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
4235 HikesSnow Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
Within a stone’s throw of Seattle, the Snow Lake trail delivers splendorous alpine scenery – crystal clear waters, towering peaks — on a rather exposed and rocky hike. Just don’t expect to have the trail to yourself; it's Washington's most heavily-used trail in a wilderness area!
Ravensdale Retreat Natural Area
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 767 feet
The Ravensdale Retreat Natural Area is a 145-acre park in historic Ravensdale, south of the Issaquah Alps. The natural area borders Rock Creek to the south, below Ravensdale Ridge. It's primarily intended for foot traffic, but you may see an occasional equestrian rider. Mountain bikes are discouraged but not disallowed; the nearby Black Diamond Natural Area has trails that are specifically designed with proper tread and pitch on turns for bikes. While there are several trails across the natural area, this entry describes a lollipop loop to catch the highlights.
Teanaway Community Forest - Cheese Rock Loop
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 406 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,627 feet
This 2.2 mile loop boasts a short, steep hike on exposed sandstone slab to some of the most spectacular views of the Teanaway Community Forest, with stunning views of Mount Stuart and surrounding peaks at the top before finishing on a gently graded downhill trail to complete the loop.
Teanaway Community Forest - Frog Pond Half-Loop
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,670 feet
This 2.5-mile loop hike meanders its way through pine forest and offers a shorter alternative to the full Frog Pond Loop.
Teanaway Community Forest - Cheese Rock Slab
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 385 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,650 feet
This short hike offers a unique experience traversing across a large sandstone feature for much of the trail and offers some of the most spectacular views of the Teanaway Community Forest, with stunning views of Mount Stuart and surrounding peaks on a clear day.
Teanaway Community Forest - Big Sandy
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 6.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,670 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,570 feet
This single-track trail starts at the West Fork trailhead and winds its way up the ridge to connect with multiple old roads and trails in the Teanaway Community Forest.
Teanaway Community Forest - Frog Pond Loop
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 460 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,670 feet
This 5.4-mile loop hike meanders its way through pine forest and brings trail users to a seasonal pond and large sandstone slab, offering striking views of the Teanaway Community Forest.
Ptarmigan Ridge
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
Rarely can hikers approach a climbers’ realm so easily, with minimal elevation gain, and enjoy beautiful views all along the way.
Mount Ann
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 10.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
A scramble up a mountain near Lake Ann. Climbing experience and equipment required.
Lake Ann (Mount Baker Highway)
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
Enjoy up-close, breathtaking views of Mount Shuksan’s west face, along with views of Fisher Chimney, the upper and lower Curtis Glacier, as well as Mount Baker from the trail to Lake Ann. The lake in a rocky basin, in the midst of this spectacular scenery. On some days you can hear ice echoing through the valley as it crashes down the face of Mount Shuksan. This is a late season hike, as snow can linger here into August.
Heather Meadows
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
Heather Meadows is an area of Mount Baker with a variety of trails to explore with gorgeous views.
Fire and Ice Trail
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
The Fire and Ice trail is the Mount Baker area's premiere interpretive trail, telling the story of how glaciers and volcanoes shaped this impressive place.
Chain Lakes Loop
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,820 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
This gorgeous loop hike has it all: big views of Mounts Baker and Shuksan, as well as the North Cascades, alpine lakes for swimming, and well-maintained trail winding through meadows and heather. And with wildflowers in spring, blueberry bushes for trail-side snacking in late summer and blazing color in the fall, you can't pick a bad season to visit.
Artist Ridge - Huntoon Point
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,150 feet
This spectacular, short trail gets lots of love during its short hiking season. Accessible for less than three months each year, hordes of hikers and tourists take to it as the snow finally begins to melt.
Wild Goose
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Hike from the Artist Point parking area to the Heather Meadows Visitor Center and back. With 1,100 feet of elevation gain, you'll have a great thigh workout. Combine Wild Goose with many of the other short trails in the area to make a full day of exploration, or use the Wild Goose trail to access Swift Creek or Lake Ann.
Table Mountain
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 725 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,700 feet
Table Mountain trail offers a variety of nice views, and opportunities to get away from the parking lot crowds at Artist Point. But heed the cautions before you set out.
High Rock
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,365 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,685 feet
The trail may be closed for a period of time this summer for necessary restoration work. Specific dates will be added once more is known.
Topping out at 5,685 feet, High Rock is dramatically higher than its surroundings. On a clear day, the exposed summit provides outstanding views all around and down. The trail is moderately steep but short, following Sawtooth Ridge 1.6 miles to the summit, where a fire lookout clings to the top.
Oregon Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 987 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,387 feet
The most prominent peak in the Blue mountains, the views from the trailhead are great, and just get better as hikers approach the Oregon Butte Lookout as the full expanse of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness unfolds before them in a 360 degree radius.
Turkey Creek
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,060 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,300 feet
This creekside trail winds through old-growth, connecting the Panjab Trail to the Teepee Trailhead.
Craft Island
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 80 feet
Take a short hike to the best views of the Skagit flats and the bay, as well as the Cascades to the east, the Olympics to the west, and Rainier to the south.
Dirty Harry's Balcony
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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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.
Carne Mountain
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 7.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,085 feet
6.10.26: Chiwawa River Road (FR 6200) is closed beyond Atkinson Campground to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
Carne Mountain is a challenging, yet rewarding hike to the brilliant gold colors of the western larches. Against a backdrop of blue autumn sky and indigo mountains, they are a dazzling sight.
Cedar Flats Nature Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 1.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 67 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,380 feet
The Cedar Flats Nature trail is an old growth mixed forest of cedar, Douglas fir, and hemlock. It's a peaceful stroll through deep, quiet forest, perfect for children and grown ups alike.
Lower Tuscohatchie Lake
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,120 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,126 feet
Lower Tuscohatchie Lake is accessible from multiple different trailheads, offering hikers multiple hiking options for a great weekend getaway or long day hike.
Whistle Punk Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 174 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,270 feet
In logging's heyday, whistle punks were men tasked with operating the signal that let other loggers know a log had been hooked up and was ready to be moved. Using interpretive signage, this trail illustrates what was like to be on a logging show, from the crew, to the cook, to camp.
Esmeralda Basin (Esmerelda)
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,960 feet
Esmeralda Basin promises hikers the opportunity to walk through old forest, meadows brimming with wildflowers, and along rocky hillsides, all while enjoying the striking scenery of the jagged and craggy Esmeralda Peaks.
Silver Star Mountain - Grouse Vista
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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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.
Sauer's Mountain
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,116 feet
This trail starts on private property, and is made accessible thanks to the property owner who built it. There is only room for about 10 cars at the trailhead, so if there are more than that when you arrive, please head elsewhere, since parking beyond the signs is not allowed.
Illahee State Park
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 0.5 miles of trails
6.9.26: The Beach Trail is closed until further notice for maintenance.
Find this tiny gem of a state park on the Kitsap Peninsula, tucked between Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. Vistors here will find prime beachside meandering and a relaxing atmosphere, enhanced by the dense forest typical of land in the Puget Sound area.