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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

4190 Hikes

Granite Creek Connector Trail

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
 
Length
2.4 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
1,089 feet
Highest Point
1,786 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(2 votes)
The Granite Creek Connector Trail provides hikers with an alternative start to a hike along the Granite Creek Trail.
 
 

Tolt Pipeline - Sammamish River Loop

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
 
Length
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
900 feet
Highest Point
450 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(1 vote)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Rivers
  • Wildlife
This 10-mile loop hike through various parks in the suburbs northeast of Lake Washington is close in, always open and a trail for most of the way.
 
 

Crystal Peak

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,100 feet
Highest Point
6,595 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.12
(34 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Check the weather before heading out for this hike, and if it’s going to be clear, bring a camera. From the summit, it’s possible to see six (yes, six!) volcanoes spanning two states. Baker, Glacier, Adams, Rainier, St. Helens and Hood wait patiently for you to climb the more-than-moderately steep path to the summit of Crystal Peak, where you can take in beautiful snow-capped majesty from the top.
 
 

Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,100 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.05
(43 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

This is a pleasant hike to a small lake and a notched gap with sweeping views. Sheep Lake is nestled in a subalpine area that explodes with wildflowers in July and August. The lake is a good place to relax and enjoy nature or perhaps take off your boots and go wading. Sourdough Gap is a small saddle in a rocky-edged ridge. The hike from the lake to the gap offers increasingly picturesque views of the south Cascades with every foot of altitude you gain. Once at the gap, you will be rewarded with grand views of Sheep Lake on one side and the Crystal Lakes basin on the other side.
 
 

Sheep Lake

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
3.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
400 feet
Highest Point
5,750 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.91
(32 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Sheep Lake is a picturesque alpine lake guarded by jagged-edged ridges. It makes a good destination for children, especially if you let them swim, play in the meadows, or explore the small rock outcroppings. Sheep Lake is also a worthy destination for adults who want a pause from daily life to enjoy the outdoors. The campsites around the perimeter are ideal for base camping or for backpacking with children.
 
 

Naches Peak Loop

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
 
Length
3.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
600 feet
Highest Point
5,850 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.54
(84 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

9.5.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Wildcat Fire.

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

This popular hike provides a range of alpine experiences in a short loop. Walk along a hillside above a small valley, pause at a viewpoint overlooking a lake and stroll through grassy meadows with stunning views of Mount Rainier. In season, enjoy an abundance of wildflowers or perhaps a handful of huckleberries.
 
 

Mesatchee Creek

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
11.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,750 feet
Highest Point
5,875 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.00
(6 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Lakes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

9.3.25: The trailhead and trail are closed until further notice due to the Wildcat Fire.

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

If you want both a walk in the sunshine and a walk through the trees, Mesatchee Creek is the place to go! Keep your feet dry on the turnpikes and bridge made by WTA.
 
 

American Lake

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
15.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,759 feet
Highest Point
5,858 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.30
(10 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail through meadows of wildflowers and past sparkling lakes with views of Nelson Ridge, Mount Aix and Mount Rainier. This outing makes for a great day hike or backpacking trip.
 
 

Dewey Lake

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,270 feet
Highest Point
5,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.96
(28 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

9.3.25: The trail is closed until further notice due to the Wildcat Fire.

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

To misquote a famous author, this hike can be "the best of trips or the worst of trips". Done in the right season, it has beautiful flowers, ripe berries, expansive views, great campsites, fishing, and swimming. Done in the wrong season, it has treacherous avalanche chute crossings, wet trail, no flowers, muddy campsites, and horrendous bugs.
 
 

Deadwood Lakes

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
470 feet
Highest Point
5,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

This un-maintained trail can be accessed from the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail can be difficult to follow, so be sure to take appropriate precautions.
 
 

Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
63.3 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
8,600 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Connect between the Mount Rainier area and Snoqualmie Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Travel over rolling hills through forests and clear cut areas with views of Mt. Rainier.
 
 

Chinook Pass to Crystal Mountain via the Pacific Crest Trail

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
8.9 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
1,400 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
5.00
(1 vote)
  • Established campsites
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Done as a one-way car shuttle hike, this route takes you past several lakes and streams, through meadows of wild flowers, patches of huckleberries, views of mountains and occasional wildlife such as marmots, black bears, pikas and mountain goats. And on a warm day you can take a cooling dip in Sheep Lake on your journey.
 
 

Bear Gap

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,283 feet
Highest Point
5,871 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.25
(4 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

A short and steep trail that offers hikers access to the Pacific Crest Trail or a longer loop with Fog City trail.
 
 

White Pass to Chinook Pass

South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
 
Length
28.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
5,060 feet
Highest Point
6,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(6 votes)
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.

Get ready for 28 miles of very scenic hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. This is a great intro to backpacking route: Four days, seven to eight miles per day of relatively flat backpacking. The trail is well marked, there are abundant camp sites and many stopping points along the way.
 
 

Shriner Peak

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
 
Length
8.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,434 feet
Highest Point
5,834 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.86
(22 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes

SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with Stevens Canyon Road and the junction with SR 410 for the winter season.

Gorgeous weather and late-season color make this one of the most beautiful autumn hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. This hike is a tough climb, but the payoff is great views and lots of solitude.
 
 

Deer Creek Falls

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
 
Length
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
280 feet
Highest Point
3,200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.40
(10 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Old growth
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildlife

SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with Stevens Canyon Road and the junction with SR 410 for the winter season.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination for the longer hike to Owyhigh Lakes, you can take a bite off the bigger trail and zip down about half a mile to see the charming 62-foot tiered falls of Deer Creek and a pair of footbridges traversing creeks flanked by a dense old forest.
 
 

Cougar Trails

Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
 
Length
6.0 miles of trails
Elevation Gain
308 feet
Highest Point
240 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
The Cougar Trails network contains six miles of moderately trafficked trails on the WSU Vancouver campus. Encompassing a river, a disc golf field, and quiet forested areas, this network is good for all skill levels.
 
 

Columbia Plateau Trail - Snake River

Central Washington > Tri-Cities
 
Length
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
150 feet
Highest Point
750 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.09
(11 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
A pleasant stroll for all ages- discover the history while enjoying a variety of avian wildlife on the southern terminus of the Columbia Plateau surveying the stark, scalloped Snake River country of southeast Washington.
 
 

Olympic Discovery Trail

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
 
Length
135.0 miles, one-way
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Coast
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildlife
A still-under-construction route along the north part of the Olympic Peninsula, the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) will eventually span nearly 130 miles and be usable by bikes, walkers, runners, strollers, and in some places, equestrians.
 
 

Arlington Airport Trail

Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
 
Length
6.0 miles of trails
Elevation Gain
0 feet
Highest Point
115 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
A suburban walk around the Arlington Airport with forest, mountain and airport views and interpretative signage.
 
 

Me-Kwa-Mooks Park

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
 
Length
1.0 miles of trails
Highest Point
250 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(1 vote)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Wildlife
This small West Seattle park across the street from the shore has a small trail network, as well as a lawn with picnic tables.
 
 

Lenore Lake Caves

Central Washington > Grand Coulee
 
Length
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
1,300 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.57
(7 votes)
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Explore ancient caves and view a wide array of wildlife, all near a large lake in Washington's Coulee Country.
 
 

Lynn’s Trail

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
 
Length
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
135 feet
Highest Point
3,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
This pleasant loop or out-and-back meanders through shrub-steppe and dry ponderosa communities. Spring is great for flowers; autumn, brilliant with aspen groves; and in winter, a snowshoe is in order. Bring binoculars if you have them, as birding opportunities are good year-round.
 
 

Pearrygin Lake State Park - Rex Derr Trail

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
 
Length
3.1 miles of trails
Rating
Average rating:
4.40
(5 votes)
The beautiful lake at Pearrygin Lake State Park is the star of the show here, but a 3-mile trail skirting the eastern edge of the park is a lovely diversion for visitors here.
 
 

Rainbow-McAlester Loop

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
 
Length
31.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
6,650 feet
Highest Point
6,300 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Sample the best the North Cascades has to offer—subalpine lakes, forested valleys and rugged mountain passes—on this multiday trek.
 
 

Talapus and Olallie Lakes

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
 
Length
6.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,220 feet
Highest Point
3,780 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.98
(151 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Wildlife
With a moderate grade on a wide trail, the hike to Talapus Lake is the perfect introduction to the outdoors for hikers and beginning backpackers. Upon arrival at Talapus, break out lunch or pitch camp. Either way, you can cool off in the large lake. If you feel like pressing on, Ollalie Lake is just about a mile and a half up trail, where open campsites offer lakeside havens with calm waters and views of a beautiful lake basin.
 
 

Mission Peak

Central Washington > Wenatchee
 
Length
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
840 feet
Highest Point
6,876 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(2 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
When road conditions allow, take a short hike up Mission Peak for expansive views west into the Cascades and east to Wenatchee and beyond.
 
 

Dog Creek

Central Washington > Yakima
 
Length
1.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
523 feet
Highest Point
5,671 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(4 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
This trail is in the William O Douglas wilderness area and offers solitude and unique scenery of Rattlesnake Peaks.
 
 

Little Mashel Falls - Bud Blancher Trail

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
4.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
500 feet
Highest Point
1,100 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.78
(18 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Old growth
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildlife
Three waterfalls, multiple viewing areas, and two different trailheads provide great choices for an excursion to Little Mashel Falls. The tallest waterfall plunges over 90 feet.
 
 

Little Mashel Falls - Pack Forest

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
500 feet
Highest Point
1,100 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.95
(37 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Old growth
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildlife
Three waterfalls, multiple viewing areas, and two different trailheads provide great choices for an excursion to Little Mashel Falls. The tallest waterfall plunges over 90 feet.