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
3905 Hikes
Whipple Creek Park
Southwest Washington -- Vancouver Area
3.1 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 110 ft.
Highest Point: 200.0 ft.
Rating:
A deep-forest experience without the drive. Whipple Creek Park is a 300-acre green oasis in the midst of farmlands to the west of the Clark County Fairgrounds. This hike loops through colossal Douglas fir trees and waist-high sword ferns to provide a primordial experience where you are dwarfed by nature. There is a small meadow for a picnic and the remnants of a grist mill to explore. This hike is a great way to escape urban life and be immersed in a peaceful forest environment.
Old Government
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 2400.0 ft.
Rating:
This is a pleasant, short, lowland forest walk, accessed in Barlow Pass, the popular jumping-off point for locations like Monte Cristo and Gothic Basin.
LaCrosse Pass
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
6.4 miles, one-way
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 5566.0 ft.
Rating:
The Lacrosse Pass Trail runs up and over the ridge between the West Fork Dosewallips River valley and the Duckabush River Valley.
Anderson Glacier
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
0.8 miles, one-way
Gain: 735 ft.
Highest Point: 5200.0 ft.
Rating:
The Anderson Glacier Trail is a backcountry trail located in the eastern reaches of Olympic National Park. This short spur trail starts at Anderson Pass and ascends in a series of steep switchbacks to a moraine that overlooks a lake and the former site of Anderson Glacier.
Bridle Trails State Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
3.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 450 ft.
Highest Point: 525.0 ft.
Rating:
Bridle Trails State Park offers more than 28 miles of pleasant, forested trails conveniently located between Bellevue and Kirkland.
Lewis River Falls
Southwest Washington -- Lewis River Region
8.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 450 ft.
Highest Point: 1300.0 ft.
Rating:
Step into the moss-cloaked forest of the Lewis River, where giant cedars, nurse logs, ancient stumps and rushing water abound.
Verne Samuelson Trail
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
A nice forested stroll, with views of a small creek, and the valley below.
Lena Lake
Olympic Peninsula -- Hood Canal
7.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1300 ft.
Highest Point: 2000.0 ft.
Rating:
The hike to Lena Lake is doable for nearly every type of hiker, and the traffic on the trail is evidence of it. A wide path switchbacks gently at first and then just a little more steeply uphill through old- and second-growth forest to a large lake ringed by silent sentinels--huge old-growth fir trees that keep watch over day hikers and campers who elect to stay overnight at this wilderness refuge.
Palisades
Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
15.9 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2680 ft.
Highest Point: 5300.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail has it all, from beautiful forests, beautiful waterfalls, good climbing and fun descents to technical sections with views of Mount Rainier from cliffs that will inspire you.
West Tiger 3
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2100 ft.
Highest Point: 2525.0 ft.
Rating:
Don't expect solitude here- this is perhaps the most heavily used trail on Tiger Mountain, and for good reason. Fortunately, there is plenty of room to share. This close-to-the-city wild land trail provides stunning views, great forestlands, and ample opportunities to see birds and critters. West Tiger- one of the sprawling mountain's four primary peaks (West, Middle, South and East)- is itself a tri-crowned peak. Numbered 1 through 3, the third of the West Tiger peaks offers the best views, despite being the lowest of the triplets.
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls
Olympic Peninsula -- Olympia
0.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 30 ft.
Highest Point: 150.0 ft.
Rating:
Visit a park near Olympia that boasts it all: native flora and fauna, an interpretive nature trail, historical markers and plenty to keep kids entertained all year round.
Young Hill
Puget Sound and Islands -- San Juan Islands
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 587 ft.
Highest Point: 665.0 ft.
Rating:
The hike up Young Hill is a San Juan Island classic. A moderate trail leading to surprisingly expansive views, and the short side trip to the English Camp cemetery offers a chance to observe unique natural and historical features.
Boulder River
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
8.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 700 ft.
Highest Point: 1550.0 ft.
Rating:
The Boulder River trail is a nice hike that can be done any time of year. Come in winter while the rain is dripping off the mossy trees, photograph the waterfalls filled with spring snowmelt. Take the kids out for a little picnic in the summer, or leaf collecting in the fall. Come anytime midweek for quiet contemplation.
Lennox Creek (Dog Mountain)
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3800 ft.
Highest Point: 5408.0 ft.
Rating:
This abandoned trail climbs from the Lennox Creek Valley under thick canopy to a prominent peak in between the North Fork and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers.
Kaleetan Lake
Snoqualmie Region -- North Bend Area
20.2 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 4300.0 ft.
Rating:
Press on past Pratt Lake to reach a measure of backcountry solitude at Windy Lake or Kaleetan Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Thunder Knob
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
3.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 635 ft.
Highest Point: 1875.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike this easy leg stretcher while taking in the beautiful scenery of the North Cascades Highway. A good stop if you have a car full of restless children or you are showing off the area to visiting relatives. The views from the top are a big payoff for such a short hike.
Dog Mountain
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2800 ft.
Highest Point: 2948.0 ft.
Rating:
The stunning views and unparalleled springtime flowers make this one of the most popular hikes in the Gorge. On a good day, you can get a bird’s eye view of Mount Hood and the Columbia River. In the spring the top is carpeted with vibrant yellow balsam root. Although the trail is steep and sometimes crowded, this hike is unquestionably worth the effort.
Augspurger Trail
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
15.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4400 ft.
Highest Point: 3000.0 ft.
Rating:
The Augspurger Mountain Trail offers a great loop option to the popular Dog Mountain Trail. The two trails share the same trailhead, but the Augspurger trail heads off to the west. The way is more gentle, and a 1.5 mile connector trail links the two together. Along the way, enjoy bouncy balsamroot blooms in May and fantastic views of the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and more all year round.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Southwest Washington -- Vancouver Area
2.8 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
A birder's paradise, this wildlife refuge is the perfect get-away without a long drive. The refuge includes mixed wetlands and pastures with riparian strips lined with cottonwoods and white oak trees. More than 200 species of waterfowl and songbirds have been recorded here, making it the perfect place to slow down and enjoy nature.
St. Cloud
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 50.0 ft.
Rating:
The St. Cloud Day use area features a ½ mile ADA accessible pathway that meanders through an old orchard that was the site of a homestead ranch from the turn of the century.
Klickitat Rail Trail - Swale Canyon
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
13.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 450 ft.
Highest Point: 1550.0 ft.
Rating:
The Klickitat Rail Trail is a 31-mile rails-to-trails conversion managed by Columbia Hills State Park. This linear park goes from Lyle to Warwick (on the Lyle-Centerville Highway) with several access points along the way. Swale Canyon lies on the eastern end of the trail and offers a quiet canyon, a burbly creek, wildflowers and solitude.
Weldon Wagon Road
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
5.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1290 ft.
Highest Point: 1900.0 ft.
Rating:
Oregon white oak woodlands with open ridgetop meadows, wildflowers, and views of the White Salmon Valley make this a delightful hike that is off the beaten track.
Lucia Falls
Southwest Washington -- Vancouver Area
1.1 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 20 ft.
Rating:
This short hike takes you to a delightful little waterfall; it's a good alternate to the longer, nearby Bells Mountain trail if you don't have the time or energy.
Lyle Cherry Orchard
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1050 ft.
Highest Point: 1100.0 ft.
Rating:
This little-known gem of a hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge offers spectacular views of the Columbia River, amazing spring wildflowers and an old garry oak forest of gnarled old trees. This stunning preserve is owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and tops out in an old cherry orchard with a few surviving trees.
Cleman Mountain - Waterworks Canyon Loop
Central Washington -- Yakima
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 3582.0 ft.
Rating:
Great views, a canyon beneath spectacular cliffs, buttresses and pinnacles of weathered basalt, wildflowers in the spring, color and wildlife in the autumn, and sunshine through most of the day in the winter make the Point 3582-Waterworks Canyon loop on Mount Cleman a great hike.
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.
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.
Redmond Watershed Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
4.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 580.0 ft.
Rating:
Explore 800 acres of wooded area right in Redmond’s backyard.
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.
Wallace Falls - Lake Loop
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1544 ft.
Highest Point: 1844.0 ft.
Rating:
This fine loop trail gives you scenery, mileage, and some elevation gain, with the bonus of being hikeable year-round. Start by wandering along the Wallace River as it tumbles down from the famous falls. Get your pictures of the falls, then continue your hike by including the large forested Wallace Lake. Return through a green shag carpet of moss, sword ferns and hemlock, following the North Fork Wallace River as it rushes to meet the main Wallace River and your return trail.