ft.
Rating:
A steep and seldom traveled trail settled in what is now Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Nordrum Lake provides giant old-growth conifers, rivers, streams, waterfalls – and quite a workout! This narrow path cuts off the Taylor River/Snoqualmie Lake trail after about 6.5 miles, and doesn’t stop climbing until you reach the lake at about 3675’. But don’t worry, the giant cedars and firs provide shade throughout the entirety of the hike, keeping you cool on even the hottest of summer days.
Abernathy Pass via Cedar Creek
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
18.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3400 ft.
Highest Point: 6400.0 ft.
Rating:
A lengthy, pleasant hike through lodgepole pine and deciduous forest, past a lovely waterfall to Abernathy Pass.
Burch Mountain via Falls Creek
North Cascades -- Pasayten
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3200 ft.
Highest Point: 7782.0 ft.
Rating:
When the deeper backcountry is under snow (or just too far away) Burch Mountain can provide a beautiful day hike with views aplenty.
Beaver Loop
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
1.65 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Beaver Loop is a pleasant, level outing which is easy to follow and and has many distractions for younger hikers. There is ample opportunity for wildlife and best of all it is close to town.
Lamont Mountain
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
Highest Point: 8087.0 ft.
Rating:
The route to Lamont Mountain is a Class 3 and involved exposed scrambling. Gear and experience recommended.
Mount Pilchuck
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
5.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 5327.0 ft.
Rating:
Road Closed: As of 12/7/21 the road to the Mount Pilchuck Trailhead is closed for the winter season.
Despite its intermediate difficulty, Mount Pilchuck sees a slew of visitors in a given year, as hikers flock to the trail for its grand panoramic views and historic restored fire lookout. Easily one of the most rewarding hikes in the area, its relatively short 2.7 mile, 2,300 feet ascent gifts you 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympics from its shelter lookout, which sits nestled on a summit that tops out around 5,300 feet. This calf-friendly journey is all made possible by a high elevation trailhead, which sets you off on your travels around 3,000 feet, cutting what would otherwise be an arduous ten mile roundtrip in half.
Mount Washington
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
8.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3250 ft.
Highest Point: 4450.0 ft.
Rating:
This easy-access day hike delivers comparable—if not superior—panoramic views and lung-busting switchbacks to Mount Si, with significantly less foot traffic.
Olallie Lake via Pratt Lake Trail
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Olallie Lake is a wonderful first-time destination for hikers or backpackers just beginning to discover trails.
Pine and Cedar Lakes
Puget Sound and Islands -- Bellingham Area
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 1600.0 ft.
Rating:
With two small lakes and numerous branching trails that sport views to Mount Baker and the Puget Sound, this moderate trail through shady forest can be hiked or backpacked year round. Trails circle both of these lakes, and on nice days you’ll find people out fishing or canoeing here.
Alta Lake State Park
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 780 ft.
Highest Point: 1980.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail is short and steep with great views. The rocky, arid climate of eastern Washington is on full display as this crumbly-at-times trail snakes up through cliff bands and rock gardens.
North Mountain Lookout
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 600 ft.
Highest Point: 3956.0 ft.
Rating:
North Mountain is home to a network of mountain bike trails which can be accessed at many points along the North Mountain road, but the lookout tower is a destination in itself.
Heliotrope Ridge
North Cascades -- Mount Baker Area
5.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 5100.0 ft.
Rating:
Trailhead Inaccessible: As of 11.22.21 Glacier Creek Road is washed out at milepost 3.1 cutting off vehicle access to this trail.
If you'd like nose-to-nose access to Mount Baker, this first-rate woodsy walk delivers. Over a relatively short, well-maintained trail with mild elevation gain, you can be glacier-side in no time... if the creek crossings allow.
Coal Pass Snowshoe
North Cascades -- Mount Baker Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2400 ft.
Highest Point: 4500.0 ft.
Rating:
Trailhead Inaccessible: As of 11.22.21 Glacier Creek Road is washed out at milepost 3.1 cutting off vehicle access to this trail.
Following a series of winding, snow-covered forest roads, the route to Coal Pass culminates in sweeping views of Mount Baker’s glaciated northwest flank.
Lake Serene
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
8.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 2521.0 ft.
Rating:
Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls compete for attention on this 7.2 mile trip. Either would be a worthy destination by themselves and combined they are a great day on the trail.
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.
Rattlesnake Ledge
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1160 ft.
Highest Point: 2078.0 ft.
Rating:
This is a fine hike on a well maintained, albeit busy trail through a cool forest with views of the Cedar River watershed, Mount Si, Mount Washington, Rattlesnake Lake and Chester Morse Lake.
Lodge Lake
Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
3.75 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 950 ft.
Highest Point: 3500.0 ft.
Rating:
Snoqualmie Pass grows ever more developed each year. Condos go up left and right, the ski area plans new ski lifts (or replacements for existing chairs), and hotels pop up east and west. But even with the development, these are still mountains and there is still stunning mountain scenery to enjoy, even on the fringes of the developed areas. Lodge Lake stands as proof.
Taylor River - Otter Falls
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
11.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 650 ft.
Highest Point: 1750.0 ft.
Rating:
Lose yourself in second-growth forest as you traverse an old logging road that heads into quiet wilderness just an hour from the urban sprawl of Puget Sound. Enjoy the sounds of water rushing and birds singing. Explore mossy boulders and cross multiple burbling creeks, even do a small amount of cross-country travel on the way to the piece de resistance – a 1,200 foot waterfall that streams into tiny Lipsy Lake before draining to the Taylor River.
Snoqualmie Lake
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
18.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1900 ft.
Highest Point: 3147.0 ft.
Rating:
Visit this large, quiet lake in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snoqualmie is accessible both via Highway 2 and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road. From the trailhead on Highway 2, it's 7.3 miles to Snoqualmie Lake, and from the Middle Fork Road, it's 9.2 miles. You can even make this a thru-hike if you can arrange a pick-up at the other end.
West Elwha
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 650.0 ft.
Rating:
Take a short but very scenic hike starting from the Altair campground in Olympic National Park. Traverse along the edge of the Elwha River, recently free-flowing thanks to the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam.
Potholes Wildlife Area
Central Washington -- Potholes Region
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 1050.0 ft.
Rating:
The Potholes Wildlife Area is enclosed in the nearly 40,000-acre Potholes Reservoir Unit near Moses Lake. Part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, anyone who has driven cross-state has zipped through this enormous irrigation project, but few stop to enjoy the wide variety of wildlife it supports.