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
4214 HikesHex Mountain Snowshoe
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
The winter access of Hex Mountain via NF-116 is closed to the public.
The winter access of Hex Mountain via NF-116 is closed to the public.
Mount Teneriffe
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,585 feet
Mountains to Sound Greenway did this road to trail conversion in order to create a more sustainable, safer route for hikers to a summit on the I-90 corridor. Hike through second- and third-growth forest, pass a lovely waterfall, and enjoy a slightly less-crowded trail than the nearby Mount Si.
Artist Point Snowshoe
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Artist Point is the top competitor for best viewpoint in the state. The beautifully shaped Mount Shuksan is the star of the area, with a gorgeous summit pyramid and several impressive glaciers. This relatively easy snowshoe is an excellent winter destination with a virtual guarantee of good snow coverage.
Packwood Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
When most of Washington’s alpine lakes are still snow-covered, Packwood Lake rewards hikers with a relaxing early-season hike ideal for dusting off your boots.
Garfield Gulch
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 150 feet
Garfield Gulch is a deep ravine located in the north end portion of Tacoma with a short trail.
LBA Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 4.0 miles of trails
The LBA of LBA Park stands for Little Baseball Association, but there is much more to do than just play baseball at this urban park. There are 4 miles of gentle walking trails in the adjoining LBA Woods and more.
Snowall Cradle Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 9.1 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The valley that Snowall Creek runs through is laden with amazing meadows of wildflowers, great views of the peaks surrounding it and tons of wildlife. It's part of a loop that you
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.
Lake Stuart
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,665 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,065 feet
The Core Zone of the Enchantments may be one of the most popular destinations in Washington state, but those who venture to Lake Stuart may just get the extra-enchanting reward of relative solitude in a high traffic area. Most hikers heading into the Enchantments use the Lake Stuart trailhead, but make for the Core zone via Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass. However, taking the right-hand trail 2.2 miles from the trailhead leads you into an adjacent valley, with a large, shallow lake at the base of the imposing massif of Mount Stuart.
Lake Edna
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,065 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,766 feet
A small subalpine lake with backcountry campsites that can be accessed from Icicle Ridge Trail, Chatter Creek Trail or Chiwaukum Creek Trail.
Lake Caroline
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 11.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,300 feet
One of the lesser-visited lakes in the Enchantments, Lake Caroline is a hard-earned reward for those seeking a bit of solitude in this immensely popular region.
Klonaqua Lakes
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
A handful of high lakes nestled in a forested cirque below Granite Mountain deep within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Jack Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 3.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,600 feet
A trail to a ridgetop in the Icicle Creek area.
Jack Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 5,056 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
Running like a spine through the Icicle Creek area, the Jack Creek Trail is 12 miles long, running from just outside Leavenworth to the Ingalls Creek valley and the northern border of the Teanway. Along the way, it offers a myriad of hiking options for visitors. Sections of this trail have burned in the past, so the odds of running into downed trees across the trail are high, especially in spring and early summer.
Icicle Ridge via Fourth of July Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,370 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,020 feet
Visit this trail in the springtime and you can expect to see an explosion of wildflower color! At more than 4500 feet in 5.5 miles of trail, the route to the old Icicle Ridge Lookout site is quite an undertaking, but the views and the flowers are truly worth the energy it takes to get up there.
Icicle Gorge Nature Loop
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,800 feet
The Icicle Gorge Trail, one of the most popular trails in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, is a wonderful way to explore the natural beauty of the Icicle Creek Valley. The interpretive loop trail has a gentle grade and scenic views of Icicle Creek, Icicle Gorge, and the surrounding forest that are ideal for families, trail runners, beginner hikers, bird enthusiasts, and those looking to take a nice long walk on a well-defined path.
Icicle Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 258 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,056 feet
Both the bridge over French Creek 1.5 miles up and the bridge over Icicle Creek 5 miles up the trail are broken and unsafe to cross. There is no way to ford the creeks during high water.
An out and back hike through the forest with gentle hills for the first two miles or so. It eventually joins Icicle Creek at its confluence with French Creek, and the trail continues beyond.
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.
French Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 14.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The bridge over French Creek 1.5 miles up Icicle Creek Trail is broken and unsafe to cross. There is no way to ford the creek during high water.
One of many trails in this area that create tons of fun loop options, the French Creek Trail is 14.4 miles long, and gains 3200 feet of elevation along its length. Due to diminishing funding, the trail is very brushy in sections, making it difficult to navigate. Hiking it end-to-end makes for a fun traverse through the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and over county lines!
The Enchantments
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 18.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,800 feet
The Enchantment Lakes are an alpine wonderland of pristine lakes set among polished granite, soaring peaks, blazing larches and ambling mountain goats. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives.
Eightmile Mountain
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
An off-trail scramble to a summit above Eightmile Lake.
Eightmile Creek Snowshoe
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,165 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,265 feet
The Eightmile Creek Snowshoe is a snowy road walk during the winter. This busy summer road becomes a beautiful backdrop for a winter walk. Turn around at either the Eightmile Lake Trailhead or carry on a little farther to the Stuart Lake trailhead. Be aware of avalanche conditions along the road before heading here for a snowshoe outing.
Dragontail Peak
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 13.5 miles, roundtrip
-
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.
Chatter Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 11.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,959 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,692 feet
No matter how you tackle it, this hike is a workout. March through thick Ponderosa forests up to subalpine larch stands and a view from the pass, with options to continue on for a small alpine lake with backcountry campsites and access to other wilderness trails.
Blackjack Ridge
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 8.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,700 feet
This trail features ridgetop views and numerous steep switchbacks through forest and open meadows. Beginning at the Blackpine Trailhead, it climbs through second-growth forest to wide open views of the Icicle Ridge area and ends at the Snowall-Cradle Lake trail.
Windy Pass
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 15.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,325 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,200 feet
Take a side trip from Lake Caroline up to a saddle with gorgeous, sweeping views of the Alpine Lakes wilderness.
Trout Lake via Jack Trout Trailhead
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 11.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,918 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,800 feet
Hike a gorgeously-graded trail to a marshy lake with views of the backside of the Enchantment mountains.
Klickitat Rail Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 31.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,550 feet
Hop aboard for an early-season wildflower bloom amid remote terrain and open air. At a healthy clip or a slow meander, this rail trail is fun at any speed!
Catherine Creek - Universal Access Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 120 feet
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
Beautiful views, amazing wildflowers, oak woodlands, open grasslands—this short hike is the perfect way to sample the best of the Catherine Creek area. More than 90 varieties of wildflowers bloom here, making this a favorite springtime destination.