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
3893 Hikes
Ruth Cohen Memorial Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Whidbey Island
Rating:
This small neighborhood park features a loop trail that winds through the forest behind the playground.
Elk Bench
South Cascades -- Mount St. Helens
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 600 ft.
Highest Point: 3100.0 ft.
Rating:
This short trail is located near Coldwater Lake and connects visitors to the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater to the Lakes Trail and the Mount Margaret backcountry.
Big Cedar Tree - Kalaloch
Olympic Peninsula -- Pacific Coast
0.1 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 25.0 ft.
Rating:
A storm in March 2014 partially felled this giant. Use caution when visiting and attend to any signage regarding access.
This trail is a short one, just a few hundred feet from the parking area, but it takes you to one of the most easily-accessible, impressive giants of the west coast.
Coyote Creek
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
1.1 miles, one-way
Gain: 150 ft.
Highest Point: 1350.0 ft.
Rating:
The Coyote Creek Trail runs north-south through the northern half of Cougar Mountain Regional Park.
Lost Beagle
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.6 miles, one-way
Gain: 250 ft.
Highest Point: 1470.0 ft.
Rating:
The Lost Beagle Trail is a connector Trail on Cougar Mountain. It does not have its own trailhead so hikers must reach this trail on foot from one of the many connecting trails.
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.
Clark Lake Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
1.5 miles of trails
Rating:
This 130-acre park in Kent contains a small lake and several walking trails. Visitors
Lake James
Mount Rainier Area -- NW - Carbon River/Mowich
22.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3450 ft.
Rating:
The way to Lake James offers a myriad of experiences, from deep rainforest to the high country of Mount Rainier National Park. Undertake an ambitious dayhike, or be more leisurely about it and make it a backpacking trip.
Etienne Creek
Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 6100.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail follows the drainage to join the Falls Creek Trail. The trailhead is found behind a gated Shaser Road, making it a 4-mile road walk or bike ride to hike this four mile round-trip trail.
Waterline Trail
Issaquah Alps
1.4 miles, one-way
Highest Point: 400.0 ft.
Rating:
The Waterline Trail is part of the extensive trail network in the city of Newcastle. It connects to the May Valley Trail, passes by Lake Boren Park and ends at Newcastle Way with connections on to various other trails.
South Kitsap Regional Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Seattle-Tacoma Area
Rating:
The vast network of hiking trails offer longer rambles for adults as well as a short interactive loop for kids.
Brooks Memorial State Park
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - WA
5.0 miles of trails
Rating:
This state park has more than nine miles of trails that wind through a forest of Ponderosa pine and Oregon white oak in the Simcoe Mountains near the Columbia River Gorge. Some trails take you up to meadows with wildflowers in the spring and views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood and even Mount Jefferson on a clear day.
Tiger Mountain Road
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Rating:
Tiger Mountain Road is a gravel road that starts at the East Tiger Mountain Summit Parking Lot and winds up near the summit.
Tibbett's Marsh
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.9 miles, one-way
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 1400.0 ft.
Rating:
The Tibbett's Marsh Trail runs through the northern reaches of Cougar Mountain.
Steam Hoist
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.2 miles, one-way
Gain: 50 ft.
Highest Point: 670.0 ft.
Rating:
The Steam Hoist Trail is a short loop trail within the Cougar Mountain trail network. One end of this trail connects to the Rainbow Town trail and the other connects to the Wildside Trail.
Ring Road
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.4 miles, one-way
Gain: 100 ft.
Highest Point: 1300.0 ft.
Rating:
The Ring Road Trail is part of the Cougar Mountain trail system. It can only be reached on foot and does not have its own trailhead. Hikers can connect to the Ring Road Trail From the Long View Peak Trail in the southern reaches of this vast park.
Shy Bear
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
1.5 miles, one-way
Gain: 250 ft.
Highest Point: 1200.0 ft.
Rating:
The Shy Bear runs through the southern portion of Cougar Mountain. The official ends of this trail can only be reached on foot and must be accessed from one of the various trails that connect to Shy Bear.
Mount Defiance (Oregon)
Southwest Washington -- Columbia River Gorge - OR
8.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4800 ft.
Highest Point: 4960.0 ft.
Rating:
This grind of a hike is one of the most strenuous hikes in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Radio Peak
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.4 miles, one-way
Gain: 180 ft.
Highest Point: 1440.0 ft.
Rating:
The Radio Peak Trail travels for just under half a mile in the northern reaches of Cougar Mountain. It is part of the vast trail network in the park and does not have its own devoted trailhead.
Rhododendron Park
Puget Sound and Islands -- Whidbey Island
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 295.0 ft.
Rating:
The campground on the north end of Rhododendron Park is currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions
A multi-use county park with a short system of rambling trails through native rhododendron forest in central Whidbey Island.
Long View Peak
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
0.3 miles, one-way
Gain: 100 ft.
Highest Point: 1400.0 ft.
Rating:
The Long View Peak Trail is a connector trail on Cougar Mountain. The most direct route for reaching this trail is to hike from the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead. The eastern end of the Long View Peak Trail connects to the Wilderness Creek Trail.
Indian Trail
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
1.2 miles, one-way
Gain: 50 ft.
Highest Point: 780.0 ft.
Rating:
The Indian Trail is one of the main trails running through the western portion of Cougar Mountain.
Lazy Bear Falls
North Cascades
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
A road walk and short boot path to a big falls
Equestrian Loop
Issaquah Alps -- Squak Mountain
2.4 miles, one-way
Gain: 720 ft.
Highest Point: 1260.0 ft.
Rating:
The name of this trail may suggest this is horseback rider heaven, but it’s also great for hikers.
East Side Road
Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
6.5 miles, one-way
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 1400.0 ft.
Rating:
The East Side Road is an access road on Tiger Mountain that is closed to vehicle traffic and open to hikers. The road roughly parallels the eastern boundary of Tiger Mountain and connects with several other trails.
Lake Angeles
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
7.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2350 ft.
Highest Point: 4196.0 ft.
Rating:
Get up close and personal with an enchanting glacier-sculpted landscape at Olympic National Park’s Lake Angeles.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section K - Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
117.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 26351 ft.
Highest Point: 6600.0 ft.
Rating:
Bridge Out 5/26/21: The bridge across Bridge Creek near North Fork camp is washed out. Fording the river is dangerous.
By far the most difficult stretch of PCT in Washington, Section K puts hikers through a grueling 127-mile trek over harsh terrain and treacherous conditions. Yet those intrepid enough to attempt it are rewarded with a true wilderness experience in and among some of the country's most pristine and beautiful surroundings.
Deer Lake
Olympic Peninsula -- Northern Coast
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1650 ft.
Rating:
The hike to Deer Lake is a great day hike, or beginners overnight.
Boulder Creek
North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
24.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 5000 ft.
Highest Point: 6500.0 ft.
Rating:
High ridge traverse from Gold Hill Mine to North American Mine, connects East Creek to Canyon Creek.
Deceiver
Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
1.0 miles, one-way
Gain: 1440 ft.
Highest Point: 250.0 ft.
Rating:
The Deceiver Trail is a hiker-only trail in the southern reaches of Cougar Mountain. It is a connector trail so it does not have its own devoted trailhead but can be reached on foot from the multiple trails in the park.