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
4217 HikesPalouse to Cascades Trail - Easton
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
A segment of the cross-state Palouse to Cascades Trail
Tunnel Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,450 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,050 feet
12.24.25: The trail is closed until further notice due to the Tunnel Creek Fire.
Tunnel Creek Trail has two trailheads. Nearly all hikers access the trail from the north side where for the first three miles the moderately easy grade is often within earshot of Tunnel Creek. After crossing the South Fork of Tunnel Creek, the route rises at a steeper but manageable grade past Harrison Lakes to 5050 Pass and some nearby viewpoints. The south side trailhead is on the Dosewallips Road. This segment’s notoriously steep grade to 5050 Pass means it is seldom used. Try it and you’ll find out why.
Paradise Point State Park
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
Paradise Point State Park packs a lot into a small, often-overlooked park right along I-5.
Spruce Railroad Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 5.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 700 feet
Hop aboard the Spruce Railroad Trail for a scenic and historic hike along the sparkling shores of massive Lake Crescent. With a microclimate of warmer and drier conditions than areas just a few miles away, this trail is a good hiking choice on an overcast afternoon.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Rattlesnake Lake
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
3.20.26: The Palouse to Cascades trail is closed (1) between the Olallie Trail to Homestead Valley trailhead and (2) between the Carter Creek campsite to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel until further notice due to storm damage.
The Palouse to Cascades Trail in Iron Horse State Park provides access to notable North Bend hikes, views of mountains and waterfalls, and a journey back into Washington’s history. Take in the wildlife and cross soaring bridges as you make a level traverse from Rattlesnake Lake to Change and Hall Creeks 5.5 miles to the east.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Homestead Valley to Mine Creek Trestle
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,607 feet
3.20.26: The Palouse to Cascades trail is closed (1) between the Olallie Trail to Homestead Valley trailhead and (2) between the Carter Creek campsite to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel until further notice due to storm damage.
Hike a short stint on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, crossing high trestle bridges and roaming through old growth forest with expansive views of nearby peaks, just a short drive away from the city.
Puyallup Riverwalk Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 8.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 413 feet
-
Highest Point
- 73 feet
Walk along the Puyallup River on a nature walk without ever leaving the city.
Johnson Mountain
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,220 feet
12.19.25: Trail inaccessible due to road closures of 9737 (N Fork Teanaway); 9701 (Jungle Creek Rd); 9737 (along Stafford Creek).
Escape the crowds and access early season views in the Teanaway. Starting on an old forest road and ending on a climbers’ trail, this mostly exposed hike passes through wildflowers and a burn area to reach the Johnson Mountain summit with views of the Enchantments, Rainier, the Teanaway River Valley, and wind farms of eastern Washington.
Anderson and Watson Lakes
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
3.20.26: FR 1107 is closed at mile 4 due to storm damage.
This trail features plenty of variety, with destinations spaced perfectly for families or first-time backpackers. Beautiful hemlock forest, meadows dotted with wildflowers, gleaming lakes, mountain views, juicy berries and excellent camping are all available. Wait until later in the hiking season though, as this area is known for its bugs.
Mount Baker
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Highest Point
- 10,778 feet
3.20.26: Glacier Creek Road is closed at mile 1 due to washouts at mile 3.6 and 3.8.
The dominant feature in the North Cascades is Mount Baker, a glaciated volcano that can be seen on clear days from as far as Seattle and makes a great backdrop for photos of Vancouver, BC. Many hiking trails follow the ridges around Mount Baker and offer stunning views of the summit. Climbing to the summit is done mainly via the Coleman and Easton glaciers and requires technical expertise with high-altitude snow and ice.
Heliotrope Ridge
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
3.20.26: Glacier Creek Road is closed at mile 1 due to washouts at mile 3.6 and 3.8.
If you'd like nose-to-nose access to Mount Baker, this first-rate woodsy walk delivers. Over a relatively short, well-maintained trail with mild elevation gain, you can be glacier-side in no time... if the creek crossings allow.
Coal Pass Snowshoe
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
3.20.26: Glacier Creek Road is closed at mile 1 due to washouts at mile 3.6 and 3.8.
Following a series of winding, snow-covered forest roads, the route to Coal Pass culminates in sweeping views of Mount Baker’s glaciated northwest flank.
Silent Swamp Loop
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 8.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,780 feet
Hike a restored trail in the southeast corner of the Tigers, through an area that is very green, with impressive moss cover and with many huge, decaying stumps remaining from logging a century ago.
Inside Passage
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 6.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,150 feet
This 1.6-mile section of trail is located in the Tiger Mountain State Forest. It is popular with mountain bikers and hikers.
East Side Road
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 6.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,400 feet
The East Side Road is an access road on Tiger Mountain that is closed to vehicle traffic and open to hikers. The road roughly parallels the eastern boundary of Tiger Mountain and connects with several other trails.
Custer's Bridge - Middle Tiger Loop
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,607 feet
Hike the forested Iverson Railroad Trail and the little-used middle section of the main Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT). Look in on the site of a 1925 logging train wreck. Continue on to remote Custer's Bridge, and return via a loop over Middle Tiger Mountain, including views south-side hikers miss.
Tiger Mountain Road
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
Tiger Mountain Road is a gravel road that starts at the East Tiger Mountain Summit Parking Lot and winds up near the summit.
Lord Hill Regional Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 633 feet
Lord Hill Park is a wonderful wild park and an excellent place to hike, covering about 1,463 acres of wetland and forest. Hikers can roam all day on the network of trails leading through the forest, down to the Snohomish River and up to views of the Cascades and Snohomish Valley.
Elowah and Upper McCord Creek Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 620 feet
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Highest Point
- 660 feet
This hike is actual a twofer, forking to two paths each leading to a waterfall – go up to Upper McCord Creek’s twin waterfalls, or down to the towering Elowah Falls. Each waterfall has its own character and it is worth visiting both of them.
Rockport State Park
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 750 feet
1.7.26: The ADA and Evergreen trail are closed until further notice due to flood damage.
The family friendly trails of 670-acre Rockport State Park explore an ancient forest where dappled sunlight illuminates mossy trees and lush ferns — perfect for a springtime stroll.
Wiley Slough - Fir Island
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 49 feet
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Highest Point
- 15 feet
Take a waterside walk along Wiley Slough in the Skagit Wildlife area on Fir Island.
Coyote Wall
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
Thanks to an extensive planning process in this popular area, this formerly user-created trail has been re-routed and improved to make it enjoyable for hikers and mountain bikers, and sustainable for the land it is on.
Mima Mounds
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 2.75 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 225 feet
These mysterious mounds inspire imagination and speculation among visitors. With a half-mile ADA accessible path and another two miles of more rugged wandering, the Mima Mounds are a great destination for many hikers.
Parkland Prairie
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.5 miles of trails
The preserve is closed until late 2026 for a trail resurfacing project.
This neighborhood park has a short loop trail that takes visitors through a prairie ecosystem brimming with interesting trees, flowers and grasses.
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
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
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.
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
-
Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
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
Pierce Mountain Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.9 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,965 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
Pierce Mountain Trail is a gentle trail up Sourdough Mountain from the Big Beaver trail.
Happy-Panther
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 12.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
Enjoy some fine ‘forest bathing’ on a quiet trail just off the busy highway. No grand views, but soft green moss, little creeks and large noisy waterfalls will be your reward. It’s nice anytime, but in spring before the highway opens or fall when the vine maple is turning would be a prime time for this one.
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
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
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.
Big Beaver Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 24.6 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,980 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
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.