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
4235 HikesSnowall Cradle Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 9.1 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
6.3.26: Icicle Road (FR 7600) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
The valley that Snowall Creek runs through is laden with amazing meadows of wildflowers, great views of the peaks surrounding it and tons of wildlife. It's part of a loop that you
Klonaqua Lakes
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
6.3.26: Icicle Road (FR 7600) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
A handful of high lakes nestled in a forested cirque below Granite Mountain deep within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Icicle Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 258 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,056 feet
Both the bridge over French Creek 1.5 miles up and the bridge over Icicle Creek 5 miles up the trail are broken and unsafe to cross. There is no way to ford the creeks during high water.
6.3.26: Icicle Road (FR 7600) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
An out and back hike through the forest with gentle hills for the first two miles or so. It eventually joins Icicle Creek at its confluence with French Creek, and the trail continues beyond.
Blackjack Ridge
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 8.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,700 feet
6.3.26: Icicle Road (FR 7600) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
This trail features ridgetop views and numerous steep switchbacks through forest and open meadows. Beginning at the Blackpine Trailhead, it climbs through second-growth forest to wide open views of the Icicle Ridge area and ends at the Snowall-Cradle Lake trail.
Roughhouse Mountain
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
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Highest Point
- 4,760 feet
6.3.26: Shaser Creek Road (FR 7322) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
Roughouse Mountain is the unofficial name for this peak in southwestern Chelan County. This relatively easy-to-climb peak is great for beginners or for those looking for non-technical snowshoeing in the off-season.
Mission Ridge
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,963 feet
6.3.26: Mission Creek Road (FR 7100) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
The Mission Ridge trail is primarily used by mountain bikes and dirt bikes, which can make for a nice, compacted trail. But by the same token, parts of the single-track can be a bit narrow and cupped, having been carved out by bikes. This can be a bit hard on the knees and ankles after awhile (especially with the additional weight of a backpack).
Heather Lake (near Lake Wenatchee)
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,950 feet
6.3.26: Smithbrook/Rainy Creek Road (FR 6700) and FR 6701 are closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
Heather Lake is a moderate day hike to an attractive lake just below the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), particularly good for families. There are huckleberries in season and a dive into the lake will refresh hikers in the warmth of August.
Top Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
6.3.26: Smithbrook/Rainy Creek Road (FR 6700) and FR 6701 are closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
The demure Top Lake trail provides easy access and a popular jumping-off point for hikers, backpackers, equestrian riders and trail work volunteers, all headed into the Cascades backcountry during summer and early fall once snow has receded. Take in the beauty of subalpine meadows and regal peaks on the horizon that offer a taste of what draws outdoor enthusiasts here to the Henry M. Jackson and Glacier Peak Wildernesses and beyond.
Pear Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
6.3.26: FR 6701 is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
An aptly-named alpine gem, Pear Lake nestles below Fortune Mountain and can be reached by combining the Top Lake Trail with a short jaunt north on the Pacific Crest Trail. It provides access and a jumping-off point for hikers, backpackers, equestrian riders and trail work parties alike headed into the backcountry of the Henry M. Jackson and Glacier Peak Wildernesses and beyond.
Glasses Lake
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,682 feet
6.3.26: Smithbrook/Rainy Creek Road (FR 6700) and FR 6701 are closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
This is a beautiful small lake tucked immediately under Grizzly Peak and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Where Heather Lake is often shared with a number of hiking and camping groups, you are pretty much assured to have lunch by yourself at Glasses. Only a half a dozen trip reports have been filed in the last decade, this is a good predictor of solitude.
Jove Peak
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Highest Point
- 6,007 feet
6.3.26: Smithbrook/Rainy Creek Road (FR 6700) is closed to vehicles until further notice due to storm damage.
With steep, broad slopes and no maintained trail to the summit, Jove Peak is a popular winter destination, but is attainable year round. Climbing experience recommended.
Rock Mountain via Snowy Creek
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
6.3.26: Snowy Creek Road (FR 6705) is closed until further notice due to storm damage.
Sometimes, taking the back door is better. At 9 miles and 3600 feet of elevation gain, the back way to the Rock Mountain Lookout is less steep, more scenic, and two miles shorter than the more frequently used route from Rock Lake. Try this as a key swap or a thru-hike if you want to get both sides of this gorgeous hike.
Henskin Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,550 feet
This is a beautiful hike that "has it all," from wonderful wildflowers and a deep forest, to wild creeks and an alpine lake. You will even see an abandoned gold mine along the way!
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
3.23.26: The trailhead is inaccessible by vehicle due to floor damage and downed trees on West Fork Foss Road (FR 6835). There is a 2.4-mile road walk to the trailhead.
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.
Mount Teneriffe
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,585 feet
Mountains to Sound Greenway did this road to trail conversion in order to create a more sustainable, safer route for hikers to a summit on the I-90 corridor. Hike through second- and third-growth forest, pass a lovely waterfall, and enjoy a slightly less-crowded trail than the nearby Mount Si.
Heybrook Lookout
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 980 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
Heybrook Lookout is a short and moderately steep hike through a fern and moss covered forest to a fun, staircase-ridden lookout with great views of the nearby mountains. If you are introducing someone to hiking, limited on time, or trying to add on another hike or activity in the area, this is the hike for you.
Boulder Lake
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 13.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,700 feet
A hidden gem of Snohomish County — whether you do a couple of miles or the whole trek to Boulder Lake, there's plenty for all to enjoy. Hikers will be surrounded by a bounty of wild berries in the summer and misty Pacific Northwest clouds in the spring and fall. The trail has been quietly closed for several seasons; now, hikers can find tranquil solitude with an amazing lake!
Spectacle Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 22.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,600 feet
Spectacle Lake is truly worthy of the name - it's quite a sight to see. Nestled at the base of Chikamin Ridge and just a short jaunt from the Pacific Crest Trail, this lake is one of the true gems of Snoqualmie Pass.
Navaho Pass
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,000 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
Navaho Pass is an excellent introduction to the Teanaway area. Rife with wildflowers, fascinating geology, and just enough elevation gain to keep it interesting, this hike has just about everything that the Teanaway is known for.
Heybrook Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 775 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,327 feet
Heybrook Ridge Park (including this trail) is closed due to construction on the Erinswood Trail. It is expected to reopen in July.
The Leovy Trail, a testament to community land conservation, is a moderate ascent through second-growth Cascade rainforest to the summit of Heybrook Ridge. At the top, take in stunning views of Mount Index, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Skykomish Valley.
Erinswood
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 600 feet
Heybrook Ridge Park (including this trail) is closed due to construction on the Erinswood Trail. It is expected to reopen in July.
Erinswood is a barrier-free trail that meanders through a variety of ecosystems over its short length. Meditate to the sound of rushing streams as you pass through riparian, deciduous, and evergreen habitats that form the backdrop of a 0.7-mile sojourn under the shadow of Heybrook Ridge. Erinswood is still under construction and likely to be completed by the end of 2019.
Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 489 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,122 feet
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.
Pierce Mountain Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.9 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,965 feet
Pierce Mountain Trail is a gentle trail up Sourdough Mountain from the Big Beaver trail.
Big Beaver Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 24.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,980 feet
Visit one of the best old-growth hikes in the North Cascades, with views of a vivid blue lake and jagged, snowy peaks thrown in for good measure.
Thunder Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,900 feet
A pale green creek, big old trees, a variety of understory, and peek-a-boo views of snow-capped peaks. Day-hikers should take it easy, as the joy here is in the journey not the destination. Backpackers, however, may disagree. Families and first-time backpackers will enjoy beautiful camps just two miles from the trailhead. Experienced backpackers will note that Thunder Creek is a gateway to an extensive network of trails.
Park Creek Pass via Thunder Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 40.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 7,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,000 feet
Try a multi-day backpack up the tumbling, boisterous, river-like Thunder Creek from the Colonial Creek Campground to just beyond its headwaters at Park Creek Pass. Backpackers can turn around at Park Creek Pass or do a traverse to Cascade Pass.
Thunder Knob
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 635 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,875 feet
Hike this easy leg stretcher while taking in the beautiful scenery of the North Cascades Highway. A good stop if you have a car full of restless children or you are showing off the area to visiting relatives. The views from the top are a big payoff for such a short hike.
Ruby Mountain
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 17.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,408 feet
Ruby Mountain is a 7,408-foot peak in the center of the North Cascades. It has one of the best panoramic views of the lakes, snow-capped peaks and glaciers of the North Cascades National Park.
Ruby Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,230 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,935 feet
Highway 20 is closed between Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156.8).
Ruby Creek is a short, mellow river ramble that is often traveled as a part of the longer Devils Dome Loop.
Ross Dam Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
This forested trail in the North Cascades National Park Complex leads down to Ross Lake and the network of trails in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Look out over both Ross Lake and Ross Dam before making your way down to Ross Dam itself