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 HikesMount Aix
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,766 feet
The Mount Aix trail leads to a lofty world above the tree line, with views in all directions, and access to other trails for wandering in the open. On a clear day, you can see Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, the Goat Rocks, Mount Rainier and the Stuart Range, just to mention the more identifiable peaks.
Jefferson Ridge
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,832 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,832 feet
In an area known for rhododendrons and stunning mountain views, find a relatively easy hike to a high ridgeline that used to house a fire lookout tower.
Indian Creek
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 11.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Beautiful mixed forests surround you as saunter up Indian Creek towards the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Surrounded by peaks on all sides, this crucial connector to the PCT in the ultra-rugged Glacier Peak Wilderness requires keen navigation skills (and a strong sense of adventure) as years of overgrown brush make this trail difficult to follow.
Goat Peak
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,473 feet
Goat Peak offers expansive views into the William O. Douglas Wilderness and beyond. Once the site of a U.S. Forest Service lookout, Goat Peak’s 6,400-foot summit showcases such impressive gems as the Goat Rocks, Bumping Lake, Mount Rainier, Fife’s Peak, and the Stuart Range.
Glacier Peak Circumnavigation
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 88.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 25,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,071 feet
What better way to experience the Glacier Peak Wilderness than by hiking round-the-mountain from old-growth glacier valleys to airy alpine ridgelines? This classic volcanic circumnavigation serves up the miles and elevation gain and is best given at least 5-10 days to complete without accounting for side explorations and bad weather.
Fish Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 1.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 265 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,914 feet
A one mile trail in the Bumping River Valley connecting Road 1800 with Bumping Lake Trail.
Elk Lakes
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
This hiker-only trail makes for a quick way to sample the ecosystem on the east slope of the Olympic mountains. Plus, it's a decent starter backpacking trip for kids and makes for a nice day for birdwatchers.
Agnes Gorge
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
This easy day hike is a great destination for families staying in the Stehekin Valley. Huckleberries line the slopes in the fall, and the 200-foot deep gorge you hike along provides thrills at any time of year. Plus, it's a relatively short hike in a valley of miles-long trails.
Cougar Lakes
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
Ford a river, climb through forest and end at two lakes in the heart of a wilderness area -- Cougar Lake is a gorgeous respite for hikers in the William O. Douglas wilderness.
Copper City Ghost Town
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 27 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,076 feet
Once the center of mining activity in Yakima County, Copper City served 42 active mining claims from 1907 to 1942. The founders of the town hoped to boom when the railroad came through, but the tracks were never put down. Walk the old mine-to-market road into town, where only the collapsed remains of a few buildings remain.
Bumping Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,700 feet
A gentle hike through stands of mature larches and other conifers along the shores of Bumping Lake. The trail is also a good alternate route to Swamp Lake Trail #970 or to Pacific Crest Trail #2000 when a ford of the Bumping River is too hazardous.
Buckner Orchard Walk
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
Take a walk around the historic (and still operational) apple orchard in the Stehekin valley.
Boulder Creek
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 17.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,850 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,310 feet
Boulder River leads to magnificent views of Napeequa Valley and the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Upper Stehekin Valley Road Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 11.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
Once upon a time, the road in Stehekin extended all the way to Cottonwood Camp, more than ten miles further into the lush green valley. But strong river activity due to snowmelt and rain events washed the road out frequently, and for one final time in 2003. Now it's accessible by foot only, and many of the trails found along this route are some of your best chance for solitude in the state.
Swamp Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Despite its name, Swamp Lake is a lovely little destination in the William O. Douglas wilderness near Mount Rainier. It's popular with fishermen and backpackers, though it can be extremely buggy in early summer.
Pacific Crest Trail - Stehekin to Rainy Pass
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 18.7 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
Connect between the Stehekin River and Rainy Pass on this section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Views of peaks in every direction capture the hiker's attention as you walk through the beautiful North Cascades.
Stehekin River Trail
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 7.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
If you’re overnighting in the Stehekin Valley and just want a riverside ramble to while away the hours, try the Stehekin River Trail. It’s an easy forested walk along the mighty Stehekin River on a side of the valley that few visitors get to see.
Bonanza Peak
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 9,511 feet
The route to Bonanza Peak is a Class 4 and involves exposed scrambling. Gear and experience recommended.
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.
Oneonta Gorge
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 425 feet
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Highest Point
- 385 feet
This lovely trail loops around Oneonta Gorge and takes you behind Ponytail Falls.
Snoqualmie Valley Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 32.0 miles, one-way
Walk along an old railroad grade that climbs gently though forested hillsides. In summer, look for wildflowers: blackberry, elderberry, pea, daisy, buttercup and wild rose.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Easton
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
A segment of the cross-state Palouse to Cascades Trail
Puyallup Riverwalk Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 8.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 413 feet
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Highest Point
- 73 feet
Walk along the Puyallup River on a nature walk without ever leaving the city.
Anderson and Watson Lakes
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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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
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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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
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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.
Lord Hill Regional Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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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
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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.
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.