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
3891 Hikes
Humpback Mountain
Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2500 ft.
Highest Point: 5174.0 ft.
Rating:
A climber's trail leads to this forested summit off I-90. This trail is not managed by the Forest Service, so it is likely to be unmaintained.
Quick Creek Camp
Snoqualmie Region -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 950 ft.
Rating:
Waptus Pass Trail connects Pete Lake Trail with the Waptus River Trail, climbing steeply out of the Salmon La Sac area to Pete Lake and Waptus Lake to reach Waptus Pass.
Big Meadow Lake
Eastern Washington -- Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
2.7 miles of trails
Gain: 25 ft.
Rating:
Take a short turn around a barrier free trail, or a slightly longer one to view wildlife and lovely flora.
McDowell Marsh Environmental Education Trail
Eastern Washington -- Selkirk Range
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 25 ft.
Rating:
The McDowell Marsh Environmental Education Trail (McMEET) is a 1.2 mile hardened environmental education trail offering hikers an opportunity to explore five distinct ecological habitats, ranging from riparian to semi-arid, which are managed specifically for native plants and wildlife.
Saltese Uplands
Eastern Washington -- Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
3.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 630 ft.
Rating:
WTA has worked on trails in this 552-acre conservation area to help prevent erosion. Over 7 miles of trail wind throughout the property, exploring canyons that embrace year-round springs and climbing ridge tops with views of Liberty Lake, Mount Spokane, and Saltese Flats.
Carlisle Lake
South Cascades -- White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 88 ft.
Rating:
A one mile loop trail takes visitors around a lake that used to be a mill pond.
Sweet Creek Falls Interpretive Trail
Eastern Washington -- Selkirk Range
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 150 ft.
Rating:
A short trail to stretch one's legs, and a beautiful waterfall located just off the highway.
Thunder Creek
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 1900.0 ft.
Rating:
A pale green creek, big old trees, a variety of understory, and peek-a-boo views of snow-capped peaks. Day-hikers should take it easy, as the joy here is in the journey not the destination. Backpackers, however, may disagree. Families and first-time backpackers will enjoy beautiful camps just two miles from the trailhead. Experienced backpackers will note that Thunder Creek is a gateway to an extensive network of trails.
Blue Lake
South Cascades -- Dark Divide
5.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 900 ft.
Highest Point: 5200.0 ft.
Rating:
This short, hiker-only trail in the Dark Divide connects hikers to an arresting, appropriately named blue lake jumping with fish. If you can get past its quiet shores, it's a short jaunt to connect with the Craggy Peak trail and miles of ridgeline hiking that the Dark Divide Roadless Area affords.
Lewisville Regional Park
Southwest Washington -- Lewis River Region
2.8 miles, one-way
Gain: 77 ft.
Rating:
As Clark County's oldest park, Lewisville Regional Park is a delightful place for families to visit and get a shot of history, since the park was developed by The Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression.
Frenchman's Bar
Southwest Washington -- Vancouver Area
2.5 miles, one-way
Gain: 75 ft.
Highest Point: 210.0 ft.
Rating:
Just a few miles from the heart of downtown Vancouver is a quaint rural getaway, where the Frenchman’s Bar Trail connects Vancouver Lake Park to Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. The wide, paved path provides the perfect urban getaway for hikers and dog walkers alike—it’s also a favorite among birders. On clear days, you’ll be treated to views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens.
Lake of the Angels
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3400 ft.
Highest Point: 4950.0 ft.
Rating:
Tucked high in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula, in the appropriately named Valley of Heaven is a breathtaking lake -- the Lake of the Angels. The heavenly goal is accessed by a trail built for more mortal interests. Keep in mind though; if you tackle this trail, it's devilishly difficult. In some places, it requires a vertical climb where falling is not an option. Be prepared, both physically and mentally, for this challenging hike.
Chief Joseph Wildlife Area - 4-O Ranch
Eastern Washington -- Palouse and Blue Mountains
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1500 ft.
Highest Point: 3000.0 ft.
Rating:
Famous for its wildlife, the 4-O Ranch portion of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area provides hikers with access to the Grand Ronde River in the Blue Mountains. Walk over rolling hills and through ponderosa pine woodlands as you search for numerous species that call the area home.
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.
Bullion Basin
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
4.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1900 ft.
Highest Point: 6300.0 ft.
Rating:
A relatively steep and rocky connector trail running between the Crystal Mountain resort area up through Bullion Basin to the Pacific Crest Trail with mountain and meadow views.
Greider Lakes
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
8.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2035 ft.
Highest Point: 2930.0 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.
Nannie Ridge-Sheep Lake
South Cascades -- Goat Rocks
9.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2056 ft.
Highest Point: 5842.0 ft.
Rating:
A steep climb rewards you with huckleberries, stunning mountain views, wildflower meadows and a charming alpine lake along the Pacific Crest Trail.
White Bluffs - Central Slope
Central Washington -- Tri-Cities
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Rating:
On this hike you’ll walk a long string of sand dunes or explore the nooks and crannies of a recent landslide, all beside the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River with panoramic views up and down the river, north to the Saddle Mountains, and across the Hanford Nuclear Site to the distant Cascade Mountains.
Stairway to Heaven
Central Washington -- Wenatchee
9.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 900 ft.
Rating:
Stairway to Heaven is a single track hiking and mountain biking trail in the foothills of Wenatchee. It climbs gently through fields of flowers and Ponderosa pine up to the summit of Twin Peaks. Enjoy views of the canyons and Wenatchee Valley down below.
Greenwater and Echo Lakes
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
14.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1900 ft.
Highest Point: 4100.0 ft.
Rating:
Visit a trail where rushing rivers, placid lakes, and wild forests abound.
Mount Grant Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
4.6 miles of trails
Gain: 900 ft.
Highest Point: 900.0 ft.
Rating:
Mount Grant Preserve is a trail system in development on San Juan Island. Currently, the trails to the top offer the most elevation gain available on San Juan Island, so you'll love this one if you're looking to get high up.
Moran State Park - Cold Springs and North Trail Loop to Mount Constitution
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
11.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2940 ft.
Highest Point: 2409.0 ft.
Rating:
Take a tour of Mount Constitution using one of the longer loops on Orcas Island. There's plenty of elevation gain, plenty of miles, and plenty to see along the way.
Turtleback Mountain Preserve: Turtlehead Summit
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
5.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1295 ft.
Highest Point: 1025.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike a short trail that leads to one of the best viewpoints in the San Juans, with views of other San Juan Islands and of Canada's Gulf Islands. In the distance, Vancouver Island and the Olympic mountains will be visible. Along the way, enjoy an exuberant display of mosses and, in season, wildflowers. Sightings of golden eagles, turkey vultures, and many other birds are likely.
Moran State Park - Cascade Falls
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 690.0 ft.
Rating:
Enjoy 40 feet of the tallest waterfall in the San Juans during a visit to Moran State Park. Cascade Creek flows through not just Cascade Falls, but a few other fallls as well as it pours into a ravine on its way to the ocean. This trail also features towering trees, many other waterfalls, and connects to other trails in the park.
Moose Lake
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
8.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1500 ft.
Rating:
A hike with great scenery in the high country of Olympic with good opportunity to see the endemic Olympic marmot and wildflowers!
Peach Preserve Shore
Puget Sound and Islands
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
A birder or botanist’s dream, this nature preserve boasts a diversity of ecosystems, all accessed via an easy and short trail which ends at a 2,000-foot section of protected beach.
Deer Park to Maiden Peak
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2100 ft.
Highest Point: 6200.0 ft.
Rating:
The eastern part of the Grand Ridge trail can be accessed from Deer Park as a day hike and has a charm all of its own -- forest with avalanche lilies in spring, wildflower meadows and great views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, the Cascades, and the Olympic mountains.
Point Colville
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
Rating:
Enjoy wildflowers, solitude, and gorgeous views of Puget Sound on this lovely little hike down a pretty trail to Watmaugh Bay Beach. The park is located off Watmough Head Road, and the beach is beautiful; perfect for a picnic.
PJ Lake
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
1.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 825 ft.
Highest Point: 5020.0 ft.
Rating:
PJ Lake is a short but steep primitive trail to a subalpine tarn teeming with jumping trout. The lake’s beautiful color draws anglers, day hikers, and campers alike. However, the trail is so steep that the short mileage to get there is eclipsed by the vertical exertion and lingering leg pain.
Otto Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
2.0 miles of trails
Gain: 150 ft.
Highest Point: 250.0 ft.
Rating:
This is a pleasant walk through the forest for nature lovers of all ages. There is a large, grassy area for picnics or play time and a resource center that provides educational opportunities. Getting here requires a five minute ferry ride on the Lummi Island Ferry.