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
4203 HikesFrenchman's Bar
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
-
Length
- 2.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
-
Highest Point
- 210 feet
Just a few miles from the heart of downtown Vancouver is a quaint rural getaway, where the Frenchman’s Bar Trail connects Vancouver Lake Park to Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. The wide, paved path provides the perfect urban getaway for hikers and dog walkers alike—it’s also a favorite among birders. On clear days, you’ll be treated to views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens.
Franklin Falls
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
Hiking with kids, new to hiking, or just looking for an easy day hike with a spectacular endpoint? Look no further then Franklin Falls! At just 2 miles with 400 feet in elevation gain it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful!
Fragrance Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,260 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,190 feet
The year-round, dog-friendly day hike to Fragrance Lake in the Chuckanut Recreation Area is popular with college students and faculty from Western Washington University in nearby Bellingham, and with day visitors and car campers at Larrabee State Park. On a sunny weekend afternoon you could easily lose count of the number of smiles and “hullos” you’ll exchange!
Fossil Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,500 feet
An overlooked trail in a high canopy forest with nice views of the area in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Fortune Ponds
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
-
Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
Not traveled by the masses, the Meadow Creek trail provides plenty of solitude as you gently climb through old burn and old growth to heather slopes, blueberry patches, and snow-fed lakes near the Cascade Crest.
Fort Steilacoom Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 4.1 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 154 feet
-
Highest Point
- 376 feet
Bird watching, historical sites and Rainer and Olympic views.
Fog City
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,296 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,886 feet
Hike a short but steep trail up to the Pacific Crest Trail and points beyond.
Fishtrap Lake - North and South Loop
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
-
Length
- 8.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 126 feet
The Fishtrap area is part of the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington. The deep coulees and canyons were carved by the Great Missoula Floods following the last Ice Age tens of thousands of years ago.
Fish Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 1.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 265 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,914 feet
9.3.25: The trailhead and trail are closed until further notice due to the Wildcat Fire.
A one mile trail in the Bumping River Valley connecting Road 1800 with Bumping Lake Trail.
Fish Creek
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
-
Length
- 8.9 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 5,650 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,715 feet
Fish Creek connects the shore of Lake Chelan with the Chelan Summit Trail to the east.
Federation Forest State Park
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
This park is closed for the winter each year between Oct 1 and March 31.
Green, mossy old growth trees and miles of level hiking are the main attractions at Federation Forest State Park. More than 12 miles of trails wind through the forest and hikers can put together loops to fit their hiking needs.
Excelsior Peak via Damfino Lakes Trail
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
-
Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,699 feet
Disregarding the apocryphal stories about their name, the Damfino Lakes are noteworthy only to distinguish this route from two other routes. The lakes pale in comparison to these magnificent destinations: Excelsior Pass, the High Divide and Excelsior Peak.
Excelsior Pass via Nooksack River
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
-
Length
- 7.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
This trail is a staircase of switchbacks that march ever upward through thick forest to deliver hikers to an iconic ridge walk in the North Cascades.
Roslyn Urban Forest - Ewok Trail
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 7.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,380 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,650 feet
Zigzag through Roslyn Urban Forest and up to a ridge overlooking the Yakima River Basin, with views extending as far as the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Evans Creek Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 325 feet
-
Highest Point
- 480 feet
Evans Creek Preserve features a WTA-built trail system in an ecologically diverse enclave. Wetlands, meadows, and hillside forest can be found in this 179-acre farmstead-turned-suburban nature preserve that will thrill both the hiker and the birdwatcher. Not only that, this gem has ADA-accessible trails and is reachable by public transportation.
Escondido Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 13.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,650 feet
Take a short side trip from Waptus Pass to a small, shallow lake on Polallie Ridge.
Equestrian Loop
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
-
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.
Entiat River
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
-
Length
- 15.25 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,690 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,760 feet
A long, rambling gateway into the eastern side of Glacier Peak Wilderness, the Entiat River Trail culminates at its namesake glacier with Mount Maude, Seven Fingered Jack and Mount Fernow towering above. Ravaged by wildfires over the years, the majority of the trail is exposed, dry and dusty. Both flora and fauna are slowly returning and the revealed panorama of bordering peaks makes for an extraordinary wilderness corridor.
Enchanted Valley via East Fork Quinault River
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
-
Length
- 27.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,035 feet
The temporary bridge on North Shore Road has been removed for winter. The Graves Creek and North Fork trailheads are currently inaccessible due to both North Shore and South Shore roads being closed.
The East Fork Quinault River Trail is one of the most popular trails on the south portion of the park and hundreds of hikers visit Enchanted Valley to take in the tremendous views and see the famed chalet each year.
Emerald Park
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
-
Length
- 13.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 6,250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,700 feet
Emerald Park is a long thru trail connecting Lake Chelan to the east and the Entiat River Trail to the west.
Elk Lakes
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 4.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
7.30.25: This trail is closed until further notice due to the Hamma Fire.
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.
Elk Bench
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,100 feet
This short trail is located near Coldwater Lake and connects visitors to the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater to the Lakes Trail and the Mount Margaret backcountry.
Elbow Lake
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
-
Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
Above the banks of the South Fork Nooksack lies Pioneer Camp and the trailhead for the Elbow Lake Trail. Climb gently the first two miles through mature, mid-elevation forest to the Bell Pass Trail junction, a little used route to Mazama Park, or continue another mile to access the remote beauty of Elbow Lake. Large, ancient yellow cedars can be found on the north side of the lake as the trail continues to wind towards the Middle Fork Nooksack.
Elbo Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 9.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,880 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,700 feet
This steep but shady trail features a rhododendron forest, and numerous saprophytic plants. At the end, it connects to a Forest Service road, allowing for additional wandering, to find views of Hood Canal and more.
Eightmile Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
-
Length
- 6.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,650 feet
Along a moderate trail into the glorious Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, past burnt Ponderosa Pines, chattering mountain streams, plenteous wildflowers and tall mountain peaks, hikers will find beautiful Eightmile Lake and its rocky, tree lined shore.
Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,107 feet
Cascading waterfalls from the numerous streams and the frequent tarns located along the way make this an enjoyable hike. Mountain goats are known to frequent the area. During the late summer, ripe huckleberries can be found at the pass. But it comes at a cost -- a steep scramble on an unmaintained trail.
Silver Star Mountain - Ed's Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,240 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
There are two routes up the north side of Silver Star Mountain that in good conditions can be combined to form a sort of loop. Along the way, hikers will be delighted with a diverse array of wildflowers, a natural arch, volcanic views and fine hiking. But some sections of Ed's Trail are very exposed, and require agility and flexibility to navigate.
Edds Mountain
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
-
Length
- 11.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,916 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,320 feet
Wildflowers and views of the Kettle River Valley reward hikers of this lightly-used trail not far from Rebublic. After climbing steeply up to the shoulder of Edds Mountain, you'll ramble ridge-tops until you run into the Kettle Crest Trail.
Eastside Trail
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
-
Length
- 26.2 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,532 feet
Stevens Canyon Road is closed for the winter season.
This long route connects the subalpine environs of Chinook Pass and Tipsoo Lake with the deep, lowland forests of the Ohanapecosh area. It is part of the East Side Loop trail, a long loop that hikers can enjoy in lieu of the Wonderland Trail.
Easton Ridge
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
-
Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,270 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,470 feet
Easton Ridge is a hiker’s friend. Located on the east side of Cascades, hikers will often find drier weather here than on the west side, and with a relatively low peak elevation (4462 feet), snow melts out earlier than other nearby summits at higher elevation.