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 HikesSouth Cascades > Mount Adams Area
3.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 219 ft.
Highest Point: 1905 ft.
Rating:
The Willard Springs Trail is a loop along the edge of the Conboy Lake marsh and through the pine forest. Beginning at the refuge headquarters, the trail parallels the west shore of the old Conboy Lake lakebed, with views across the lakebed and north to the 12,000-foot Mt. Adams from the Observation Platform, then returns through the forest.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 6700 ft.
Highest Point: 12276 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
2.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 4900 ft.
Rating:
A beautiful rocky outcropping provides eye-popping views of Mount Adams.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 197 ft.
Highest Point: 4133 ft.
Rating:
This short trail skirts along the northern edge of Steamboat Lake.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
0.85 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 186 ft.
Highest Point: 3152 ft.
Rating:
The Ice Cave and Natural Bridges are two short nature trails near the Peterson Prairie Campground in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that are fascinating to children and not as well known as they deserve to be. This is also a popular area to cross country ski and snowshoe in winter.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 825 ft.
Highest Point: 825 ft.
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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 223 ft.
Highest Point: 1905 ft.
Rating:
Conboy Lake is now more of a marsh than a lake but it is home to a variety of wildlife. The habitat consists of oak, pine, and aspen forests, wetlands and grassy prairies.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Highest Point: 4968 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
6.8 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2600 ft.
Highest Point: 8300 ft.
Rating:
Hike through beautiful woods, subalpine meadows and glacial moraines to the Hellroaring Viewpoint. The trail then becomes poorly defined up to Sunrise Camp.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
1.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 150 ft.
Highest Point: 5373 ft.
Rating:
A hike near Mount Adams.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 6085 ft.
Rating:
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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
3.4 miles, roundtrip
Rating:
A hike near Mount Adams.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1000 ft.
Highest Point: 4177 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
9.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1700 ft.
Highest Point: 5900 ft.
Rating:
Stagman Ridge is a long spine reaching out southwest from Mount Adams, and the hike through the pleasing forest is never overly steep.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 770 ft.
Highest Point: 1090 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
5.6 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1400 ft.
Highest Point: 6100 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
0.9 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 100 ft.
Highest Point: 3620 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2280 ft.
Highest Point: 5800 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
Rating:
Potato Hill is a summit just off from the Pacific Crest Trail in the Mount Adams Area. There is no trail to the summit, and the top marks the boundary to the Yakama Reservation.
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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 4900 ft.
Rating:
Mount Adams, at 12,276 feet, dominates the South Cascades and provides the most dramatic scenery of the region. The mountain is a standout destination also for the massive basalt lava beds that cover large portions of the surrounding landscape. This relatively young volcano initially formed nearly a million years ago, about 3 miles southeast of its current location. That first cone was ground down by glaciers during the long succession of ice ages that swept the region, while the "hot spot" that gave birth to the mountain shifted northwest as plate tectonics and continental drift rearranged the landscape.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
22.2 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1550 ft.
Highest Point: 7750 ft.
Rating:
Climb the north side of the mountain to spectacular alpine tundra and panoramic views on Devil's Garden, situated on a high plateau below the heavily-crevassed Lava and Lyman Glaciers, then head down to Avalanche Valley below the rugged and remote northeast side of the mountain. You'll make two challenging stream crossings before reaching Devil's Garden.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1600 ft.
Highest Point: 5250 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Highest Point: 5100 ft.
Rating:
Tucked in the heart of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The short and sweet Lemei Lake trail takes you through open meadow to a calm lake ringed with lush evergreens and grasses.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 6840 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 500 ft.
Rating:
This gentle, short hike offers spring flowers and a nice forest ramble, following most of George McClellan's railroad survey of 1852.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
15.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1250 ft.
Highest Point: 4350 ft.
Rating:
If you only have a single day and really want to push yourself, then check out this winter route to Indian Racetrack, in the Indian Heaven Wilderness.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 4100 ft.
Highest Point: 1800 ft.
Rating:
Get a taste for the south slopes of Mount Adams area when the snow is still in the high country on this eight mile loop combining the Buck Creek Trail, Morrison Creek Trail, and Wicky Creek Trail.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
6.3 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 1860 ft.
Highest Point: 4040 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.
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Gain: 2300 ft.
Highest Point: 6900 ft.
Rating:
Take this remote, flower-filled trail up the north side of Mount Adams to the rocky alpine terrain of giant glaciers.