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
3898 Hikes
Norse Peak Lollipop via Goat Lake Trail
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
11.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3240 ft.
Highest Point: 6856.0 ft.
Rating:
Convert the popular out-and-back Norse Peak hike into a lollipop loop through the open terrain along the PCT and back along the Goat Lake Trail. While it has fewer views, it provides a longer, more secluded return to the trailhead.
Lakeview Trail
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 95 ft.
Highest Point: 410.0 ft.
Rating:
Follow a gentle, stroller-friendly slope for about a mile along the eastern and northern shores of scenic Lake Ballinger. You can extend your walk by continuing west along Lakeview Drive to the nearby Interurban Trail, or head east to explore the gravel forested path through Terrace Creek Park
Pearrygin Lake Sno-Park
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Pearrygin Lake State Park features miles of groomed trails, both on the state park land and on the adjoining Lloyd Ranch lands. There are miles of options here, from the far afield Crazy Eights and Southpark Loops, to the short loop near the West Campground.
Bear Creek via Table Springs Ridge
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
13.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2840 ft.
Highest Point: 5280.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail in the Umatilla National Forest starts at the end of Forest Service Road 6512 at Table Springs Ridge and goes to Bear Creek. It uses to provide access to the Walla Walla River drainage trail loop system which is used for fishing, hunting, camping, horseback riding, hiking and more
Cathedral Pass Loop
North Cascades -- Pasayten
44.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4000 ft.
Highest Point: 7800.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike through some of the Boundary Trail’s best scenery on the 44-mile lollipop loop along the Chewuch River and through majestic Cathedral Pass.
Sand Ridge
South Cascades -- White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
8.9 miles, one-way
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 5400.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail in the William O. Douglas wilderness climbs from the north side of Highway 12 through second-growth forest. It offers access to Spiral Butte and Shellrock Lake, among other lakes in this area. While it's a lovely spot to enjoy a low-key backpack, the water here can make the area swampy in the spring and early summer.
Pipsissewa Trail
Eastern Washington -- Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
4.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 860 ft.
Highest Point: 4420.0 ft.
Rating:
Take in beautiful views of Bonaparte Lake, heady pine forest, and beautiful rock gardens in this Eastern Washington escape.
Pearrygin Creek
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
7.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2060 ft.
Highest Point: 6644.0 ft.
Rating:
Looking for a challenge in route finding, with the payoff of partially obscured views? Then this trail is for you. What was once a popular non-motorized, multi-use trail was overrun by the 2006 Tripod Fire and the 2014 Carleton Complex Fire. Since the fires, a lack of maintenance and road washouts make access, route finding, and travel difficult.
North Fork Asotin Creek to Pinkham Butte
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
20.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1750 ft.
Highest Point: 3080.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail follows the north fork of Asotin Creek before climbing to Pinkham Butte.
North Lake
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
10.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2220 ft.
Highest Point: 5840.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike in to a small lake at the head of a valley with good campsites and many possibilities for exploration. Along the way, see the difference between the 2018 Crescent Mountain Fire impacted forest and the old growth forest.
Oak Creek Road - Bethel Ridge
Central Washington -- Yakima
6.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 800 ft.
Highest Point: 2500.0 ft.
Rating:
This is a scenic, easy to moderate hike or snowshoe up a broad canyon with a good chance of spotting bands of elk.
Lone Fir Loop
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 100 ft.
Rating:
An easy, short loop hike out of the Lone Fir campground. The first bit is paved before giving way to a dirt trail that follows Early Winters Creek. After a creek crossing (log bridge) it loops back to the campground.
Larch Creek
North Cascades -- Pasayten
32.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3300 ft.
Highest Point: 7500.0 ft.
Rating:
Follow this trail through the heart of the Pasayten Wilderness. Take in all the sights the Wilderness has to offer, including but not limited to: stunning peaks, refreshing creeks, wildflowers galore, and limitless views from ridges.
Grouse Mountain
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
5.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 4000.0 ft.
Rating:
A great first-of-spring hike for the whole family less than an hour from Walla Walla. A top of ridge hike looks down into the North Fork of the Umatilla River.
Big Tree Trail
Eastern Washington -- Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
2.7 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Looking for a lower-key, wheelchair accessible hike among gorgeous golden larches in fall? The 0.7-mile Big Tree Trail is just the ticket.
North Fork Walla Walla River
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
20.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1540 ft.
Highest Point: 5400.0 ft.
Rating:
This well-maintained trail follows along the North Fork Walla Walla River. Large trees provide shade for most of the hike, and all the flora and fauna that come with being near water.
Copper Glance Lake
North Cascades -- Pasayten
6.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2560 ft.
Highest Point: 6260.0 ft.
Rating:
This hike through history, both natural and mining, leads to a beautiful emerald lake below the rocky cliffs of Isabella Ridge. The mix of old mining road and steep trail passes through burnt forest, past an old mine, through flowered meadows, and across a boulder field to reach Copper Glance Lake.
Pearrygin Lake State Park - Rex Derr Trail
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
3.1 miles of trails
Rating:
The beautiful lake at Pearrygin Lake State Park is the star of the show here, but a 3-mile trail skirting the eastern edge of the park is a lovely diversion for visitors here.
Hidden Lakes
North Cascades -- Pasayten
34.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 5800.0 ft.
Rating:
The Hidden Lakes are the jewels of the Pasayten Wilderness. Tucked high within the Wilderness, these lakes provide backpackers with opportunities to fish, swim, relax, and view wildlife and wildflowers.
Goldmyer Hot Springs
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
24.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
The way to Goldmyer Hot Springs is a delightful forest walk through deep woods, along the rushing Snoqualmie River, and ultimately to a beautiful privately owned hot springs tucked against the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Because it is privately owned by a non-profit, reservations are strongly recommended and are the only way to assure access to the property and hot springs.
Cougar Lakes
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1700 ft.
Highest Point: 5400.0 ft.
Rating:
Ford a river, climb through forest and end at two lakes in the heart of a wilderness area -- Cougar Lake is a gorgeous respite for hikers in the William O. Douglas wilderness.
Cutthroat Pass via Cutthroat Lake
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
11.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 6800.0 ft.
Rating:
Take this gentle trail to a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by rocky cliffs before heading up some steeper switchbacks to a pass and junction with the iconic Pacific Crest Trail.
Chewuch River Trail
North Cascades -- Pasayten
37.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3300 ft.
Highest Point: 6900.0 ft.
Rating:
The Chewuch River Trail provides access to the very popular Cathedral Lakes area on the Boundary trail. Walk through a burn zone, lodgepole pine, and meadows as you travel deep into the Pasayten Wilderness.
Bumping Lake
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 3700.0 ft.
Rating:
A gentle hike through stands of mature larches and other conifers along the shores of Bumping Lake. The trail is also a good alternate route to Swamp Lake Trail #970 or to Pacific Crest Trail #2000 when a ford of the Bumping River is too hazardous.
Black Lake
North Cascades -- Pasayten
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 780 ft.
Highest Point: 3982.0 ft.
Rating:
While snow still coats the high places of the Methow Valley, the hike to Black Lake offers early-season wildflowers amidst the recovery from a devastating 2003 wildfire.
Beth Lake
Eastern Washington -- Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
1.9 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 2498.0 ft.
Rating:
This lakeside trail begins in Beaver Lake Campground and travels 1.9 flat miles to Beth Lake, offering opportunities to view fish and waterfowl including the Common Loon.
Beaver Lake
North Cascades -- Methow/Sawtooth
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 5500.0 ft.
Rating:
Beaver Lake is a nice short walk through starkly beautiful terrain still recovering from the Okanagon Complex fires in 2015.
Bear Canyon
Central Washington -- Yakima
6.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1130 ft.
Highest Point: 3200.0 ft.
Rating:
Follow a stream between steep sided basalt cliffs up a shady canyon in the transition zone between the Cascade Mountains and the dry shrub-steppe grasslands of eastern Washington.
Umatilla Rim Trail
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
13.5 miles, one-way
Gain: 2050 ft.
Highest Point: 4450.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail is located in the Umatilla National Forest in Oregon, but is close enough for a day hike from Washington. The route is a thru hike in the Blue Mountains.