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 treaty 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
62 Hikes
Muddy Meadows/Foggy Flat
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
11.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1710 ft.
Rating:
This forested trail leads to a fine campsite primed for exploring the base of Mount Adams.
Gotchen Creek
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
2.9 miles, one-way
Gain: 1000 ft.
Highest Point: 4600.0 ft.
Rating:
Gotchen Creek Trail is a 2.9-mile, high-elevation, single-track in the middle of Gotchen Meadow, south of Mount Adams and the Mount Adams Wilderness. This trail intersects with Cold Springs Trail (#72) and Morrison Creek Trail (#39) and crosses Hole-in-the-Ground Creek.
Cultus Creek
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1100 ft.
Highest Point: 5100.0 ft.
Rating:
The trail climbs sharply through a forest of Douglas fir for a mile to a view of the Goat Rocks, Sawtooth Mountain, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams. From this viewpoint you get a great view of Mount Adams and the Goat Rocks. It's worth bringing a camera for this one.
Wood Lake
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 250 ft.
Highest Point: 5110.0 ft.
Rating:
Two approaches, one longer and easier and the other shorter and harder, access this spur trail off the PCT to a serene mountain lake.
Lake Wapiki
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1600 ft.
Highest Point: 5250.0 ft.
Rating:
Just a half mile off the Lemei Lake Trail is a gorgeous blue lake nestled in an old volcanic crater. Surrounded by trees, this is a sheltered refuge perfect for an overnight in Indian Heaven.
Thomas, Blue and Tombstone Lakes
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1000 ft.
Highest Point: 4780.0 ft.
Rating:
This heavily-used trail passes numerous lakes and meadows and is an excellent foray into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Hikers will find amble opportunities for a lakeside lunch spot.
Rim Trail
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
0.9 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 100 ft.
Highest Point: 3620.0 ft.
Rating:
This primitive trail can be difficult to follow as it wanders across a broad forested bench in the heart of the Trapper Creek Wilderness.
Dry Creek
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
8.4 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 350 ft.
Highest Point: 1500.0 ft.
Rating:
Low-lying with impressive trees bordering each side of it, this trail is a nice option year-round. The Doug-fir bigleaf maple, and hemlock forest canopy in this narrow valley shades hikers in the heat of summer, and in winter the elevation means it's unlikely to have heavy snow to navigate. And since it's a former railroad grade, the trail is easy enough for hikers of all types.
Sunshine Trail
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1600 ft.
Highest Point: 3400.0 ft.
Rating:
A primitive trail that climbs steeply to connect the Trapper Creek Trail (#192) to the Observation Trail (#132).
Mountain Climbers Trail
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
6.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2600 ft.
Highest Point: 8300.0 ft.
Rating:
Limited Access: This area is only open to the public from August 30 to September 25, 2021.
Hike through beautiful woods, subalpine meadows and glacial moraines to the Hellroaring Viewpoint. The trail then becomes poorly defined up to Sunrise Camp.
Bench Lake Loop
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
3.4 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Limited Access: This area is only open to the public from August 30 to September 25, 2021.
A hike near Mount Adams.
Hellroaring Meadows
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 150 ft.
Highest Point: 5373.0 ft.
Rating:
Limited Access: This area is only open to the public from August 30 to September 25, 2021.
A hike near Mount Adams.
Bird Creek Meadows
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 6085.0 ft.
Rating:
Limited Access: This area is only open to the public from August 30 to September 25, 2021.
Bird Creek Meadows is a short, easy crowd pleaser. Known for its abundant wildflower meadows, views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood and the Hellroaring Canyon, and little creeks, lakes and waterfalls, the trail provides a nice three mile loop for hikers.
Buck Creek Falls Loop
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 770 ft.
Highest Point: 1090.0 ft.
Rating:
A short, family-friendly loop that can be done all year round. You'll meander through douglas fir, western redcedar, bigleaf maple, and other deciduous trees, along a creek, and end at a lovely waterfall, perfect for picnicking.
Monte Carlo via Middle Fork Camp
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
6.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1860 ft.
Highest Point: 4040.0 ft.
Rating:
The Monte Cristo Range just north of Willard offers quiet forest, and miles of solitary rambling. There are a myriad of ways to access this trail network, including this one, which starts in the middle of the mountains.
Killen Creek to High Camp
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 6900.0 ft.
Rating:
Take this remote, flower-filled trail up the north side of Mount Adams to the rocky alpine terrain of giant glaciers.
Stagman Ridge, Horseshoe Meadow, Lookingglass Lake
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
14.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2400 ft.
Highest Point: 6100.0 ft.
Rating:
Hike through wildflower-filled burned forest to subalpine meadows, a small reflecting lake and views of Mount Adams.
Mount Adams South Climb
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 6700 ft.
Highest Point: 12276.0 ft.
Rating:
The South Climb (or Lunch Counter Approach) of Mount Adams is the one that requires the least amount of technical expertise. However, ice axes, trekking poles, and crampons or microspikes (depending on the season) are required to summit. Hikers who put this investment in will be rewarded with stunning views on a clear day, as well as the satisfaction of having made it up one of Washington's five volcanoes.
Monte Cristo
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1000 ft.
Highest Point: 4177.0 ft.
Rating:
Like its neighbor, the nearby Monte Carlo trail, the 4.1 mile-long Monte Cristo trail ventures into the small Monte Cristo range in the south Cascades between Willard and Trout Lake. From it, hikers see a myriad of wildflowers in the spring, and the occasional views of the south Cascade range.
Adams Creek Meadows
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 6840.0 ft.
Rating:
Although it can get crowded on the weekends, there is plenty of room for seclusion on either a day hike or an overnight stay. Some of the best views and meadows within the Mt. Adams Wilderness.
Spacing Study Trail
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
0.4 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
Visit a short but interesting trail with interpretive signs explaining studies on tree spacing during replantation.
Steamboat Lake
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
0.5 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
This short trail skirts along the northern edge of Steamboat Lake.
Deep Lake
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 900 ft.
Highest Point: 5100.0 ft.
Rating:
This moderate in-and-out trail makes a lovely picnic destination, or ideal short backpack, to a brilliant blue lake with peeks of Mount Adams.
Bird Mountain Loop
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
10.25 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1875 ft.
Highest Point: 5230.0 ft.
Rating:
No less than five picturesque lakes, wide panoramas of South Cascades peaks and oodles of seasonal wildflowers and berries make this an ideal long day hike or weekend backpack.
Snipes Mountain - Pine Way
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 4800.0 ft.
Rating:
A short connector trail to the Snipes Mountain trail and other adventures on the southern flanks of Mount Adams.
Klickitat Haul Road
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
This hike is a nice, long road walk leading to a trail, a good alternate to the Klickitat Rail Trail for a change of scenery.
Council Bluff
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
3.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 950 ft.
Highest Point: 5180.0 ft.
Rating:
From its rocky and rutted beginnings, to the short last push to the top of a former fire lookout site, this trail boasts big rewards for very little effort. The west slope of Mount Adams is right there behind you as you head to the top of Council Bluff to face the mountain in full.
Shorthorn
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
5.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 6100.0 ft.
Rating:
This trail ascends the south slopes of Mount Adams through dry lodgepole pine forest and crosses Crofton Creek before ending at the Round the Mountain Trail at treeline.
Riley Camp
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2280 ft.
Highest Point: 5800.0 ft.
Rating:
This route is the perfect gateway to Mount Adams spectacular high country on its less-visited western side. It climbs through dense forests, past a small lake, then across Riley Meadows (great campsites!) before joining the PCT. From there you can continue on to Sheep Lake or head off-trail to check out Crystal Lake at the edge of the tree line.
Red Mountain Lookout
South Cascades -- Mount Adams Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 4968.0 ft.
Rating:
Near the famous Indian Racetrack in the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Red Mountain Lookout makes an excellent addition to any outing here. Hike there, or make it a quick stop from the road -- either way, it's a must-see.