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
4216 HikesTubal Cain Mine to Buckhorn Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
12.29.25: FR 2880 has a rockslide 0.5 mile past Dungeness Forks Campground (before the junction with FR 2870) on the road. Trails are still accessible via FR 2870.
Although best known for its namesake mine and the nearby aircraft wreckage, the Tubal Cain trail also offers a pleasant and scenic route to Marmot Pass, a gateway to further wanderings.
Park Butte
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,450 feet
This is a very fragile area. Human waste must be packed out on this trail. Please also note camping is not allowed at the tarns/ponds along Park Butte trail.
On Park Butte, hike to an historic fire lookout and come face-to-face with Koma Kulshan. Along with unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the rest of the North Cascades, the route to Park Butte offers dedicated campsites, wildflower-filled alpine meadows and a stunning variety of mushroom species.
Fort Townsend Historical State Park
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 6.5 miles of trails
Visit a historic marine camping park that boasts saltwater shoreline that abuts Port Townsend Bay. Rife with military history, the trails here travel through beautiful forest and offer insight into the area's past life, including a former military cemetary.
Foothills Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 21.0 miles, one-way
This trail runs from Puyallup to Buckley, along the way passing along the Carbon River and offering up great views of Mount Rainier. It is popular with cyclists, walkers and horseback riders.
Fremont Lookout
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,200 feet
The road to Sunrise is closed for the winter season. It is expected to reopen in July 2026.
The two-story frame cabin of Mount Fremont, built in 1934, provides an opportunity to reminisce about the time when watchmen stood guard over the forest, with an eye out for wildfires.
Weowna Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 320 feet
Hike an urban park near Bellevue through extensive old-growth forest (yes, really)! Marvel at the many large conifers and deciduous trees. View a small creek in a steep canyon. Listen for, and perhaps see, abundant bird life. And, in season, note a few wildflowers.
Lake Isabel
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
-
Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,588 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,851 feet
Lake Isabel is only accessible via bushwhack— hikers can expect to ford a deep and swift-flowing river, and then endure a steep uphill bushwhack to the lake.
Haley State Park
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 328 feet
-
Highest Point
- 362 feet
A short trail through undeveloped state park lands to a section of shoreline on the Key Peninsula.
Holder Creek
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
-
Length
- 1.46 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
This trail follows salmon-spawning Holder Creek before a short climb in the northern section of Taylor Mountain.
Nason Ridge Snowshoe
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 750 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
A number of moderate snowshoe trails lie around the Lake Wenatchee area, but with a big, beautiful Ponderosa pine tree and views of the surrounding mountains, Nason Ridge gives you the best bang for your buck.
Big Tree Botanical Area Interpretive Site
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
-
Length
- 2.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 175 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,280 feet
The interpretive site is closed for the winter between Dec 1 and March 31.
A lovely short trail in a gorgeous setting, this hike is worth planning as a weekend trip to include camping at nearby Lost Lake.
Rhododendron Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 295 feet
The park is closed between Oct 1 and March 31 each year.
A multi-use county park with a short system of rambling trails through native rhododendron forest in central Whidbey Island.
Mount Pilchuck
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,327 feet
The road to Mount Pilchuck is closed at the Heather Lake trailhead for the winter.
Despite its intermediate difficulty, hikers flock to Mount Pilchuck for its historic restored fire lookout with grand panoramic views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympics.
North Fork Taneum to Fishhook Flat Trail
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
-
Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Walk along a noisy East Cascades creek through big woods, early or late in the season.
Wahkeena Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
-
Length
- 2.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,055 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,674 feet
A 2.8 mile trail in the Columbia River Gorge, the Wahkeena Trail can be connected with the Larch Mountain trail and the Return Trail to create a 6 mile loop. It also connects with many other trails in the area to create many other routes longer loops or traverses.
Lake Philippa
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
Trail closed: Access to Lake Philippa utilizes private property and is closed to the public. Please do not hike.
Access to Lake Philippa utilizes private property and is closed to the public. Please do not hike.
Eagle Lake Fisherman's Trail
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Trail closed: Access to this trail is on private land and is closed to the public. Please do not hike.
Access to this trail is on private property and is closed to the public. Please do not hike.
Surprise Lake
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
Trail closed: The lake and the surrounding area are closed to public access. Please do not hike.
Surprise Lake and the surrounding land is entirely on private property and is closed to hiking.
Boulder Lake (Olympics)
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 28.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 8,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,300 feet
Ramble through some great stands of fir and hemlock and pull in some panoramic views to the south including the north slopes of Mount Appleton.
Klickitat Rail Trail - Klickitat River
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 10.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 350 feet
The Klickitat Trail is a 31-mile rails-to-trails conversion managed by Columbia Hills State Park. This linear park goes from Lyle to Warwick (on the Lyle-Centerville Highway) with several access points along the way. This Hiking Guide entry describes the route between Lyle and Pitt Road.
Quartz Creek
South Cascades > Dark Divide
-
Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
This diverse landscape of deep forested valleys and open ridges with beautiful meadows and breathtaking views will leave you hungry for more.
SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 4.0 miles of trails
SHADOW (Save Habitat And Diversity Of Wetlands) Lake Nature Preserve is a lovely, small park in Renton that is home to a 5,000 year old peat bog with a short, universally-accessible half-mile boardwalk trail that leads into the heart of the bog.
Puyallup Loop Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 3.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 541 feet
-
Highest Point
- 351 feet
A roughly 4-mile loop near the city of Puyallup, where locals and visitors can get their exercise and spend some time on trail near an urban center.
Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 489 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,122 feet
12.24.25: The trail is closed until further notice due to flooding. Nearby trails remain open.
A moderate, year round loop trail in the Issaquah Alps that is popular with hikers, dog walkers and trail runners. Entering the large parking area at the Red Town trailhead (one of several in this 3,100-acre regional park) it’s hard to imagine that what is today a lush green forest was once a busy coalmine operation. Now all that remains are nearly forgotten place names, a few carefully preserved artifacts and caution signs warning of the hazards of travel off established trails.
Cedar River Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 17.4 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 820 feet
-
Highest Point
- 600 feet
12.24.25: Multiple sections of the trail are closed due to flooding and water on the trail. For more information: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/26b4c16e5df04456a588454b2b5bc0ee
The Cedar River Trail offers an urban river walk, a more rural river walk along a former rail bed, and a roadside bicycle path connecting the two. Bicycle the entire trail, or select one of many access points to explore the trail on foot.
Fort Flagler State Park
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 150 feet
Fort Flagler State Park is one of five impressive military installations that were established in close proximity to protect Puget Sound from invaders during times of war.
North Fork Sol Duc River
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 18.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,900 feet
Sol Duc Road is closed for the winter season. It will reopen in spring of 2026.
The North Fork Sol Duc River is a remote wilderness trail teeming with adventure. The trail is seldom maintained all the way to its end, and three river fords complicate the effort. The shoulder season hiker may experience solitude and wildlife, but they will also likely encounter high water, blowdown, and route-finding challenges.
Aurora Ridge
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 16.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,610 feet
Sol Duc Road is closed for the winter season. It will reopen in spring of 2026.
The Aurora Ridge Trail is welcome for those who love solitude, and great views of Lake Crescent, Ediz Hook, Mount Baker, Mount Olympus, and Glacier Peak can all be seen from Sourdough Peak and along the ridge.
Sol Duc River
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 17.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,050 feet
Sol Duc Road is closed for the winter season. It will reopen in spring of 2026.
The Sol Duc River Trail is one of Olympic National Park’s most beloved hikes. Thus it is always crowded and a backcountry camping quota is enforced. Roaring waterfalls, lush old growth, and subalpine meadows where elk bugle and bears browse for berries are just some of the many highlights.
Sol Duc Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,951 feet
Sol Duc Road is closed for the winter season. It will reopen in spring of 2026.
Marvel at old-growth trees amid a lush rain forest landscape while visiting one of Olympic National Park’s most beloved attractions: Sol Duc Falls.