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
4205 HikesGinkgo Petrified Forest Interpretive Trails
Central Washington > Potholes Region
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
One of the largest petrified forests on the planet sits in the center of Washington State. The ancient trees were mineralized into rock during the great lava flows that swept the inland Northwest. In addition to petrified ginkgos (one of the oldest tree species in the world), the "rock forest" includes mineralized Douglas fir, spruce, walnut, and elm.
Hidden Lakes
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 34.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
The Hidden Lakes are the jewels of the Pasayten Wilderness. Tucked high within the Wilderness, these lakes provide backpackers with opportunities to fish, swim, relax, and view wildlife and wildflowers.
Windy Peak
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 11.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,050 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,100 feet
Follow this rugged trail through a former burn to views of Mount Baker and the expansive Pasayten Wilderness.
Little Huckleberry Mountain
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,781 feet
Climb to the top of Little Huckleberry Mountain, where you will be greeted with excellent views of Mount Adams and other Cascade peaks. Though steep at times, the summit and the huckleberries you’ll find along the way make this hike worthwhile.
Snowking Mountain
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Highest Point
- 7,433 feet
Snowking Mountain is a strenuous mountaineering trip or class 3 alpine scramble with stunning panoramic mountain views, deep blue alpine lakes and rewarding isolation.
Seaquest State Park - Silver Lake
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
A forest walk and a wetlands walk-two trails for the price of one! This wide, paved trail loops through meadows and shoreline.
Maintenance Shed Road
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
Here is an easy snowshoe on a wide U.S. Forest Service road with spectacular views of Chimney Rock, Coyote Ridge and, at the end, Mount Rainier.
Cabin Creek Snowshoe
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
A shorter, less challenging outing near the popular Amabilis Mountain. Be sure to share the trail with skiers.
Hobart - Middle Tiger Railroad Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 10.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,550 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,180 feet
Hike the routes of two former logging railroads (the Iverson and the Hobart - Middle Tiger) to reach a remote section of Fifteenmile Creek. Follow a short, steep trail to connect with the Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT.) Return via the TMT and, on the way, look in on the site of a 1925 logging train wreck.
Falls Creek Falls
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 750 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,920 feet
Explore an easy, gently graded trail to Falls Creek Falls just outside of Winthrop. The first waterfall is just a quarter-mile from the trailhead and is accessible via a paved trail.
Red Town Creek
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.2 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 22 feet
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Highest Point
- 855 feet
A very short access trail on Cougar Mountain from the Red Town Trailhead that offers a nice graveled path, and a small waterfall.
Red Cedars
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 212 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,007 feet
Access several loop options at the north side of Cougar Mountain with the Red Cedars Trail.
Divide Camp
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
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Length
- 5.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The Divide Camp Trail features dense forests, glacial creeks, and wildflower-strewn meadows. It also sees less traffic than the nearby Killen Creek Trail – the standard approach to High Camp.
Border Camp Trail
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 3.5 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,315 feet
Located just east of the Pasayten Wilderness and connecting to that trail system, Border Camp Trail is a short trail segment within the Loomis State Forest, which is managed by the Department of Natural Resources as a Natural Resources Conservation Area. Border Camp is among several trails on the looped trail system located on DNR land, so-named for a historic campsite that appears on the old USGS topo maps near Snowshoe Peak and the Canadian border.
Shoreview and Boeing Creek Parks
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.9 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 280 feet
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Highest Point
- 440 feet
This pair of back-to-back urban parks just west of Shoreline Community College offers some very tall trees, small creeks, and a network of (mostly) good trails with a few ups and downs. Wildflowers, ferns, moss, birds: they are all here.
Ahtanum State Forest - Whites Ridge
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 10.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
The Whites Ridge trailhead is a forested hike with mountain views located in Ahtanum Forest. It is only open to hikers and equestrians from April 1 to November 30.
Devil's Ridge
North Cascades
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Length
- 18.8 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,000 feet
Connect between the PCT and Ross Lake as you take in the incredible sights of the Pasayten Wilderness. Pass over ridges and stop to explore and admire the popular Devil's Dome.
Sultan River Canyon Trail
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
If you don’t mind descending first, then ascending later, the Sultan River Canyon trail is a nice alternative for the shoulder season when snow is still too deep in the mountains. Drop to the sparkling Sultan River, then climb back up on nicely graded switchbacks in the shade.
Horseshoe and Chinook Creek Falls via Upper Siouxon Creek
South Cascades > Dark Divide
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Length
- 8.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,570 feet
This excellent early-season romp heads up a lush river canyon boasting three gorgeous waterfalls with riverside campsites for an overnight, or a longer, more challenging loop.
Toutle Trail - Blue Lake to Loowit Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
Take a short dayhike in a ghost forest to a beautiful babbling brook on the southwest side of Mount St. Helens.
Willapa Hills Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 56.5 miles, one-way
The trail is closed at milepost 38.5 west of Lebam due to a washout.
The trail is closed between milepost 48 and 49 at trestle 48 due to erosion.
Once a railroad, this trail can visitors to travel between the towns of Chehalis and South Bend without having to drive! Do note though, the trail is in varying stages of development, so be sure you are prepared for pavement, gravel, dirt, or detours depending on your route.
Black River Riparian Forest and Springbrook Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 4.4 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 140 feet
-
Highest Point
- 45 feet
The Black River Riparian Forest and Wetland hosts more than 50 species of birds in this habitat area. A bird-watcher's dream, it also provides a wonderful place to stretch your legs and enjoy a shot of nature within Renton's city limits.
Bridle Trails State Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 450 feet
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Highest Point
- 525 feet
Bridle Trails State Park offers more than 28 miles of pleasant, forested trails conveniently located between Bellevue and Kirkland. This park is popular with horseback riders, so while dogs are allowed, they must be kept on leash to avoid startling horses.
Wolf Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 16.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
The Wolf Creek trail departs Hurricane Ridge and plunges eight miles downhill to Whiskey Bend in the Elwha River Valley. It's a lovely route that gets little use along its entire length, though many people wander a couple miles down its length before heading back up.
Bellevue Downtown Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
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Highest Point
- 138 feet
A 20-acre park in the middle of Bellevue.
Sand Ridge
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 8.9 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
This trail in the William O. Douglas wilderness climbs from the north side of Highway 12 through second-growth forest. It offers access to Spiral Butte and Shellrock Lake, among other lakes in this area. While it's a lovely spot to enjoy a low-key backpack, the water here can make the area swampy in the spring and early summer.
Russell Ridge
South Cascades
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Length
- 9.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,697 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,767 feet
The Russell Ridge trail takes you along Russell Ridge, and offers connections to multiple other trails, including the Ironstone Mountain Trail (#1141) — providing access to Ironstone Mountain, Burnt Mountain and McNeil Peak — and the Wildcat Trail (#1113).
Rattlesnake Trail
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
A mostly abandoned trail along (and sometimes in) Rattlesnake Creek that has been washed out in many places due to its numerous crossings of the creek.
Dungeness Recreation Area
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
Also known as the portal to the popular Dungeness Spit, there are many equestrian and hiker friendly trails here. Situated on the bluff above the Strait of Juan De Fuca, this area boasts 67 campsites in addition to the scenic, mile-long bluff trail and excellent birdwatching.
Paris Creek
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
This creek trail takes hikers high above the creek itself and to a nice overlook near the terminus, where adventurers can extend their hike further along the Middle Fork Teanaway or Elsnor Mine trails.