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 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
4208 HikesMarckworth Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Elevation Gain
- 530 feet
-
Highest Point
- 760 feet
Marckworth Forest offers some wonderful walking among forest, marshes, and rumpled rocky hills, as long as you're ok doing your own routefinding on logging roads. It's a quiet, little known and infrequently visited spot, less than an hour's drive from Seattle.
Cherry Creek Falls
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 450 feet
-
Highest Point
- 705 feet
Hike along old logging roads to a 25-foot tall waterfall on Cherry Creek just outside of Duvall. Note that access to this area is part of an agreement with nearby homeowners, and part of the trail is on private land, so please remain on the main path, observe leash laws and keep noise to a minimum as a courtesy to homeowners along trail. There are no toilets at the trailhead. Plan ahead.
Ames Lake Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 5.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 650 feet
With many miles of trails that are being improved by King County Parks, Ames Lake Forest is a good option for anyone looking to get away from crowds at Tolt-MacDonald. Keep in mind that this is a watershed though, and be certain to keep Leave No Trace principles in mind in this sensitive area.
Salt Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
The Salt Creek Recreation Area just outside of Port Angeles has several small trails in and around the camping area for folks to explore, and connects hikers to the nearby Striped Peak trail.
Magnet Creek
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
-
Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
Hike this unmaintained trail on the dry side of the Cascades. It's a scenic, wildflower wonderland, if you're willing and able to route-find your way to the ridge.
Mount Stuart
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
-
Length
- 11.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 6,309 feet
-
Highest Point
- 9,416 feet
Mount Stuart is a popular climb in the Enchantments area of Washington State. Have gear and climbing expertise before you attempt this.
Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
-
Highest Point
- 3,612 feet
Fans of geology, history and, of course, nature can enjoy this 168-acre day-use park. The top of the butte has magnificent views from above the Palouse Hills, and you can learn more about the area’s unique geology from interpretive panels at the summit.
Staircase Rapids
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 574 feet
-
Highest Point
- 950 feet
This trail and FR 24 are closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
Staircase Rapids is a beautiful 2.1 mile loop trail following the North Fork of the Skokomish River. Enjoy the Olympic old growth forests with a lush understory of mosses and ferns.
Salmon Viewing Trail
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 0.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,160 feet
The Salmon Viewing Trail is a short but rewarding stroll that ends at an observation area on the bank of the Cle Elum River where salmon spawn in the fall. The ADA-accessible path beelines beneath cheery conifers and quickly brings the hiker to the riverside.
Lake Hills Greenbelt
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 2.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 330 feet
Hike through a pastoral area first settled and farmed in the 1880s. Along the way, enjoy a dense grove of cedars, followed by close-up views of blueberry fields that still produce an annual crop. Circle Larsen Lake, and view a restored pioneer home. Optionally, extend your hike to view nearby Phantom Lake.
Augspurger Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
-
Length
- 15.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
The Auspurger Mountain and Dog Mountain trails share the same trailhead, but the Auspurger Mountain trail heads west while the Dog Mountain trail heads east.
Meadowlark Natural Area
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
-
Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,150 feet
Take a stroll on the sunny, warm slopes of Studhorse Mountain just outside of Winthrop. This hike is usually among the first to melt out and bloom in the spring, providing much needed forage for the mule deer population. An easy 2.5 mile loop gives great views of the Sawtooth/Chelan Wilderness and Winthrop’s downtown is at your feet.
Beebe Springs Wildlife Area - River Trails
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
Visiting Beebe Springs is more of a leg stretcher or bird watching location than a destination hiking location. That much being said, it has bountiful wildlife and broad vistas. Do note that it is closed seasonally from December 1 to March 15.
Heybrook Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
-
Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 775 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,327 feet
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.
Divide Camp
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
-
Length
- 5.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The Divide Camp Trail features dense forests, glacial creeks, and wildflower-strewn meadows. It also sees less traffic than the nearby Killen Creek Trail – the standard approach to High Camp.
Merrill Lake Conservation Area - Kalama River Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 3.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,600 feet
There are two routes to Kalama Falls; the shorter route starts at a two-track gravel road and goes through the Merrill Lake Wildlife Area.
Kalama Horse Camp to Kalama Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 870 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
The trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Kalama Fire.
There are two routes to Kalama Falls; the longer route starts from the Kalama Horse Camp and takes hikers through the forest.
Catherine Creek - Natural Arch
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
-
Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 500 feet
This family-friendly classic hike has perhaps the most photo ops per mile than any other hike in the Gorge. You can check out a natural rock arch, see a variety of terrain, take in sweeping views of the Columbia River, and enjoy early-spring wildflower displays.
Margaret's Way and Debbie's View
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
-
Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,730 feet
If nature excites you, there's plenty here to be excited about. Cool forest, trickling creeks in deep ravines, and a beautiful new trail built by WTA volunteers await you here.
Rainier View
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,000 feet
This is a great hike for kids with lots to see including wild flowers, big views of Mount Rainier and maybe even some wildlife including marmots and goats. Take a picnic and enjoy the wonderful sights along this trail.
Dirty Harry's Balcony
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
-
Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
Get a workout and experience rock work completed by Department of Natural Resources and WTA volunteer crews on this hike. Your reward is a rocky overlook from which you can marvel at Mount Kent, McClellan Butte, and Mount Washington, the behemoths forming the south rim of the west entrance to Snoqualmie Pass.
Goat Creek
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
Goat Creek trail is locally known for being an access point to one of the most special waterfalls in the region, Cathedral Falls. Hike beyond this spectacular feature under wonderfully lush canopy giving yourself options for a full day hike, while adding potential summit peaks or lakeside backcountry camping options to your itinerary.
Sehome Arboretum
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 6.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 325 feet
-
Highest Point
- 620 feet
A lush, green refuge with 6 miles of trails is the backyard playground for Western Washington University and Fairhaven College in Bellingham.
Bay to Baker Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 8.5 miles of trails
-
Highest Point
- 100 feet
After a long day at the office, the Bay to Baker Trail offers a convenient dose of nature right in the heart of Bellingham.
Big Rock Garden
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
-
Highest Point
- 520 feet
The Big Rock Garden allows visitors to slow down and enjoy a bit of quiet solitude without having to trek far from home. The park features 37 permanent sculptures, over 100 species of maple and dozens of rhododendrons and azaleas which promise enjoyable walking at any time of year.
Whatcom Falls Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
There are three and a half miles of trails in Whatcom Falls Park. Many routes wind through the forests, some overlooking the creek gorge and still pools. Some wind through open meadows, while others stay in deep forest.
Mount Adams South Climb
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
-
Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 6,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 12,276 feet
The South Climb (or Lunch Counter Approach) of Mount Adams is the one that requires the least amount of technical expertise. However, ice axes, trekking poles, and crampons or microspikes (depending on the season) are required to summit. Hikers who put this investment in will be rewarded with stunning views on a clear day, as well as the satisfaction of having made it up one of Washington's five volcanoes.
Miners Cabin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 3.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,158 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,592 feet
Suiattle River Road is closed at the intersection with Suiattle Mountain Road (about 4.5 miles in) due to washout which renders this trailhead inaccessible.
A connector trail that shoots off the Miner's Ridge trail, this 3.5-mile, relatively flat route connects Miner's Ridge to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Milk Creek - Suiattle River Loop
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 34.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,900 feet
Suiattle River Road is closed at the intersection with Suiattle Mountain Road (about 4.5 miles in) due to washout which renders this trailhead inaccessible.
The Milk Creek trail used to offer a gorgeous tour of the Glacier Peak wilderness via a 34.7-mile backpacking loop. Hikers followed the Milk Creek trail to the Pacific Crest Trail, then down to the Suiattle River Trail. Along the way it offered stunning close-up views of Glacier Peak, endless wildflower meadows and ample opportunities for solitude. Unfortunately, it now requires a potentially dangerous ford of the Suiattle River due to a missing bridge. Because of its inaccessibility and a lack of maintenance, expect a brushy trail with blowdowns beyond this point.
Milk Creek
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,900 feet
Suiattle River Road is closed at the intersection with Suiattle Mountain Road (about 4.5 miles in) due to washout which renders this trailhead inaccessible.
This hike requires a potentially dangerous ford of the Suiattle River due to a missing bridge. Because of its inaccessibility and a lack of maintenance, expect a brushy trail with blowdowns beyond this point.