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
4203 HikesWolf Creek
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 21.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,270 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,738 feet
At the end of the Wolf Creek Trail lies a magnificently remote place: Gardner Meadows, a subalpine valley of old growth firs and myriad other plant and animal life. Once the snow melts, it is a bonanza of wildflowers and a haven for Columbian ground squirrels, birds, deer, and other animals.
Windy Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
Experience a breathtaking section of the PCT packaged into a great dayhike.
Wind River Arboretum
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 40 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
Visit a historic arboretum on connected paths that form a 2 mile interpretive trail, with the option to do shorter loops.
Wind Mountain
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
An old trail on Wind Mountain winds through land owned by various agencies. Storm damage and lack of maintenance has made this trail increasingly difficult, and the various land agencies encourage hikers to visit other Columbia Gorge hikes as an alternative to Wind Mountain.
Winchester Mountain
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,521 feet
The trail up to Winchester Mountain is less than two miles long and only 1300 feet of elevation gain, with access to a lookout at 6500 feet with outstanding 360 degree views. What’s the catch? The road.
Williams Creek
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,500 feet
To see beautiful Williams Lake, set in a meadow basin with pockets of larch trees, a hiker must earn it. The shallow gradient trail takes 7 miles to gain 3600 feet and is mostly on a fire-scorched, sun-baked south facing slope where the sparse shade offers a welcome respite from the heat.
Whittier Ridge-Lakes Loop
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 14.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,840 feet
“Most Difficult”. If you can accept and safely navigate what that means, the Whittier Ridge Trail offers you an airy and ruggedly scenic connection between the Boundary Trail and the Lakes Trail, for an 8.5-mile loop, part of a 14.3-mile “lollipop” day hike.
White River to Sunrise
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
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Length
- 5.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
White River Road has closed for the winter season.
A short but steep climb on the Wonderland Trail from a campground in Mount Rainier National Park to the Sunrise Visitor Center area.
White Chuck Bench
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,600 feet
Hike a beautiful, flat 5.8 mile walk (one way) in the woods along the White Chuck River. The trail has been cleared its entire length thanks to WTA trail crews.
Whistle Punk Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 174 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,270 feet
In logging's heyday, whistle punks were men tasked with operating the signal that let other loggers know a log had been hooked up and was ready to be moved. Using interpretive signage, this trail illustrates what was like to be on a logging show, from the crew, to the cook, to camp.
Whipple Creek Park
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
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Length
- 3.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
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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.
West Fork Teanaway River
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 9.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,750 feet
Hiking through a deep canyon with a riparian zone, old-growth, and cliffs, this dramatic trail parallels the river with several crossings. In places, it climbs high above the river to avoid cliffs and other obstructions in the deep, rugged canyon.
West Fork Pasayten River
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 33.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,200 feet
Hike through alpine meadows and descend into a valley following the West Fork Pasayten River.
West Fork Foss River and Lakes
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 14.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
Visit any of several beautiful alpine lakes, in rocky basins. The day can be as easy as a 3.6 roundtrip hike to Trout Lake, or as strenuous as the nearly 15-mile hike to Big Heart Lake as you like. Good options exist both for day-hikers and for backpackers.
West Fork Buttermilk
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 15.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,615 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,480 feet
Hike this 7.4 mile forested trail in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. You'll wander among gorgeous stands of ponderosa pines and larches, reaching 7,480 feet at Fish Creek Pass.
West Fork Agnes Creek
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 17.0 miles, roundtrip
The West Fork Agnes Creek trail used to head west from Fivemile Camp on the Pacific Crest Trail (also known here as the South Fork Agnes Creek Trail). The West Fork Agnes Creek trail is now all but vanished. Navigating it is a rough bushwhack along the West Fork of Agnes Creek, with no destination except the base of 8115-foot Agnes Mountain.
West Elwha
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 650 feet
Take a short but very scenic hike starting from the Altair campground in Olympic National Park. Traverse along the edge of the Elwha River, recently free-flowing thanks to the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam.
West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles of trails
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
Explore many miles of trails in the West Duwamish Greenbelt - a local park in West Seattle that is best accessed by the various bus lines that service it.
West Crater
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 430 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,131 feet
Hike to a small lava dome with an associated summit crater in southern Washington.
West Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 11.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,504 feet
Descend into the heart of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness from the historic Godman Guard Station, crossing through the Rainbow Creek Research Natural Area.
West Access Trail
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 1.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,340 feet
This is the western approach to Squak Mountain. Here, you'll have access to the Coal Mine Trail, Bullitt Fireplace Trail, and Chybinski Loop Trail.
Wenberg County Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Highest Point
- 450 feet
This waterside park along Lake Goodwin has a short interpretive loop trail, as well as a campground and day-use area (with a swim beach!).
Welcome Pass
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 4.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
Providing access to the gorgeous views along the High Divide, Welcome Pass is a nice option for those looking for a workout. Count the 66 switchbacks from the trailhead to the pass at 5,200 feet.
War Creek
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 9.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,840 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,840 feet
The War Creek Trail starts out along the Twisp River, just outside the town of Twisp. It is one of the many great options for accessing the northern shores of Lake Chelan from the Twisp River Road. Although this trail officially ends at the ridge overlooking the lake it connects with the Purple Pass Trail, which descends to the shore.
Waptus Lake via Waptus River
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 22.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,100 feet
Beginning from the heart of Salmon La Sac and terminating at the Pacific Crest Trail, the Waptus River trail offers miles of hiking through dry, open forest and beautiful lakes in the Alpine Lakes wilderness then a little bit of a climb before arriving at the iconic trail high on a ridgeline in the Central Cascades.
Waptus Pass
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 6.0 miles, one-way
Hike a trail that connects the beautiful Waptus River trail to the popular Pete Lake trail. Along the way, pass three other trail junctions, leading to further adventures.
Walupt Lake and Walupt Creek
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 8.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Used largely as part of the Nannie Peak Loop, Walupt Lake and Creek are a nice little hike in their own right. While not big on views, the flat grade of this trail makes it a good outing for families, since the river partway through the route offers a good turnaround point if little legs get tired. If you want to keep exploring, head up to where this trail terminates at the Pacific Crest Trail, and see if you can meet some thru-hikers.
Wagon Road Trail
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 1.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 353 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,604 feet
This comfortable, easy to follow trail winds through intermittent old growth, occasional remnants of the past, and alongside a sometimes babbling and other times a crashing creek. You will follow the original Snoqualmie Pass Wagon Road, and it is possible to connect with the trail to Franklin Falls for a scenic and delightful 2-mile loop.
Volcano View Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
The Volcano View Trail completes a trifecta of great hikes for children near Mount St. Helens, offering hikers of every age a mile-long nature trail that curves around stumps, boulders and hemlocks.
Verlot Nature Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 13 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,035 feet
The Verlot Nature Trail connects the Verlot Campground with Turlo Campground.