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
4175 HikesEcho Ridge
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 15.0 miles of trails
Designed for cross-country skiing, Echo Ridge also offers routes for mountain biking, family hiking, and horse use. Recreation enthusiasts are greeted with a variety of loop trails with spectacular views of Lake Chelan, the Enchantments, Pyramid Peak and Okanogan Highlands.
Washington Pass Overlook
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 61 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,581 feet
This trail is a narrow, paved trail to a lookout on a ledge overlooking Liberty Bell Mountain. This area is worth the trip from the west side, because of spectacular views, and the myriad hiking trails in the area.
Cinnamon Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 8.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
The trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Kalama Fire.
This long, meandering trail in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument makes for a lovely out-and-back, or as part of a big loop hike.
Kalama Horse Camp to Kalama Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 870 feet
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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.
Cutthroat Lakes via Walt Bailey Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
The road to the trailhead is closed through Oct 15.
Great views await you at the summit of Bald Mountain or Cutthroat Lakes if you can stand the rough, rocky, and rooty trail that you must brave to get there. Fortunately, lots of lakes and berries keep you busy along the way, and the ever-changing surroundings on this CCC-built, WTA-maintained trail make for a great day hike along the popular Mountain Loop Highway.
Mount Pilchuck - Winter
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
A popular summer destination, Pilchuck requires more experience with routefinding and snow gear in the winter. Be sure to have both should you venture here when snow or ice are present.
Crawford State Park - Gardner Cave
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,700 feet
The park is closed for the winter season. It will reopen in mid-May 2026.
Descend 90 feet beneath the surface on a guided tour of the third-longest limestone cave in Washington.
Rainbow Loop
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,200 feet
Popular with locals and overnight visitors alike, the Rainbow Loop is a short and sweet way to get a feel for the valley and its breathtaking scenery. Combine it with a bike ride and a bakery visit and you'll get the full Stehekin valley experience in one day.
Royal Basin via Royal Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,700 feet
You will see plenty in the first 7.2 miles of this trip that take you to the shores of Royal Lake, but you should plan your hike to have the time — and energy — to enjoy the wildflower-dotted alpine basin and its milky blue tarns in Upper Royal Basin about three-quarters of a mile past the lake.
Port Gamble Forest - Ewok Trail Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 377 feet
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Highest Point
- 433 feet
A moderate loop trail takes you through ferns and Douglas firs.
Stiletto Peak
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,660 feet
Starting in a forested creek valley, climb through alpine forest, meadows, and rocks to expansive vistas at the Stiletto Lookout site. Your destination is visible from the trailhead, on the end of the ridge to the southeast.
Copper Pass via Copper Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,710 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,720 feet
Start with a pleasant walk along Bridge & Slate Creeks and then earn your way to the high country with a climb up to the miles of sloping meadows, flowered in July. Finish with a steep climb through the heather to larch fringed Copper Pass with its views to the east/west with scrambles to the north/south.
Stiletto Spur Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 4.54 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 943 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,359 feet
The Stiletto Spur Trail is a connector trail between the McAlester Lake/Twisp junction and the Pacific Crest Trail near Highway 20.
Port Gamble Heritage Park - Stottlemeyer Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 197 feet
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Highest Point
- 393 feet
Enjoy a lowland forest stroll with lots of add-on route options from the Stottlemeyer trailhead on the south end of Port Gamble’s Heritage Forest Park.
Preston-Snoqualmie Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
Preston – Snoqualmie is a 6.5 mile one-way, paved, rail-to-trail path that trail meanders through a densely wooded environ and intermittently offers unique perspectives of the Snoqualmie River Valley, leading to a zoomed-out viewpoint of Snoqualmie Falls.
PJ Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 825 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,020 feet
PJ Lake is a short but steep primitive trail to a subalpine tarn teeming with jumping trout. The lake’s beautiful color draws anglers, day hikers, and campers alike. However, the trail is so steep that the short mileage to get there is eclipsed by the vertical exertion and lingering leg pain.
Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 50 feet
Located at the head of Hood Canal, Theler Wetlands consists of more than 3 miles of accessible walking trails within 139 acres of protected salt marsh and estuary wetlands. If they’re open, you and your family can discover the displays and hands-on exhibits that teach more about the wetlands ecosystem.
Augspurger Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 15.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,400 feet
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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.
Mount Catherine
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,330 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,052 feet
Where can you find unobstructed views of Mount Rainier and the mountains of Snoqualmie Pass, see rare butterfly species, and go berry-picking, all in return for a modest 1330-foot elevation gain? Mount Catherine, of course! This off-the-beaten-path hike to the summit of a wintertime ski destination is one of the most rewarding climbs along the southern wall of Snoqualmie Pass.
Cold Creek Loop via Tinkham and Silver Peaks
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
This loop takes you past two clear and calm lakes, up a steep, brushy trail to the beautifully manicured Pacific Crest Trail, then west under the blocky granite summit of Tinkham Peak and the shining pyramid of Silver Peak before dropping to Windy Pass.
Gold Creek Pond Snowshoe
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
Gold Creek Pond is closed to visitation for a restoration project.
The flat terrain of this wide valley east of Snoqualmie Pass is the perfect place to practice snowshoeing with kids or first-timers. This is an area popular with cross-country skiers, and you may spot beaver dams and other winter wildlife. From Mardee Lake to looming Kendall Peak before you, this is premiere terrain for winter enthusiasts.
Silver Peak
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,605 feet
At 5605 feet of elevation, Silver Peak is the tallest mountain guarding the southern wall of Snoqualmie Pass. Silver Peak has more than 2000 feet of prominence and provides commanding, panoramic views of the eastern end of Snoqualmie Pass and the surrounding mountains and lakes.
Mirror Lake via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,180 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,195 feet
This short dayhike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a nice alternate route to quiet Mirror Lake, or just a lovely forest hike on a quiet section of a rocky and rooty trail. You could consider it as a first-time backpacking destination, too, since the trail is never particularly steep here.
Nannie Ridge-Sheep Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 9.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,056 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,842 feet
A steep climb rewards you with huckleberries, stunning mountain views, wildflower meadows and a charming alpine lake along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Nannie Peak Loop
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 14.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
Head to the site of a former fire lookout for expansive sunset views, then wait for darkness to enjoy a star-spangled night sky before heading back to camp.
Cispus Pass
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 12.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
Hike to a stunning viewpoint high above two river valleys in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.
Dragontail Peak
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 13.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,833 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,840 feet
A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Climbing gear and expertise required.
Horseshoe Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,928 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,300 feet
A couple miles beyond Lake Stuart and a few hundred feet up lies Horseshoe Lake--a stunning, silent lake that makes for an excellent day trip for those lucky folks who get to camp at Lake Stuart. It’s also attainable as a day hike, but you’ll want to get an early start.
Aasgard Pass
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 12.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,800 feet
This “shortcut” to the Enchantments Core Zone refers only to mileage. As far as miles per hour goes, Aasgard may be one of the slowest hikes you attempt. Achieving the pass is a thigh-burning, chest-bursting, eye-popping endeavor that offers as many extraordinary views as beads of sweat that will fall from your brow as you ascend nearly 2,000 feet in just three-quarters of a mile.
Little Annapurna
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 7.3 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 5,018 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,440 feet
Scramble to a scenic high point in the upper Enchantments.