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
4224 HikesLake Serene
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,521 feet
Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls compete for attention on this hike. Either would be a worthy destination by themselves and combined they are a great day on the trail.
Trautman Ranch Conservation Area - East Loop
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 130 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
The Trautman Ranch Conservation Area provides over 275 acres of meadows and open woodland over rolling terrain adjacent to Riverside State Park. This double-lollipop loop includes a portion of the paved Centennial Trail, as well as more rugged trails through the forest.
South Puyallup Trail
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,200 feet
Known as the South Puyallup Trail, this access point to the Wonderland Trail is a connector 1.7 miles long that wends its way through a mature forest with trees ranging between 100 to 1000 years old.
South Puyallup to Klapatche
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 18.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
South Puyallup to Klapatche is a scenic section along the western portion of the Wonderland Trail.
Round Pass Trail
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 0.5 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 362 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,885 feet
A lovely alternative to walking the West Side Road, the Round Pass trail heads east to the South Puyallup Trail.
Lake George
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 930 feet
Ascend the decommissioned portion of the Westside Road to the Lake George Trailhead, and then follow a moderately steep trail through an old-growth Douglas fir and hemlock forest to a secluded and beautiful campground on the shores of a beautiful blue-green mountain lake. Grab a permit at the Longmire Ranger Station and make it an overnight — but bring warm clothes.
Gobblers Knob
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,565 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,485 feet
A clear, sparkling lake, up-close views of Mount Rainier, and a historic fire lookout await you on the Gobblers Knob Trail. This route is an eastern approach to the lookout via Westside Road.
Tahoma Creek Suspension Bridge - Emerald Ridge Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 14.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,600 feet
Ever wanted to hike the Wonderland Trail, but have time for only a sneak peek? Here’s how to enjoy a sampling of the Wonderland’s spectacular scenery — in a single day!
Tahoma Creek
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Trail closed: The Tahoma Creek Trail is washed out, difficult to navigate and travels through a hazardous area.
St. Andrews Park - St. Andrews Lake
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 20.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
St. Andrews Lake is a lovely high country lake along the Wonderland Trail that can be reached via the Westside Road.
St. George's Trail (Trail 503)
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,280 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,170 feet
This out-and-back hike takes you through rich wildlife habitat on the south side of the Little Spokane River valley. You’ll find a variety of birds — from tiny songbirds to wild turkeys — and an abundance of wildflowers.
Trautman Ranch Conservation Area - West Loop
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 320 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,883 feet
The Trautman Ranch Conservation Area provides over 275 acres of meadows and open woodland over rolling terrain adjacent to Riverside State Park. This enjoyable loop hike circles the entire property.
Lake 22
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
The curiously-named Lake 22 is the center of an oasis of alpine wetland nestled on the northern shoulder of Mount Pilchuck. The hike to the lake combines the best of mountain rainforests, old-growth, wetlands and mountain views, yet it is readily accessible. In winter, the route lends itself to snowshoeing.
Lyle Cherry Orchard
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 6.5 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 1,050 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
This little-known gem of a hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge offers spectacular views of the Columbia River, amazing spring wildflowers and an old garry oak forest of gnarled old trees. This stunning preserve is owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and tops out in an old cherry orchard with a few surviving trees.
Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,489 feet
In spring and early summer, enjoy abundant wildflowers and views of the Stuart Range on these multi-use trails east of the Cascades.
South Coldwater Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
This early or late-season hike takes you for a ridge walk high above Coldwater Lake, which was not a standing body of water prior to the massive eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. You'll walk through a serene willow forest, marvel at the power of nature when you encounter twisted hulks of logging machinery, and see plenty of gnarled stumps where tall evergreens once stood.
Melakwa Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,600 feet
The way to Melakwa Lake is like two different trails: first a wide gentle trail through old growth forest beneath an elevated and noisy Interstate freeway. And second, a rocky steep trail that follows a waterfall and a precipitous gorge upstream to get to a pair of clear alpine lakes flanked by rocky peaks. Is it about the journey or the destination? You decide.
Mailbox Peak - Old Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,822 feet
You may have heard Mailbox Peak mentioned in slightly hushed tones, the kind reserved for stories about some legendary storm or a bad accident. What inspires such reverence? The original route, which entails 4,000 feet of climbing in less than three miles. The newer, gentler trail takes twice as much distance to achieve the summit, but nothing will permanently erase the original trail's fearsome reputation.
Rattlesnake Ledge
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,160 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,078 feet
This is a fine hike on a well maintained, albeit busy trail through a cool forest with views of the Cedar River watershed, Mount Si, Mount Washington, Rattlesnake Lake and Chester Morse Lake.
Annette Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Waterfalls, wildflowers, sheltering forests, mountain views and an alpine lake are offered on this well-maintained trail. At the lake, enjoy the sights and relax for a while. If you backpacked in, stay at the campsites for a sunrise and sunset on the lake.
Carkeek Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 240 feet
Explore forest trails along Piper's Creek and adjoining ridges. Visit a Puget Sound beach and enjoy great views across the Sound to the Olympics. In the fall, observe migrating salmon in the creek.
Scorpion Mountain via Johnson Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,540 feet
12.23.25: Beckler Road (FR 65) is closed until further notice due to flood damage.
Scorpion Mountain offers a 360-degree view of the Central Cascades, and the huckleberries and blueberries make this a much underrated fall hike.
Little Quilcene River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,180 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,200 feet
Take this lung-busting trail up the north side of Mount Townsend, through coniferous forests offering cameo views to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, opening onto views of the Dungeness and Graywolf watersheds to the west.
Discovery Park Beach and Highlands Loop
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 5.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 380 feet
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Highest Point
- 345 feet
Hike through the relatively uncrowded southeast corner of a park in Seattle. Head up to the South Meadow for the views, then go down to the beaches and get up close to the West Point Lighthouse. Come back up to the park highlands for a close look at old buildings in the Fort Lawton Historic District.
Kendall Peak Lakes
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,030 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
Popular in the winter as a beginner snowshoeing route, Kendall Peak Lakes is less-frequently visited in the summertime. But if you're OK with hiking a Forest Service road, then navigating a somewhat faint route to your destination, you can enjoy a short and sweet hike with good views of Snoqualmie Pass.
Elk Ridge Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 1.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
Enjoy a short hike through lush greenery on this newly renovated trail.
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.
Ebey Waterfront Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 92 feet
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Highest Point
- 25 feet
Enjoy a stroll along a flat, paved trail with beautiful views and a good look at a restored estuary.
Wildwood Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
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Highest Point
- 354 feet
This urban park has it all! In a woodsy setting here, you'll find fitness challenge trails and activities for all ages and abilities.
Number Two Canyon Trails
Central Washington > Wenatchee
This trail is closed due to Labor Mountain Fire suppression repair work.
While mostly used by mountain bikers, the over-20-mile trail system is open to hikers and equestrians as well.