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
4204 HikesValhalla Peak
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,300 feet
Valhalla Peak is a modest summit located in the Olympic National Forest and can be reached via the Tunnel Creek Trailhead or via Dosewallips Road.
Dosewallips State Park - Steam Donkey Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 425 feet
The 3.5 mile Steam Donkey Loop Trail is an especially good choice in spring, with lots of creeklets, views of the Dosewallips River and silent forest. There is a strong chance that you will see wildlife in winter and spring. An elk herd resides in the area, and with the estuary so close, the area is rife with bird-life. As an added bonus for fall hikers, you can search for and pick chanterelle mushrooms.
Columbia Mountain
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,450 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,765 feet
One of the most popular hikes on the Colville National Forest is the short but challenging hike to the summit of Columbia Mountain, where vistas of surrounding mountains, wildflowers and one of the oldest fire lookouts in the state await you.
Mount Rose
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,301 feet
7.7.25: This trail and FR 24 are closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
Hike a steep trail to a rocky perch with views of Lake Cushman and the southeastern corner of the Olympic Mountains.
Copper Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
7.7.25: This trail and FR 24 are closed until further notice due to the Bear Gulch Fire.
Whatever you like most about hiking, this trail has something for you, whether it’s a quick ascent, a period of more level ground, a peek-a-boo view, a quintessential Olympic Peninsula rain forest, or a ridge top.
Kloshe Nanitch
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,160 feet
Hike to a former fire lookout site on the Olympic Peninsula. Fires are now patrolled by aircraft here, but the beautiful, rugged surroundings can still be reviewed by hikers from the lookout with a name that draws on a Chinook phrase that translates to "take care".
Bay to Baker Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 8.5 miles of trails
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Highest Point
- 100 feet
After a long day at the office, the Bay to Baker Trail offers a convenient dose of nature right in the heart of Bellingham.
Turtleback Mountain Preserve: Turtlehead Summit
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 5.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,295 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,025 feet
Hike a short trail that leads to one of the best viewpoints in the San Juans, with views of other San Juan Islands and of Canada's Gulf Islands. In the distance, Vancouver Island and the Olympic mountains will be visible. Along the way, enjoy an exuberant display of mosses and, in season, wildflowers. Sightings of golden eagles, turkey vultures, and many other birds are likely.
Happy Creek Nature Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 570 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,780 feet
Hikers can choose from an easy loop partially along Happy Creek, or a longer hike to Happy Creek Falls, site of an old sawmill that supported the mining in the late 1800's.
Chelan Gorge Trail
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 5.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 504 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,208 feet
A series of trails near the town of Chelan wind along the contours of the hills and dip into the rocky plain of Washington’s shortest river.
Madison Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 46 feet
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Highest Point
- 292 feet
Hike a paved 0.1 mile trail ending at the beautiful Madison Falls.
Farrel-McWhirter Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
Hikers will appreciate the trails that wind through the park and connect to even more miles of walking.
Sentinel Mountain
Central Washington > Potholes Region
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Highest Point
- 2,372 feet
A peak scramble on the east side of the Cascades.
Abercrombie Mountain Trail
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 7.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,300 feet
From Eastern Washington’s second-highest peak, the former home to Eastern Washington’s second-highest lookout, take in hundreds of square miles of rolling forested terrain, from the Canadian Purcells to the Columbia Plateau.
Augspurger Mountain - North
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,667 feet
Find spring wildflowers and one of the best ridge hikes in the Gorge; just be prepared for a difficult drive to get there. While Dog Mountain to the south is crowded, you’ll have these sweeping vistas to yourself. WTA volunteers have put in many hours to improve this trail.
Josephine Lake
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,150 feet
Josephine is a beautiful lake 5.2 miles south of Stevens Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail winds thru the Stevens Pass Ski area, climbing for two miles to top of the hill, gaining 1000 feet along the way.
Mosier Creek Falls and Mosier Plateau
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 540 feet
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Highest Point
- 581 feet
This is a short hike to a beautiful two-tiered falls along Mosier Creek on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Continue on to get up to a plateau where views of the Gorge await you.
Riverside State Park - Deep Creek Canyon
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 968 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,165 feet
Take advantage of the diversity of Riverside State Park's Trail 25 by doing this close-to-town loop that includes both forested canyon and scenic overlooks.
Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 37.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,200 feet
This route started as a pedestrian- and bike-friendly route along the Spokane River, coinciding with the Washington State Centennial celebration, hence the name. Now, users can follow the Spokane River from Riverside State Park west of Spokane all the way to the Idaho border.
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.
Jackson Creek Fish Camp
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 446 feet
The Columbia River flows past arid land and steep hills, creating an inviting place for fishing and recreation.
Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
This stunning Olympic coastal hike is one of the more photographed places in Washington for good reason.
Little Bald Mountain
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 12.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,185 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,602 feet
The trail up Little Bald Mountain follows the edge of a a northwest-facing rim rock cliff that melts out a month or so earlier than areas farther west. It's the perfect answer for those looking for an early season high country fix and often has wildflowers blooming when, or even before, Chinook pass opens.
Yacolt Burn State Forest - Sturgeon Rock Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,150 feet
A rough, former roadbed connects the Tarbell Trail to the Silver Star trail, passing a notable fin of exposed rock in the Silver Star Recreation Area known as Sturgeon Rock. The trail is remote, so while it's just a bit more than a mile long, it's at least 3 miles to access the trail junction.
Capitol State Forest - Mima Falls Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 650 feet
The Mima Falls Loop takes hikers through young plantings, lush forest, and quiet wetlands in Olympia's Capitol State Forest. Just 30 minutes from the state capital, this is the perfect year-round waterfall hike for after work or weekends. Hike through a working forest and examine forestry practices up close.
Northway Trail
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
This hike takes you gradually up to a ridge looking west to Mt Rainier’s Tahoma and the White River and on to the Crystal Mountain Summit.
Granite Mountain (Conconully)
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,366 feet
The adventure of this peak starts by simply getting to the trailhead. From there, a moderately overgrown trail winds through classic ponderosa forests with berries or wildflowers in season. The summit area is an otherworldly mix of silvery burnt trees and granite boulders. Your efforts to climb this peak are likely to be rewarded with solitude and dramatic views.
Twin Lakes and Mount Pickett
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 7.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 915 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,749 feet
This loop hike is about the journey through beautiful vegetation including some old forests — with the added bonus of two sweet, small lakes.
Olympic Hot Springs
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 19.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,986 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,187 feet
Hike to some remote hot springs on the Olympic Peninsula.
Merrill Lake Conservation Area - Kalama River Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 3.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,600 feet
There are two routes to Kalama Falls; the shorter route starts at a two-track gravel road and goes through the Merrill Lake Wildlife Area.