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 HikesHarold Engles Memorial Cedars
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
This is a half-mile loop hike past giant cedar trees preserved by Harold Engles, a famous Forest Ranger.
North Fork Sauk Falls
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 0.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
This short trail descends 200 feet to the base of a large 45-foot waterfall.
Beaver Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,000 feet
Discover this quiet ramble along the Wild and Scenic Sauk River as you follow the site of an old railroad grade. The trail is more about the journey than the destination, but this mellow walk can be enjoyed any time of year. The lake itself is small and more of a pond.
Old Sauk ADA Loop
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 800 feet
Try this early-season, ADA-accessible hike to enjoy big trees, rushing waters and glimpses of eagles, mergansers and river otters.
Tubal Cain Mine to Buckhorn Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
Although best known for its namesake mine and the nearby aircraft wreckage, the Tubal Cain trail also offers a pleasant and scenic route to Marmot Pass, a gateway to further wanderings.
Greider Lakes
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,035 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,930 feet
For those searching for alpine vistas with fewer visitors than on the most popular trails of the I-90 corridor, Greider Lakes is just right. This trailhead is located in the Sultan Basin Watershed.
Olsen Creek
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,038 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,614 feet
Looking for a modest, mostly shaded climb with a view of the San Juan Islands as a mid-hike treat? Check out the Olsen Creek trail system, a part of the Washington Department of Natural Resources' 2019 Baker to Bellingham Non-motorized Recreation Plan. WTA is one of a few partners to have spent many hours helping build the trail system from the ground up.
Guillemot Cove
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 360 feet
-
Highest Point
- 360 feet
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Olympics from a secluded cove with many different types of seabirds and wildlife. Try to keep your feet dry while exploring a series of trails amid the historic 184-acre Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve.
Tyee Lookout
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,160 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,640 feet
It is possible to drive all the way to the top of Tyee Ridge for majestic views of the land below. But the last 4 miles of the road to the top is extremely rough, so visitors can make that section a short hike with fabulous views.
Kopachuck State Park Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 25 feet
-
Highest Point
- 25 feet
This is an easy loop trail, wandering nearly one mile through a forest of bigleaf maple and cedars on the shores of Carr Inlet in Gig Harbor. With less than fifty feet of elevation gain and plenty of picnic tables, it makes the perfect destination for families with small children.
Anderson Point
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 250 feet
Enjoy a short hike to one of the best beaches in Kitsap County.
Capitol State Forest - McLane Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
-
Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 60 feet
This is one of the best places to go if you're looking for wildlife and a little leg-stretchers. McLane Creek's boardwalk provides an intimate glimpse into nature, whether it's swimming families of news, spawning salmon, or laughing ducks. As always, please refrain from feeding the wildlife.
Little Mashel Falls - Pack Forest
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
Three waterfalls, multiple viewing areas, and two different trailheads provide great choices for an excursion to Little Mashel Falls. The tallest waterfall plunges over 90 feet.
Carey Creek Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 527 feet
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Highest Point
- 888 feet
This popular path for horseback riders follows a gentle grade along Carey Creek to connect with the Taylor Mountain trail network.
Siouxon Creek
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 13.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 635 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,697 feet
5.21.26: The Siouxon trail is closed between its junction with Wildcat trail and its junction with FR 58 through June 30 due to repair work on the Chinook Trail bridge.
Although this gently rolling creekside ramble is one continuous trail, an adventure in three parts awaits. The first few miles are a quiet walk through a classic fern-dotted, mossy forest. In the second section, hikers find Siouxon Creek and fellow waterfall seekers, and the final miles offer more solitude and small narrow canyons with more waterfalls to enjoy.
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
-
Highest Point
- 1,570 feet
5.21.26: The Siouxon trail is closed between its junction with Wildcat trail and its junction with FR 58 through June 30 due to repair work on the Chinook Trail bridge.
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.
Observation Peak
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,460 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,207 feet
5.21.26: The Observation Peak trailhead is closed through June 30 due to repair work on the Chinook Trail bridge.
Visit a the site of an old fire lookout, where you'll have views for miles in all directions on a clear day. Along the way, you'll enjoy wildflowers of many varieties, beargrass, and plump huckleberries in the summertime.
Knee Knocker Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 3.02 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,650 feet
The trail is closed for 2-4 weeks starting May 20 for maintenance projects.
Explore the far reaches of Taylor Mountain on this gently rolling trail.
Mount Rose
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,500 feet
-
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.
Little Beaver Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 35.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 6,213 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,197 feet
9.1.25: Little Beaver Trail from Ross Lake to Stillwell Camp is closed until further notice due to the Big Beaver Fire.
A trek through the Little Beaver valley in the heart of the North Cascades offers remarkable old-growth forest, phenomenal mountain views and plenty of options for backpackers.
Sweat Creek Basin Trail
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 6.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,180 feet
A hike through a gorgeous old growth forest offering excellent views of nearby summits in the Okanogan Highlands.
Spruce Railroad Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 700 feet
Hop aboard the paved Spruce Railroad Trail for a scenic and historic hike along the sparkling shores of massive Lake Crescent.
Chinese Reconciliation Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.6 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 15 feet
-
Highest Point
- 15 feet
Chinese Reconciliation Park is a small park on the Tacoma waterfront. There are trails, both gravel and paved, winding throughout.
Ruston Way
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 23 feet
Ruston Way runs along the Tacoma Waterfront from Jack Hyde Park to Point Defiance Park.
Equestrian Loop
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 2.4 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 720 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,260 feet
The name of this trail may suggest this is horseback rider heaven, but it’s also great for hikers.
Rockport State Park
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 750 feet
5.19.26: The ADA trail is 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.
Navaho Peak
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 13.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,223 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,223 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
From Navaho Pass, the trail to Navaho Peak is siren-like, pulling you towards the summit long after you realize how tired you are. But for peak-baggers, or those simply interested in getting a gorgeous view from a relatively easy-to-navigate peak, the views are worth the extra effort.
Rattlesnake Dance Ridge Trail
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,646 feet
A short, steep and rough ridgeline ascent to a summit with great views up and down the Yakima River Canyon.
Baldy Mountain
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,972 feet
-
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.
Two Dollar Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 550 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
The Two Dollar Trail is one of three approaches to Fragrance Lake. It is popular with runners, bikers and hikers alike because of its good surface throughout. It traverses a west facing ridge through a forest of cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock, bigleaf maple and red maple with views out to the Salish Sea. The trail wanders through a groundcover of salal, Oregon grape and a variety of ferns and a small waterfall whose configuration changes with the seasons.