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
152 HikesHappy-Panther
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 12.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
Enjoy some fine ‘forest bathing’ on a quiet trail just off the busy highway. No grand views, but soft green moss, little creeks and large noisy waterfalls will be your reward. It’s nice anytime, but in spring before the highway opens or fall when the vine maple is turning would be a prime time for this one.
Diablo Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 7.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,950 feet
Follow the Diablo Lake Trail up and across talus slopes on the flanks of Sourdough Mountain to impressive cascading waterfalls and stunning views of Ross Lake and Colonial, Pyramid, Davis Peaks, as well as Jack Mountain.
Lookout Mountain Lookout
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,719 feet
To get panoramic views of the North Cascades without fighting the crowds at Cascade Pass or Hidden Lake Lookout, look no further than Lookout Mountain, an arduous climb that often gets overlooked by hikers heading to North Cascades National Park. From the fire lookout on the summit, enjoy 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and a panoply of other North Cascades giants.
Hidden Lake Lookout
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
The Hidden Lake trail is one of the crown jewels of hiking in Washington State. No other trail offers so much as Hidden Lake Lookout: forest, wildflowers, a true alpine environment of stark granite well above treeline, breathtaking summit views of the heart of North Cascades National Park, and a fire lookout with a sweeping history almost as big as the mountainous landscape it gazes over.
Silver Star Mountain (Okanogan)
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,876 feet
Silver Star mountain provides a rewarding hiking and climbing opportunity right off Highway 20. Its majestic barren rocky spires that raise out of the forested slopes seem beyond reach but in fact the summit block requires a bit of exposed scrambling, after a long hike and a glacier traverse.
Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
Cutthroat Pass is a stunner no matter which way you access it. This way, you'll enjoy a wider, more well-maintained trail, and you're more likely to share it with Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers.
Lake Ann (Rainy Pass)
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
The trail to Lake Ann is a wonderful, short way to see the impressive glaciated valley encircled by the popular Heather - Maple Pass Loop. Lake Ann features views of ridgelines blanketed in wildflowers in summer, a lake ringed with golden larches in fall, and before the highway closes for the season, a dramatic place to experience early winter’s snows.
Ross Dam Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
This forested trail in the North Cascades National Park Complex leads down to Ross Lake and the network of trails in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Look out over both Ross Lake and Ross Dam before making your way down to Ross Dam itself
Rainy Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 70 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,800 feet
This one-mile long paved trail takes you to a beautiful alpine lake.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section L - Rainy Pass to Manning Park
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 70.3 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 13,649 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,100 feet
This last leg of the Pacific Crest Trail (or first depending on whether you're north- or southbound) offers breathtaking views as it passes along the eastern edge of the North Cascades and into the Pasayten Wilderness. Make sure to bring your passport to complete your journey in Manning Provincial Park!
Lone Fir Loop
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
An easy, short loop hike out of the Lone Fir campground. The first bit is paved before giving way to a dirt trail that follows Early Winters Creek. After a creek crossing (log bridge) it loops back to the campground.
Hock Mountain
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,750 feet
Hike a valley trail through old growth forest to the base of a peak, then an off trail class 2 scramble to the summit.
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.
Ruby Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,230 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,935 feet
Wildfire: Trail closed
Ruby Creek is a short, mellow river ramble that is often traveled as a part of the longer Devils Dome Loop.
Willow Lake Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 23.5 miles, one-way
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Highest Point
- 2,880 feet
The Willow Lake Trail is part of the East Bank Trail in the North Cascades National Park. Willow Lake is a small lake along the route and sits on the north end of Ross Lake.
Big Snagtooth
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,330 feet
A mountain in the North Cascades. Climbing gear and route-finding expertise required to summit.
Rainbow-McAlester Loop
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 31.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,300 feet
Sample the best the North Cascades has to offer—subalpine lakes, forested valleys and rugged mountain passes—on this multiday trek.
Twisp Pass via Dagger Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 15.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,320 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,060 feet
Take a walk in the forest on this trail as it climbs past a shallow lake and continues nearly to treeline at Twisp Pass. The upper half of the trail is flowered in summer and the power of avalanches is evident in the pick-up-sticks debris field shortly before Dagger Lake. At Twisp Pass in an intersection with many informal trails for further exploration.
East Bank Ross Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 31.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
You'll enjoy moderate elevation gain and fabulous views on this lakeside trail that stretches more than 30 miles north -- nearly to Canada.
Canyon Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,994 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,732 feet
Wildfire: Jackita Ridge from Devil's Park to the Pacific Northwest Trail is closed
When looking for solitude or a quiet, cool creek to ramble along, look no further than Canyon Creek. This trail’s gentle tread and easy grade were cut long ago for horse-pack trains. Along this old supply route to the mines there are numerous babbling brooks, and other natural wonders to keep you entertained. Once this river trail could be followed all the way to Chancellor and then into the Pasayten Wilderness or towards Harts Pass. Alas, wash outs now close the trail five miles in at Mill Creek.
Jackita Ridge
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 15.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
Wildfire: Trail closed from Devils Park north to the Pacific Northwest Trail
With views of Crater and Jack Mountains, the Jackita Ridge trail takes you up a challenging incline to the top of a ridge above the timberline. It features wildflowers and unobstructed views. Many hikers use it to connect to the Devil's Dome loop or to reach Crater Mountain.
Happy Creek Nature Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 570 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,780 feet
Hikers can choose from an easy loop partially along Happy Creek, or a longer hike to Happy Creek Falls, site of an old sawmill that supported the mining in the late 1800's.
Fisher Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,560 feet
Following a meandering path along a valley floor and then steeply up to a broad pass, the Fisher Creek Trail is part of a 14 mile traverse of breathtaking high mountain scenery through the eastern side of the North Cascades National Park.
Driveway Butte
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,030 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,982 feet
Spring, summer, and fall all beckon hikers up the slopes of Delancy Ridge toward Driveway Butte, attracted by the views, seasonal flowers, or just a hard workout. The trail tells the tale to two forests, a mature pine forest in the first half and a forest recovering from fire in the second.
East Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 18.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,500 feet
East Creek is an unmaintained trail with lots of potential. At it's full length this old forgotten trail extends nearly 15 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail. It makes for a great out and back with lots of solitude.
Desolation Peak
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,102 feet
Trek a dry, strenuous trail to a famous fire lookout. Jack Kerouac stayed here as a lookout and used the experience to inspire Desolation Angels and Dharma Bums. The historic lookout is no longer accessible to the public, but you can still trek to the location and appreciate the view.
Devil's Dome Loop
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 43.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 13,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,980 feet
Wildfire: Trail closed from Devils Park north to the Pacific Northwest Trail
Dry, subalpine ridges, old growth forest, massive flower packed meadows, and glaciated peaks makes this trip a nonstop North Cascades life-list backpack!
Cutthroat Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
This pleasant trail offers an almost level walk to a grassy forested lake set in the rocky basin beneath Cutthroat Peak. This is an easy hike in an area of rugged, steep country and one of the few that are suitable for small children. It is an especially pretty hike in the fall when the larch are turning golden.
Cutthroat Pass via Cutthroat Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 11.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
Take this gentle trail to a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by rocky cliffs before heading up some steeper switchbacks to a pass and junction with the iconic Pacific Crest Trail.
Chancellor
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 13.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,300 feet
Wildfire: Trail closed from Slate Creek to the junction with Sky Pilot Pass
Climb most of the way up Center Mountain along this trail as you enter the Pasayten Wilderness.