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
4204 HikesKopachuck State Park Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 25 feet
-
Highest Point
- 25 feet
This is an easy loop trail, wandering nearly one mile through a forest of bigleaf maple and cedars on the shores of Carr Inlet in Gig Harbor. With less than fifty feet of elevation gain and plenty of picnic tables, it makes the perfect destination for families with small children.
Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 0.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 85 feet
Although it is small, this nature preserve on the northwest tip of Fox Island features a sandspit, offering visitors the perfect place for a short scenic beach hike.
Harbor Family Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.1 miles of trails
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Highest Point
- 350 feet
Explore this small park's forested primitive trails near Gig Harbor.
Gold Creek Trail to Alaska Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,024 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,624 feet
While the trail near Gold Creek Pond is a great spot for hikers of all ages, the trail back towards Alaska Lake is a more rugged experience. Starting flat, it heads into the heart of the Central Cascades on an old road for four miles, where it then crosses an impressive old avalanche path before heading straight uphill to remote Alaska Lake.
Gold Creek Pond Snowshoe
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
The Gold Creek area will close every April 1 – Nov 30 through 2027 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.
Gold Creek Pond
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
The Gold Creek area will close every April 1 – Nov 30 through 2027 for a restoration project.
Gold Creek Pond is an ADA-accessible paved loop hike around a picturesque mountain pond atop Snoqualmie Pass.
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
-
Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
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.
Dirty Harry's Peak
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,326 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,662 feet
This trail is popular for training and improved thanks to the Department of Natural Resources and Washington Trails Association volunteers. But note that the true peak lies on a small parcel of private land. Bring a map and know where that boundary is.
Dirty Harry's Balcony
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
Get a workout and experience rock work completed by Department of Natural Resources and WTA volunteer crews on this hike. Your reward is a rocky overlook from which you can marvel at Mount Kent, McClellan Butte, and Mount Washington, the behemoths forming the south rim of the west entrance to Snoqualmie Pass.
River Meadows Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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.
Lake Sylvia State Park
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
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Length
- 5.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
-
Highest Point
- 170 feet
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
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Length
- 2.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 630 feet
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Highest Point
- 460 feet
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.
Mount Walker
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,804 feet
Approachable throughout the year, the Mount Walker trail’s average 20% grade makes it a go-to route for hikers and trail runners looking for a short, brisk tromp. (While it is also a designated stock trail, riders and pack animals rarely make an appearance.) Spring, summer, and fall the 2-mile trail is both ascended and descended by those on foot. In the winter, when the Mount Walker road is gated closed to vehicles, many will pursue the then 2.25-mile jaunt up to the north viewpoint, saunter over to the south viewpoint and then descend on the more gentle grade of the road.
Silver Star Mountain
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,990 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
See beautiful wildflower meadows on the way up to a panoramic view that includes many of the big peaks in both Washington and Oregon.
Heybrook Lookout
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 980 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
Heybrook Lookout is a short and moderately steep hike through a fern and moss covered forest to a fun, staircase-ridden lookout with great views of the nearby mountains. If you are introducing someone to hiking, limited on time, or trying to add on another hike or activity in the area, this is the hike for you.
Mount Defiance
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,584 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,584 feet
FR 9030 is closed for the winter season.
Hike trails though sub-alpine forest and across boulder fields and, in season, enjoy a multitude of wildflowers. Pass a beautiful mountain lake. Ascend to a 5584-foot summit and enjoy incredible views of Cascade peaks and nearby lakes.
Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,420 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,320 feet
FR 9030 is closed for the winter season.
Sun drenched ridgelines, blooming trillium, and sparkling alpine waters define this fitting tribute to one of Washington’s greatest trail advocates.
Bandera Mountain
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,240 feet
FR 9030 is closed for the winter season.
There are two sides to Bandera Mountain — gentle and well-groomed on the one hand, rough and untamed on the other. Together, they make for a very satisfying hike along a rocky ridge to a false summit (Little Bandera) with views impressive enough to dissuade most from completing the final half mile of informal trail to the "real" summit.
Thompson Lake via Mount Defiance
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 19.8 miles, roundtrip
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Highest Point
- 4,200 feet
FR 9030 is closed for the winter season.
Unbeknownst to many, there's a beautiful lake tucked into the forests on the west slopes of Mount Defiance. Thompson Lake provides a great destination for day hikers or overnighters in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. You may even find solitude here, just off the I-90 corridor. But that solitude comes at a price.
Kaleetan Lake
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 18.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,690 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,560 feet
FR 9030 is closed for the winter season.
Press on past Pratt Lake to reach a measure of backcountry solitude at Windy Lake or Kaleetan Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Ueland Tree Farm
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 7.0 miles of trails
Ueland Tree Farm is a parcel of private property that is made available to the public for responsible, non-motorized recreation.
Cashmere Canyons Preserve
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,259 feet
Thanks to the generosity of the land owners, this privately-owned area is open to hikers, but managed primarily for wildlife habitat and wilderness conservation. Because of this, dogs and mountain biking are not allowed here, and the area may close at various times throughout the year in order to protect wildlife. Please respect any and all closures.
CASEE Forest and Nature Trails
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 12 feet
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
The CASEE trail system consists of two looped forest paths and ends in an arboretum.
Guye Peak
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,172 feet
A class 3 or 4 scramble to the summit of a peak near Alpental. Climbing gear and expertise recommended.
Skyline Trail Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,450 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
The Skyline Trail is the main route for hiking out of Paradise, Mount Rainier’s south side hub and most popular destination, providing visitors a unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of Washington’s grandest mountain.
Green Mountain - Gold Creek Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,639 feet
Green Mountain is the Kitsap Peninsula's go-to after work destination. Whether you're mountain biking, trail running, or hiking, you can get a quick workout by hiking the Gold Creek Trail up to the summit of Green Mountain.
Excelsior Peak via Damfino Lakes Trail
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,699 feet
Disregarding the apocryphal stories about their name, the Damfino Lakes are noteworthy only to distinguish this route from two other routes. The lakes pale in comparison to these magnificent destinations: Excelsior Pass, the High Divide and Excelsior Peak.
Franklin Falls
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
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!
Ames Lake Forest
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
With many miles of trails that are being improved by King County Parks, Ames Lake Forest is a good option for anyone looking to get away from crowds at Tolt-MacDonald. Keep in mind that this is a watershed though, and be certain to keep Leave No Trace principles in mind in this sensitive area.
Tolt-MacDonald Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 500 feet
Tolt-MacDonald Park is an outdoor recreation treasure for all King County residents! With 12 miles of forested and riverside trails, this is a favorite mountain biking and hiking destination. The backcountry area of the park is located on the west side of the Snoqualmie River across the suspension bridge.