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
3979 HikesNorth Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 625 ft.
Highest Point: 750 ft.
Rating:
Here's an unusual hike through a very mossy forest and along a narrow river canyon, past sites that were important in local history. A railroad once ran along the canyon, passing through small communities. Logging was done in the area, and lime once was produced from limestone here, in a kiln that still stands. The railroad and communities are gone now, and much has disappeared over the past eighty years. But a few artifacts still remain and can be seen near the trail.
Issaquah Alps
3.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 283 ft.
Highest Point: 1175 ft.
Rating:
Perched high on a hill in the Issaquah Highlands, Grand Ridge Park offers hiking opportunities for both residents of the neighborhood and visitors.
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
Rating:
The Annette Lake Sno-Park offers visitors access to multiple winter outdoor activities, along with a large plowed parking lot, toilet and educational resources.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
4.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 325 ft.
Highest Point: 480 ft.
Rating:
Evans Creek Preserve features a WTA-built trail system in an ecologically diverse enclave. Wetlands, meadows, and hillside forest can be found in this 179-acre farmstead-turned-suburban nature preserve that will thrill both the hiker and the birdwatcher. Not only that, this gem has ADA-accessible trails and is reachable by public transportation.
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 1951 ft.
Rating:
Road to trailhead closed
Marvel at old-growth trees amid a lush rain forest landscape while visiting one of Olympic National Park’s most beloved attractions: Sol Duc Falls.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
2.8 miles, one-way
Gain: 240 ft.
Highest Point: 237 ft.
Rating:
This wide well-maintained paved path is perfect for a quiet leisurely stroll or brisk run surrounded by greenery, without ever having to leave the city.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
7.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3300 ft.
Highest Point: 4600 ft.
Rating:
Wildfire: trail closed
Visit one of the most striking lakes in the Henry M. Jackson wilderness. The vibrant blue of the glacier-fed lake provides the perfect rest stop for hikers who have braved the thirty-odd, steep switchbacks that lead to the lake.
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
1.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 230 ft.
Highest Point: 706 ft.
Rating:
Enjoy an easy 1.2-mile loop near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Pair it with the Hall of Mosses for a couple of nice, flat exploratory leg-stretchers in the Hoh. Both make for an interesting introduction to the area, and will be a hit with the kids!
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 230 ft.
Rating:
Thanks to a partnership between Washington State Parks and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Kukutali Preserve in Similk Bay near La Conner opened to the public on June 16, 2014. Believed to be the first park in the United States to be co-owned and managed by a tribe and another government, management of the area focuses on conservation and research, public education and limited recreational use — including hiking!
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
3.1 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 110 ft.
Highest Point: 200 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.
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
33.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Beautiful multi-day hike that shows off the beauty of the Hoh Rainforest. Hike on relatively level ground until the last two miles, which climb to Elk Lake Campground, a good place to start a day hike to the glacier.
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
3.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1200 ft.
Highest Point: 1750 ft.
Rating:
Rowena Crest is a fabulous place to pull off the road and enjoy the sweeping views of the Columbia River. Grasslands, basalt cliffs, and scrub oak forests form the landscape you'll hike through on a trail that climbs steadily with ever-increasing views.
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
2.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 446 ft.
Highest Point: 482 ft.
Rating:
Connect campsites along scenic Mayfield Lake with the Ike Kinswa State Park Campground Loop.
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
1.57 miles, one-way
Gain: 425 ft.
Highest Point: 900 ft.
Rating:
Cross over two small creeks as you make your way up and over Holder Ridge.
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
2.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 400 ft.
Highest Point: 2600 ft.
Rating:
Hiking with kids, new to hiking, or just looking for an easy day hike with a spectacular endpoint? Look no further then Franklin Falls! At just 2 miles with 400 feet in elevation gain it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful!
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
9.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1500 ft.
Highest Point: 3270 ft.
Rating:
The Green Lake Trail is a moderately strenuous but relatively short hike to a pocket lake set among a rare high-elevation rain forest. The trail's wide, ambitious grade rewards accordingly for your efforts, ascending through stands of humbling firs, passing a picturesque waterfall, and ending on the shore of a lovely mountain lake.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 10 ft.
Highest Point: 280 ft.
Rating:
A small park on Bainbridge Island.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Rating:
Enjoy a family hike at one of the new trail systems near Maple Valley and Covington.
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 10 ft.
Highest Point: 10 ft.
Rating:
The road to the trailhead (Towne Road) and the trail are both closed due to construction. The trail will be reopened as soon as safely possible, and the road is expected to reopen at the end of September 2023.
An easy, pleasant four-season ramble along the Dungeness River, good for bird watching.
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 300 ft.
Highest Point: 934 ft.
Rating:
Aptly named Little Mountain is easily accessible year-round. This 522-acre forested park—just a few miles from Mount Vernon’s downtown area—feels much farther from the city. A narrow road leads to the sub-1,000-foot summit, where Skagit Valley views await. While driving to the top is pleasant, it is far more rewarding to hike.
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
4.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 860 ft.
Highest Point: 934 ft.
Rating:
An old trail made new! The land on this southwest side of the park was recently donated to the Skagit Land Trust and Mount Vernon Parks to prevent it from becoming a big housing development. Now, the land will be kept for posterity for all to enjoy. Hike this loop for some fine forest walking on the south slope of Little Mountain.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
2.9 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 92 ft.
Highest Point: 25 ft.
Rating:
Enjoy a stroll along a flat, paved trail with beautiful views and a good look at a restored estuary.
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 700 ft.
Highest Point: 250 ft.
Rating:
This is a well used trail for trail runners and some bikers. Mostly gravel, it is wide and well-groomed.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
8.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2000 ft.
Highest Point: 2521 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.
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
0.75 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 200 ft.
Highest Point: 225 ft.
Rating:
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge has several trails available for exploration, but the Art Walk is the most engaging and kid-friendly.
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
4.7 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 756 ft.
Highest Point: 5129 ft.
Rating:
Mount Spokane State Park has trails for all types, and something for every season. Hike in the summertime to the relocated fire lookout atop Quartz Mountain, or explore the area in a snowy winter wonderland via cross-country skis.
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
3.25 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 315 ft.
Highest Point: 234 ft.
Rating:
This loop combines the Grandview Trail with the Soundview Trail to make 3.25 miles with some serious incline. Walk around the golf course at Chambers Creek Regional Park, and enjoy views of Chambers Bay and the vivid green grasses of the golf course.
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
3.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 800 ft.
Highest Point: 3400 ft.
Rating:
This short hike offers something to please the geology buff and the shutterbug alike.
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
1.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 1100 ft.
Rating:
Walk among old-growth giants as you travel to one of Olympic National Park's best-loved waterfalls.
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
10.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 3055 ft.
Highest Point: 5240 ft.
Rating:
There is significant avalanche danger on the road/trail in places. Read the hike description for the safest route to the lookout.
This snowshoe route follows a forest road, with a brief stint on the forested summer trail near the top, to a lookout building near Mount Rainier.