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
4178 HikesLoowit Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 32.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 6,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,800 feet
The Loowit Trail cannot be accessed via the Willow Springs (#207A) Windy (#216E) or Abraham (#216E) trails through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The access trails will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays. The Loowit Trail remains open.
Ready for a stunning long hike through the otherwordly landscape of Mount St. Helens? The Loowit Trail reveals the volcano and the blast zone in all its raw glory.
Llandover Woods Greenspace
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
-
Highest Point
- 170 feet
A short trail that loops through a forested gully in North Seattle.
Beacon Rock State Park - Hardy Ridge
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 9.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,860 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,700 feet
The Equestrian trail will be closed Oct 6-9 for construction.
The Hardy Ridge hike makes use of the old logging roads that wind through the backcountry or the park north of Highway 14. These routes are closed to vehicles but open to equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. A WTA-built single-track trail traverses the ridge, offering a wide vista of the Columbia River Gorge.
Multnomah Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 611 feet
The east Multnomah Falls viaduct on the Historic Columbia River Highway (US 30) will be closed to all traffic through spring 2026. The closure will be from just east of Multnomah Creek to the Oneonta trailhead parking lot. Access to Multnomah Falls via the I-84 parking lot at exit 31 will remain open but parking is limited. Consider using public transit to reach the trailhead (see Getting There below for more details).
Multnomah Falls is one of the most beautiful (and popular) in the Columbia River Gorge. And that's saying something, since the Oregon side of the Gorge flows with more than 70 cascades of varying heights. Of course, all that flowing water has made it famous, and its proximity to Portland and Vancouver mean Multnomah is one of the most crowded of these waterfalls as well.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Cedar Falls to Change Creek
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 480 feet
The hike from the Cedar Falls trailhead to the junction with the Change Creek route is one through history. You will walk along a decommissioned railroad passing by the remnants of the line. Starting at the Cedar Falls trailhead, begin your hike just past the outhouse, crossing a paved road, and picking up the gravel path.
Hart's Pass to Rainy Pass
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 30.6 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
Walk along the Pacific Crest Trail through some of the most stunning landscape Washington has to offer. Traverse the treeline as you enjoy sweeping views and mountain passes.
Sahale Glacier
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
10.1.25: Cascade River Road is closed to vehicles at Eldorado trailhead (milepost 20) until further notice due to road conditions. Foot and bike traffic is permitted past this point.
A popular climbing route in the North Cascades. Proper gear and expertise is required.
Cascade Pass
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,392 feet
10.1.25: Cascade River Road is closed to vehicles at Eldorado trailhead (milepost 20) until further notice due to road conditions. Foot and bike traffic is permitted past this point.
At Cascade Pass, the wow factor far exceeds the “ow” factor – perhaps no other trail in the state delivers as much reward for the effort. From the high peaks on either side of the pass, verdant meadows curve down to a saddle that offers sweeping views of nearby valleys, glaciers, mountains, and passing wildlife. Sedately climbing a little less than 1,800 feet in 3.6 miles, it is the perfect hike to show new hikers the extraordinary places their feet can take them.
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,570 feet
10.1.25: Cascade River Road is closed to vehicles at Eldorado trailhead (milepost 20) until further notice due to road conditions. Foot and bike traffic is permitted past this point.
In Sahale Arm, the forces of nature have conspired to create an improbably gentle, gorgeous landscape. Simply put, this is one of the most beautiful hikes in all of Washington.
Fragrance Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,260 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,190 feet
The year-round, dog-friendly day hike to Fragrance Lake in the Chuckanut Recreation Area is popular with college students and faculty from Western Washington University in nearby Bellingham, and with day visitors and car campers at Larrabee State Park. On a sunny weekend afternoon you could easily lose count of the number of smiles and “hullos” you’ll exchange!
Old Kettle Falls Trail
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,300 feet
With an interesting history, this path wanders through the old Kettle Falls townsite and makes a good choice for a late fall or winter walk.
Pack Forest - Trail of the Giants
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 868 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,709 feet
Walk through shady woods, across sunny slopes and into an old-growth forest on this pleasant loop hike.
Del Campo Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,610 feet
A scramble to Del Campo Peak from Gothic Basin. Class 3 or 4. Technical expertise required.
Gunn Peak
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,240 feet
This area is incredibly sensitive. Pack out all human waste.
This is a climbing route (not a hiking trail) and should only be attempted by experienced climbers. Note that this area is incredibly sensitive; pack out all garbage and human waste.
Mount Zion
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,274 feet
The trip to Mount Zion is straightforward and short; a steep hike through fir, hemlock cedar, salal, and, the main attraction for many visitors, tall groves of wild rhododendrons. Views from the top are limited, but a little ridgeline wandering to the south afford the intrepid better views of the Olympic Mountains.
Federation Forest State Park
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
This park is closed for the winter each year between Oct 1 and March 31.
Green, mossy old growth trees and miles of level hiking are the main attractions at Federation Forest State Park. More than 12 miles of trails wind through the forest and hikers can put together loops to fit their hiking needs.
Whipple Creek Park
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 3.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 200 feet
A deep-forest experience without the drive. Whipple Creek Park is a 300-acre green oasis in the midst of farmlands to the west of the Clark County Fairgrounds. This hike loops through colossal Douglas fir trees and waist-high sword ferns to provide a primordial experience where you are dwarfed by nature. There is a small meadow for a picnic and the remnants of a grist mill to explore. This hike is a great way to escape urban life and be immersed in a peaceful forest environment.
Arch Rock
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
Arch Rock is not an arch, but a rocky point on the ridge to the west of Arch Rock Spring in the Norse Peak Wilderness Area. The trip to the rock involves a 5.4-mile hike mainly on the Pacific Crest Trail along a forested ridge to Arch Rock Spring, followed by a 0.6-mile boot trail to Arch Rock. From the top, the expansive views of the South Cascades are dominated by Mount Rainier, 20 miles to the southwest.
Horseshoe Basin
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,550 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,200 feet
At the easterly edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, almost touching the Canadian border, lies a truly unique and beautifully remote place. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain alpine tundra and is home to bears, deer and pronghorn sheep, if you know where to look.
Mima Mounds
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 2.75 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
-
Highest Point
- 225 feet
Mima Mounds is closed until further notice.
These mysterious mounds inspire imagination and speculation among visitors. With a half-mile ADA accessible path and another two miles of more rugged wandering, the Mima Mounds are a great destination for many hikers.
Libby Lake
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 10.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,210 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,640 feet
This strenuous hike passes through varied climate zones of the Sawtooth Range, ending at stark Libby Lake, tucked into a talus bowl with a larch-fringed outlet. Enjoy the view, soak your feet, catch some fish, or — for those so inclined — backtrack to the cabin and scramble up Hoodoo Peak.
Pack Forest - Hugo Peak
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 880 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,790 feet
Head for Pack Forest and Hugo Peak when you want some exercise but don't have a full day to commit as it is only 10 minutes from Eatonville. The trail is well maintained and there is a hiking register at the top. It's also a great hike for kids when they're ready to stretch their legs.
Twin Firs Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,550 feet
This short, family-friendly trail is a great spot for viewing impressive old growth and finding a reprieve from the strong summer sunshine.
Trail of the Shadows
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,770 feet
A short loop trail appropriate for all ages and abilities, this little walk provides an opportunity for anyone to appreciate the history of Longmire while immersing themselves in nature. It can also act as a mellow warm-up for the steep Rampart Ridge Trail.
Crystal Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
A relatively easy hike to a tranquil mountain lake.
Lions Park
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3 feet
Lions Park is an urban park with a walking loop alongside the Port Washington Narrows.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Homestead Valley to Mine Creek Trestle
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,607 feet
Hike a short stint on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, crossing high trestle bridges and roaming through old growth forest with expansive views of nearby peaks, just a short drive away from the city.
Lake 22
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
The trailhead and trail will be closed on weekdays (every Mon-Fri) from July 15 through Oct 31 in 2025 due to heavy maintenance work.
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.
Sauk Mountain
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
A popular trail with great views of the Sauk and Skagit river valleys, Cascade mountain peaks, and on a good clear day, the Olympics and San Juan Islands. There will also be plenty of wildflowers to please photographers and hiking plant nerds alike.
Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 8,365 feet
Permits are required to summit Mount St. Helens. Find details about acquiring them in the hike description.
The rim is extremely unstable. Please stay well back from the edge.
Mount St. Helens is a peak that should be on every life list. And because it is an active volcano, it is best not to put it off for too long. Climbing to the crater rim is an opportunity to see not only amazing views in every direction, but to see geology raw, unformed and in its making.