Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Outside Hiking Guide

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

4203 Hikes

Plains of Abraham - Windy Pass Loop

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,000 feet
Highest Point
4,850 feet
Rating
Average rating:
5.00
(5 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

This hike is closed (except for the Loowit Trail segment) all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

Hike a challenging loop outside of the Windy Ridge area of Mount St. Helens, including a route-finding scramble to the pass. For your efforts, you’re rewarded with expansive, ever-changing views of one of the world’s most dynamic landscapes.
 
 

Mosquito Meadows

South Cascades > Dark Divide
 
Length
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
350 feet
Highest Point
4,350 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.40
(5 votes)
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
This mile-long gentle climb in the Dark Divide brings you to the Boundary Trail, where you can turn left towards Badger Lake or right towards Mount St. Helens.
 
 

Windy Trail

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
1.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
4,300 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

This trail is closed through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

A short trail accessible from the Windy Ridge area of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the Windy Trail makes it possible for hikers to loop up a variety of trails in the blast zone.
 
 

Windy Ridge and Plains of Abraham

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,000 feet
Highest Point
4,850 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.08
(13 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

This trail is closed through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

Climb to really excellent views of Rainier, Adams and Mount St. Helens via an exposed ridgeline before traversing east through hillside wildflowers, and ending at junction with the Loowit Trail in the center of the Plains of Abraham.
 
 

Miners Car Interpretive Site

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
0.3 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
15 feet
Highest Point
3,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

The site is closed for the season.

Hike a short paved trail to the remains of a vehicle that was subject to the 1980 blast when Mount. St. Helens erupted.
 
 

Meta Lake

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
0.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
0 feet
Highest Point
3,625 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.29
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
This very short and flat interpretive trail offers a wonderful way to take in the sights and sounds of a small lake still recovering from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
 
 

Loowit Falls

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
9.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,200 feet
Highest Point
4,575 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.70
(10 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

This trail is closed through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

Hike to a glacier-fed waterfall pouring out of the heart of a volcano. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.
 
 

Loowit Trail

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
32.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
6,000 feet
Highest Point
4,800 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.28
(29 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

The Loowit Trail cannot be accessed via the Willow Springs (#207A) Windy (#216E) or Abraham (#216E) trails through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The access trails will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays. The Loowit Trail remains open.

Ready for a stunning long hike through the otherwordly landscape of Mount St. Helens? The Loowit Trail reveals the volcano and the blast zone in all its raw glory.
 
 

Independence Pass Loop

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
6.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,665 feet
Highest Point
4,700 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.00
(5 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
The Independence Pass trail is impassable past the first 1.5 miles due to significant washouts and cannot currently be connected with the Boundary Trail to complete this loop.
 
 

Harmony Falls

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
2.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
650 feet
Highest Point
4,060 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.30
(10 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
An infrequently-used but surprisingly charming trail leading to the site of a former waterfall, and offering the only access to Spirit Lake.
 
 

Truman Trail - Pumice Plains

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,425 feet
Highest Point
4,200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.83
(6 votes)
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildlife

This trail is closed through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

Get up close and personal with Mount St. Helens as you explore the northern flanks of the eruption site and meander through the unique ecology of the pumice plains.
 
 

Strawberry Mountain

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
10.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,280 feet
Highest Point
5,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.22
(9 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
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.
 
 

Vanson Peak via Goat Mountain

South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
 
Length
17.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,600 feet
Highest Point
4,950 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(6 votes)
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Vanson Peak is a summit located within the northeastern reaches of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Reachable as a day hike, it features a small rock outcropping and provides commanding views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and nearby Riffe Lake. While it’s an exciting destination itself, the journey to and from this special viewpoint also presents many options for camping and sightseeing.
 
 

North Star Mountain

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
25.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
4,500 feet
Highest Point
8,096 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

North Star Mountain can be reached via scrambling from the Cloudy Pass trail.
 
 

Monkey Bear Falls

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.83
(6 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

Hike this lovely, flat trail in the forests of the North Cascades to a quiet waterfall about 2.5 miles from Holden Village.
 
 

Lyman Lakes

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
21.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,774 feet
Highest Point
5,983 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.44
(9 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

A boat ride up Lake Chelan to a summer camp, then a long hike to beautiful remote lakes east of Glacier Peak.
 
 

Holden to Hart Lake

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,000 feet
Highest Point
3,982 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.00
(3 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

Take in views of scenic waterfalls, fall foliage, and Bonanza Peak from the trail to Hart Lake. The trail is unique in that it begins at Holden Village, a Lutheran ministry only reachable via a combined ferry and bus trip.
 
 

Holden Lake

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,735 feet
Highest Point
5,300 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(6 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

Holden Lake is set in a fantastic glacial basin, with stunning views of Bonanza, the highest non-volcanic peak in Washington State. It can be a hot, brushy bushwhack to the lake, but the views from lakeshore are worth it.
 
 

Copper Basin via Copper Creek

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
4.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,300 feet
Highest Point
5,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(4 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

The Copper Creek Trail leaves from Holden Village in the North Cascades. This trail is relatively short but wastes no time in gaining elevation.
 
 

Holden Village to High Bridge

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
32.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

A more than 30 mile hike on the west side of Lake Chelan, from Holden Village to High Bridge at the north end of Stehekin.
 
 

Tenmile Falls

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 
Length
5.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,300 feet
Highest Point
4,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.50
(4 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

12.12.25: Holden Village is closed due to mudslides and washouts on FR 8301. The closure is expected to last through at least May 2026.

Hike a short trail out of Holden Village to see gorgeous falls up close. The 2015 Wolverine Fire hit this area hard and you can see the devastation; if it's windy, be aware these trees could topple. A new viewing platform at the falls opened in 2018.
 
 

Granite Creek Connector Trail

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
 
Length
2.4 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
1,089 feet
Highest Point
1,786 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(2 votes)

12.12.25 - Trail closed until further notice due to storm damage.

The Granite Creek Connector Trail provides hikers with an alternative start to a hike along the Granite Creek Trail.
 
 

River Meadows Park

Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
 
Rating
Average rating:
3.75
(4 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Rivers
  • Wildlife

12.12.25 - River Meadows Park is closed until flooding has subsided and damage can be assessed.

River Meadows Park is a great place for a nice hike that isn't too far out of town, just about 15 minutes outside of Arlington.
 
 

Clayton Beach

Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
 
Length
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
220 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.80
(5 votes)
  • Coast
  • Good for kids
Take a short trail from the Lost Lake Trailhead to Clayton Beach, where you'll find nearly a mile of shoreline to explore.
 
 

Mount Spokane State Park - Lower Trail 140

Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
 
Length
1.9 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
1,135 feet
Highest Point
4,135 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Trail 140 represents the only “bottom to top” trail experience for Mount Spokane’s summit, but is frequently enjoyed in smaller sections to create loops of various distances. Lower Trail 140 is the portion of the trail located adjacent to the park entrance, featuring some fantastic old-growth forest sections.
 
 

Mount Spokane State Park - Upper Trail 140

Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
 
Length
2.2 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
967 feet
Highest Point
5,846 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Trail 140 represents the only “bottom to top” trail experience for Mount Spokane’s summit, but is frequently enjoyed in smaller sections to create loops of various distances. Upper Trail 140 in its entirety is only accessible for part of the year since its upper reaches cross into the alpine ski concession, but this is the only summer multi-use trail that leads to the top of the park’s namesake peak.
 
 

Dupont Loop

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
 
Length
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
79 feet
Highest Point
243 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.33
(3 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Rivers
  • Wildlife
Spend some time away from the sounds of the city without even needing to leave it on this nature loop.
 
 

Lake Sylvia State Park

Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
 
Length
5.0 miles of trails
Elevation Gain
30 feet
Highest Point
170 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.89
(9 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Wildlife

12.11.25: The park is closed until further notice due to impacts from heavy rain.

Just a mile outside the tiny town of Montesano is a quiet, calm lake, fishing, swimming, camping and five miles of hiking trails. Stop by Lake Sylvia State Park for a day or a whole weekend of fun.
 
 

Lake Sylvia State Park - Brownie Trail

Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
 
Length
2.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
630 feet
Highest Point
460 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Lakes

12.11.25: Lake Sylvia State Park is closed until further notice due to impacts from heavy rain.

Take a day trip or camp at Lake Sylvia State Park to hike the Brownie Trail, one of 22(!) named multi-use trails in the Montesano City Forest.
 
 

Beacon Rock State Park - Hamilton Mountain

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
 
Length
7.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,000 feet
Highest Point
2,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.36
(28 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

12.10.26 - Trailhead closed due to landslide. Alternative access via the Equestrian or the Hadley Trailhead.

This hike is full of the best things the Columbia Gorge has to offer: easy access and parking, well-maintained trail, wildflowers galore, two waterfalls, and views to knock off your sweaty socks. It’s a long journey at about 7.5 miles, and steep in places, but nothing a healthy dog, child or senior citizen can’t do. You’ll meet all of these smiling folks on this hike during the peak seasons.