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
3945 HikesCentral Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
3.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 775 ft.
Highest Point: 1327 ft.
Rating:
The Leovy Trail, a testament to community land conservation, is a moderate ascent through second-growth Cascade rainforest to the summit of Heybrook Ridge. At the top, take in stunning views of Mount Index, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Skykomish Valley.
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
Rating:
The popular access point for Sumas Mountain (off Sealund Road) utilizes private property. Hikers are asked to refrain from using this access point.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
12.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 1060 ft.
Highest Point: 535 ft.
Rating:
Take an urban hike with plenty of up-and-down as you follow the Tolt pipeline easement, a 12-mile corridor with wildflowers, berries, and occasional wildlife on a multi-use trail for equestrians, dog walkers, mountain bikers, joggers, and hikers.
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
13.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3791 ft.
Highest Point: 4405 ft.
Rating:
Visit the remains of an old mining town in a basin surrounded by high peaks. Climb to Silver Lake nestled under the steep side of Silvertip Peak with good camping and good views of surrounding peaks.
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
29.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 7500 ft.
Highest Point: 6360 ft.
Rating:
A loop hike, beginning and ending in the old-growth forests of the North Fork Sauk River that traverses high ridges and passes of the Pacific crest, visits beautiful alpine lakes, and finally follows the high and lonesome Pilot Ridge Trail before descending back down to the trail junction on the North Fork Sauk River.
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3010 ft.
Highest Point: 6260 ft.
Rating:
Mount Townsend offers rhododendrons in May and June, wildflowers June through August, then berries in August and September and fall colors in, well, fall. Add in old growth, some tucked away waterfalls, and a windswept, turtleback summit with views north across the Strait and San Juans, west and south into and along the Olympics and east across the Sound to the Cascades, and you've got the perfect year-round hike.
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
18.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 4500 ft.
Highest Point: 7800 ft.
Rating:
The Enchantment Lakes are an alpine wonderland of pristine lakes set among polished granite, soaring peaks, blazing larches, and ambling mountain goats. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives.
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
14.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3130 ft.
Highest Point: 5900 ft.
Rating:
This section of the Wonderland Trail, which begins at Box Canyon, continues along the Cowlitz Divide, and eventually concludes in the valley that houses Indian Bar, will certainly test your trail stamina. But the rewards for all of your efforts are plentiful: swaths of old-growth forests, bountiful berries (when in season), rolling alpine meadows, an epic in-your-face view of Mount Rainier, and finally, the rushing waters of the Ohanapecosh River and Wauhaukaupauken Falls, which offer a cooling respite after your long, and sometimes arduous, climb and descent into this famed valley.
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
6.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2900 ft.
Highest Point: 5775 ft.
Rating:
Tatoosh Ridge offers numerous choices, all involving a steep approach. Contentedly amble through a steep slope of wildflowers, with occasional mountain views. Drop into a valley with a pair of alpine lakes, or climb to the site of a former lookout. If you like, do all of the above.
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
5.4 miles, one-way
Gain: 2570 ft.
Highest Point: 4900 ft.
Rating:
A quiet but sometimes rough trail that provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail from Salmon La Sac.
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
8.6 miles, one-way
Gain: 3835 ft.
Highest Point: 6778 ft.
Rating:
This lesser known trail starts in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and then enters the northeast corner of the park, is snow-free early in the season and goes through some amazing old growth.
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 250 ft.
Rating:
The furthest northwest tip of the contiguous United State, Cape Flattery provides a dramatic backdrop to a surprisingly accessible hike. It's managed by the Makah Tribe, who provide permits for parking here at Washburn's General Store, The Makah Museum, and many other locations in Neah Bay. As you drive through on the way to the trailhead, be sure to purchase yours -- they're good for the year, and you can also use it for Shi Shi Beach.
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
0.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 185 ft.
Highest Point: 5600 ft.
Rating:
A good, short destination just outside of the main Paradise visitors area, Myrtle Falls is a beauty.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
8.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 2521 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.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 700 ft.
Highest Point: 2800 ft.
Rating:
Take a hike through railroad history. The old tunnels, rusting relics, cement snow sheds and the big red caboose should appeal to kids of all ages, and the complex history of the railroad and those who built it, as well as the avalanche that wiped everything away will appeal to history buffs.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 850 ft.
Highest Point: 1700 ft.
Rating:
Heybrook Lookout is a short and moderately steep hike through a fern and moss covered forest to a fun, staircase-ridden lookout with great views of the nearby mountains. If you are introducing someone to hiking, limited on time, or trying to add on another hike or activity in the area, this is the hike for you.
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
5.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 0 ft.
Highest Point: 1100 ft.
Rating:
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.
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2600 ft.
Rating:
Hike a trail that WTA is helping restore. The Ridley Creek trail provides access to scenic Mazama Park and views of Mount Baker.
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
10.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2280 ft.
Highest Point: 5900 ft.
Rating:
Former lookout sites are ideal for views, and Strawberry Mountain is right up there with the best of them. See peaks in two states, the blast zone of an active volcano, and a few sapphire lakes set into the dramatic landscape. That is, of course, if you can bear the drive to get there.
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2500 ft.
Highest Point: 6500 ft.
Rating:
There's no question why Ingalls Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. It is a stunning blue lake, set high in a basin beneath rocky peaks, showcasing striking Mount Stuart as its backdrop. The trail to this treasure is filled with delights, both for the summer adventurer as well as for those hikers who appreciate fall colors. Views of the craggy Esmeralda Peaks, a walk through beautiful Headlight Basin plus a pretty picture of the imposing Stuart Range are just a few of the wonders along the way.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Rating:
This is a wonderful wild park right in the backyard of those who live in the Everett area. Covering 1,463 acres of forest, ponds and meadows, the river valley is a confluence of the Issaquah, Tulalip, Stillaguamish, and Snoqualmie Tribal treaty areas. Hikers can roam all day on the network of trails leading through the forest, down to the Snohomish River and up to views of the Cascades and Snohomish valley. Explore, and keep an eye out for the wildlife that live in these woods.
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1900 ft.
Highest Point: 5350 ft.
Rating:
Wander up this desolate wilderness valley upon a long forgotten trail. A cascading waterfall, and a steep, gravelly trail may be your only friend. Access to this trail is via the well maintained, Robinson Creek Trail.
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1800 ft.
Highest Point: 5392 ft.
Rating:
At Cascade Pass, the wow factor far exceeds the “ow” factor – perhaps no other trail in the state delivers as much reward for the effort. From the high peaks on either side of the pass, verdant meadows curve down to a saddle that offers sweeping views of nearby valleys, glaciers, mountains, and passing wildlife. Sedately climbing a little less than 1,800 feet in 3.6 miles, it is the perfect hike to show new hikers the extraordinary places their feet can take them.
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
21.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 6159 ft.
Highest Point: 6457 ft.
Rating:
The Ironstone Mountain Trail provides a challenging rollercoaster of a ridge hike, taking you to the summits of Burnt Mountain, Ironstone Mountain and McNeil Peak, with rewarding views of the surrounding area.
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
4.0 miles of trails
Rating:
The LBA of LBA Park stands for Little Baseball Association, but there is much more to do than just play baseball at this urban park. There are 4 miles of gentle walking trails in the adjoining LBA Woods and more.
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 473 ft.
Highest Point: 5238 ft.
Rating:
Reaching the summit of Suntop can require considerable energy, or it can be a simple short walk, but the views of Mount Rainier and the White River valley below are worth it any way you slice it. Hike either 16 miles or just two, depending on which trail you use.
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
8.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3950 ft.
Highest Point: 5760 ft.
Rating:
If the best views come to those who earn them, Mount Dickerman offers the fairest vantage along the Mountain Loop. You’ll huff and puff through 4,000 feet of elevation on your way to the summit; in return, you’ll get a superb panorama of nearly every peak in the Mountain Loop. In late summer, it also rewards the intrepid with a bounty of mountain blueberries.
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1345 ft.
Highest Point: 3642 ft.
Rating:
A popular trail, thanks to its gentle, family friendly grade with amazing destinations. The natural water slide area at Denny Creek is a must visit for families! Keekwulee Falls offers a stunning viewpoint that is easily accessible. Snowshoe Falls maybe a bit elusive and more difficult to see from the trail, but is also a beautiful natural wonder.
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 1000 ft.
Rating:
Visit a trio (yes, trio) of waterfalls just off I-90 on this sure-to-please short trail, perfect for families.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
7.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3300 ft.
Highest Point: 4600 ft.
Rating:
Visit one of the most striking lakes in the Henry M. Jackson wilderness. The vibrant blue of the glacier-fed lake provides the perfect rest stop for hikers who have braved the thirty-odd, steep switchbacks that lead to the lake.