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 HikesTumac Plateau Loop
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 20.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,340 feet
Link together six trails for a fall color loop past numerous lakes of the Tumac Plateau and hike Tumac Mountain in the William O. Douglas Wilderness.
Tieton Pond Snowshoe
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
A moderate snowshoe along forest roads to a beautiful frozen pond just outside of Yakima.
Spiral Butte
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,840 feet
Most folks enjoy the view of Spiral Butte from afar, whether they're skiing downhill or cross-country at White Pass, or hiking along other trails in the area. But if you want to tackle this trail, it makes a good diversion for those camping at Dog Lake, or simply looking for a day hike in the area.
Southwest Loowit Loop
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 12.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Venture through dusty lahars, cool forest and the high country on the shoulder of Mount St. Helens on this 12-mile loop. Do it in a day, or plan to camp along the way—this hike is both beautiful and a bit of a challenge; you’ll need a little scrambling experience to be comfortable hiking the whole thing.
Raven Roost
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 3.9 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 540 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
This trail starts out at the Raven Roost high point at road’s end. This trail starts out with the views before you even set foot on trail.
Jensen Family Forest Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 94 feet
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Highest Point
- 170 feet
This forested park in Bellingham was made possible by the Jensen Family’s generous donation of a public easement. The short, stroller-friendly loop trail includes a picnic table and parking area.
Driveway Butte
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,030 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,982 feet
Spring, summer, and fall all beckon hikers up the slopes of Delancy Ridge toward Driveway Butte, attracted by the views, seasonal flowers, or just a hard workout. The trail tells the tale to two forests, a mature pine forest in the first half and a forest recovering from fire in the second.
Machu Picchu
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
An illegally-built trail off of I-90. Hikers are encouraged to not use this trail.
Timberline Trail - Elk Cove To Gnarl Ridge Junction
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 10.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,759 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,336 feet
The northeast segment of the Timberline Trail provides the highest point on the trail and exposed moon-like landscapes; the most rugged of the sections of the circumnavigation.
Round Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Highest Point
- 5,720 feet
Try this ridgeline hike on the Round Butte trail, featuring open meadows, excellent views of the surrounding canyons, and plenty of solitude.
Upper Wildcat Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 15.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,920 feet
A lake located above the extremely popular Snow Lake; Upper Wildcat offers backpacking opportunities for the route-finding enthusiasts in the summer months.
Shinglemill Creek Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 400 feet
Shinglemill Creek Preserve is located in the northwest part of Vashon Island and encompasses 168 acres along the lower mainstem of Shinglemill Creek – Vashon’s second-largest creek.
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
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.
Shellrock Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 3.5 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,745 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,487 feet
The Shellrock Pass trail has not been maintained for 25 years. However, the way is relatively easy to follow if you have a map and are familiar with cross-country travel.
Robinson Mountain
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,166 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,726 feet
A challenging summit of a peak in the North Cascades. Route-finding experience required.
Sunrise Point Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
A short dead end trail coming off the High Ridge trail at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.
Blazed Ridge
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
Walk along a high ridge which connects to several other trails in the Manastash Ridge area, with views out to the Enchantment Range as well as Mount Daniel and Mount Hinman.
Rose Creek Nature Preserve
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
Stroll though a remnant of Palouse prairie, wetland and steppe ecosystem.
Capitol State Forest - Rock Candy Mountain
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
Capitol State Forest offers hikers a quick getaway fix and an opportunity to stretch their legs during the winter months.
Springboard Trail
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 540 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,637 feet
This loop hike in a popular recreation area offers a good mix of forest and meadow, with just enough elevation gain to work your legs and lungs.
Aiston Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
There is a small network of trails at the south end of Lummi Island with lovely views to explore!
Baldy Mountain
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,972 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,212 feet
This hike in the Yakima River Canyon is an excellent conditioning hike for anyone looking to train in the winter months. It reaches one of the highest points on the east side of the river in the Canyon.
Hope Island Marine State Park - Skagit County
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
The trails on Hope Island have been permanently closed and decommissioned by Washington State Parks to protect the Natural Area Preserve. Primitive camping is still open to the public at the north part of the island.
Gatton Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 400 feet
The Gatton Creek Trail is a short but delightful segment of the larger Quinault National Recreation Trail System. The well-maintained trail gets hikers close to nature as it travels beneath towering conifers through a lush rainforest ecosystem. As either a short stroll or part of a longer journey, this trail is well worth exploring.
Rainbow Falls State Park
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 450 feet
Rainbow Falls State Park is an island remnant of exquisite old growth forest in the upper Chehalis Valley, with a small cascade as the centerpiece of the park. Surrounding a half-mile stretch of the Chehalis River, this fragile patch of stunning Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar is among the last, albeit diminished, stores of Washington heritage to pass onto the future forest of the region.
Kendall Katwalk
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, that’s part of it. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins.
Middle Fork to Salmon La Sac Traverse
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 31.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Miles of riverside rambling, alpine wandering, a beautiful lonely lake, and high desert hiking, as well as all the planning and logistics that goes into a long-distance hike – this will satisfy your thruhiking cravings (at least for a month or so).
Deering Wildflower Acres
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
A little piece of wilderness tucked away in the middle of civilization, originally established in 1968 as a survey site for Western Washington University. Now open to the public and maintained by the City of Marysville.
Desolation Peak
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,102 feet
Trek a dry, strenuous trail to a famous fire lookout. Jack Kerouac stayed here as a lookout and used the experience to inspire Desolation Angels and Dharma Bums. The historic lookout is no longer accessible to the public, but you can still trek to the location and appreciate the view.
Long Lake
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 218 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,329 feet
You’re not likely to find other hikers on this trail around lovely, peaceful Long Lake. You may not find the trail itself either! Sections are lost in thickets of alder, willow, and wild roses.