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
4220 HikesDeception Pass State Park - Goose Rock
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 4.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 484 feet
-
Highest Point
- 484 feet
Deception Pass State Park is one of the most popular Washington state parks and it is easy to see why. There are beautiful beaches, mature woodlands, great views, lakes, and a beautifully built bridge high on rocks above two narrow waterways. This nice trail will take you through all of this.
Sharpe Park - Sares Head
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 440 feet
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Highest Point
- 490 feet
This hike just south of Anacortes offers superb views of the ocean and islands from a pair of high vantage points, and it has some fine trails through mixed forest along the way.
Jakle's Lagoon
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 210 feet
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Highest Point
- 158 feet
Take this short one-mile stroll around an interpretive trail near the base of Mount Finlayson on San Juan Island.
Yudwasta Big Rock Park (Hoag Memorial)
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 460 feet
Yudwasta Big Rock Park (previously Hoag Memorial) is a small park located just east of Mount Vernon.
Clayton Beach
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 220 feet
Take a short trail from the Lost Lake Trailhead to Clayton Beach, where you'll find nearly a mile of shoreline to explore.
Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 286 feet
-
Highest Point
- 71 feet
Mora Road will be closed past Mora Campground between July 8 and Oct 5. Rialto Beach will not be accessible from Mora Road during this time.
Spend a day strolling the rugged Olympic Coast to dramatic sea stacks and natural wonders.
Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 170 feet
A combination of design art and nature, this 104-acre park features a trail that winds through Mill Creek Canyon right in the city of Kent.
High Divide Trail
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,723 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,821 feet
The High Divide Trail is popular because of its long ridge ramble through alpine meadows and its sweeping views of the North Cascades.
Bullitt Fireplace Trail
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,830 feet
Hike a two-mile forest trail on the north side of Squak Mountain to reach the site of a former cabin owned by the Bullitt family. Only the massive fireplace and the foundation remain today. Optionally, extend your hike to Central Peak, the highest point on Squak Mountain (no view,) and make it an interesting loop by returning via the Old Griz and East Side Trails.
Moore Point
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
Moore Point is a starting point for hikers tackling the Lakeshore Trail, a popular spring backpacking trip. This trail is free from winter snow earlier than many thanks to its low elevation, and because of that, it can get quite full in the early season. Consider starting your hike midweek if you prefer to hike in solitude.
Chelan Lakeshore Trail
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 17.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,030 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
Looking for an early-season backpack featuring craggy, snow-capped peaks, a sapphire-blue lake, a myriad of wildflowers, and a trail that’s regularly maintained by WTA volunteers? The 17-mile thru-hike on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail might be just the thing for you.
Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 10.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 800 feet
A classic hike in any season, but come in winter and you’ll find that the hordes of tourists, hikers, and climbers who use this trail in the summer have dwindled to just a trickle.
Hall of Mosses
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 0.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 600 feet
A short rainforest loop from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park.
Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 141 feet
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Highest Point
- 499 feet
The Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail connects the Heritage Recreation Center to the South Hill Community Park via a wide paved trail.
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.
Sherwood Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,250 feet
Starting out along Carey Creek, the Sherwood Trail climbs to a high point on the eastern edge of Taylor Mountain.
Knee Knocker Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 3.02 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,650 feet
Explore the far reaches of Taylor Mountain on this gently rolling trail.
Hermit Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 2.24 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 750 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
Wander through the eastern reaches of Taylor Mountain Forest.
Northwest Timber Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
The Northwest Timber Trail can be an easy first hike for young hikers, or it can be a pleasant stroll for experienced hikers when they have limited time. For many, this trail is a gateway to other routes that lead to more distant goals, such as the Silent Swamp Loop or the Preston Railroad Grade, or to forest roads that lead to the summit of East Tiger.
Two Dollar Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 550 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
The Two Dollar Trail is one of three approaches to Fragrance Lake. It is popular with runners, bikers and hikers alike because of its good surface throughout. It traverses a west facing ridge through a forest of cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock, bigleaf maple and red maple with views out to the Salish Sea. The trail wanders through a groundcover of salal, Oregon grape and a variety of ferns and a small waterfall whose configuration changes with the seasons.
Number Two Canyon Trails
Central Washington > Wenatchee
While mostly used by mountain bikers, the over-20-mile trail system is open to hikers and equestrians as well.
Point Defiance Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
As the largest urban park in Pierce County, the network of roads and trails weaving through the forest preserve provides a quiet retreat for joggers, cyclists, and hikers.
Powerlink
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 0.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 280 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,004 feet
This trail on Tiger Mountain offers an alternative to taking the service road on the last 0.6 mile to the East Tiger summit.
Hex Mountain
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,034 feet
The winter access of Hex Mountain via NF-116 is closed to the public.
Hex Mountain is now located partially on private property and is inaccessible to vehicles.
Talapus and Olallie Lakes
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 6.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,220 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,780 feet
FR 9030 is closed during the winter season. Refer to the Talapus Lake Snowshoe entry for details on this hike in winter. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/talapus-lake-snowshoe
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.
Puget Creek Natural Area
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.91 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
This trail in Tacoma follows Puget Creek through a gulch just above Commencement Bay.
Twin Falls
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,000 feet
Visit a trio (yes, trio) of waterfalls just off I-90 on this sure-to-please short trail, perfect for families.
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
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Highest Point
- 1,607 feet
3.20.26: The Palouse to Cascades trail is closed (1) between the Olallie Trail to Homestead Valley trailhead and (2) between the Carter Creek campsite to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel until further notice due to storm damage.
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.
Franklin Falls - Winter
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
The Franklin Falls Sno-Park is closed for the 2025-2026 season. See description for details on the winter hike.
This popular summer trail off I-90 changes quite a bit during the winter months. Note that there is considerable avalanche danger at the falls. (During the 2025-2026 winter season, the Franklin Falls Sno-Park will be closed, making the hike around 7 miles roundtrip.)
Lena Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
The hike to Lena Lake is a mild to moderate hike through old- and second-growth forest to a large beautiful lake, where the traffic on the trail is evidence of its beauty.