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
4218 HikesJones Island Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
Jones Island is a beautiful State Park located in the San Juan Islands that contains two remarkable trails that circumnavigate the entire island.
Howard Miller Steelhead Park - Wetland Wildlife Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 10.0 miles of trails
Enjoy beautiful views, quiet forest and wildlife activity on this peaceful trail, perfect in spring or on a crisp and clear day in winter.
Coho Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
-
Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 219 feet
-
Highest Point
- 261 feet
The preserve has a short trail that wanders through mature trees along a salmon spawning creek and offers access to this beautiful 24-acre park where visitors are likely to see a variety of bird species.
Badger Peak
South Cascades > Dark Divide
-
Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,664 feet
If you can stand the bugs, this is a very pleasant, well-shaded hike with a very rewarding view at the top. It's a short hike, doable in a day for most hikers.
IP Road (former Yale Reservoir Logging Road)
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 7.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
Hike an old logging road that is slated to have a full conversion to trail in 2017.
Willard Springs Trail
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
-
Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 219 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,905 feet
The Willard Springs Trail is a loop along the edge of the Conboy Lake marsh and through the pine forest. Beginning at the refuge headquarters, the trail parallels the west shore of the old Conboy Lake lakebed, with views across the lakebed and north to the 12,000-foot Mt. Adams from the Observation Platform, then returns through the forest.
Steliko Lookout
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
-
Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,586 feet
A lookout accessible via a steep Forest Service road. Drive to it in the summer, or get a big workout climbing to it in the winter.
Lauretta Norene and Groth Nature Preserve
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
-
Length
- 1.25 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 15 feet
-
Highest Point
- 291 feet
The hidden forest trails here are actually two nature preserves gifted to the county, the northern Loretta Naurene Forest Preserve in 1992 and the southern Groth Nature Preserve in 1997.
Marblemount Boat Launch Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
This is a nice little leg stretcher just off the North Cascades Highway. Especially good in winter, when the highway is closed, and the eagles are feeding along the Skagit River.
Tiger Mountain Connector
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
-
Length
- 1.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,750 feet
This well-built and mostly level trail runs connects the Iverson Railroad trail (shared Mountain bike) with the Tiger Mountain Trail at Zieg's Zag, It's about 1.5 miles from the Iverson trail to the TMT. This is in the area connecting the Highway 18 Tiger Summit trailhead and the South Tiger Loop area.
Bear Lake
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
-
Length
- 1.23 miles, roundtrip
-
Highest Point
- 1,880 feet
Bear Lake Regional Park has a short hiking trail and is a popular spot for families.
Riverside State Park - Trail 214
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
One of several short connector trails within the vast trail network of Riverside State Park.
Anacortes Community Forest Lands - Heart Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
-
Length
- 2.86 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 130 feet
-
Highest Point
- 620 feet
While there is not a trail all the way around the lake proper, it’s possible to do a loop hike around this lovely little lake just across the road from Mount Erie and Sugarloaf in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. Formerly a state park, this area was transferred to the City of Anacortes in 2002, and now the trails that loop and bend around this little lake are accessible to residents and visitors without requiring a Discover pass.
Colfax Trail
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
-
Length
- 6.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
A hike on an old railroad grade through a Whitman County Park and wildlife preserve.
Cathedral Driveway
North Cascades > Pasayten
-
Length
- 4.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,460 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,614 feet
This short trail descends from the Chewuch Trailhead to connect with the much longer Chewuch Trail.
Arthur G. Rempel Nature Trail
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
-
Length
- 1.5 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 45 feet
-
Highest Point
- 882 feet
The Arthur G. Rempel Nature Trail is a small series of trails inside the Fort Walla Walla Natural Area. The trail is easily accessible from Walla Walla and College Place, providing a great respite from the city and a close-in opportunity for birdwatching.
Grayland Beach State Park
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
-
Length
- 0.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Highest Point
- 40 feet
Right on the Pacific Ocean, Grayland Beach State Park offers visitors easy access to miles of sandy beach via their choice of multiple small trails.
Cheney Tertiary Wetlands
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
-
Length
- 5.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,300 feet
Cheney Tertiary Wetlands serves as both the third and final enhancement of the Cheney Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility, and also as a looped trail system just outside the city of Cheney.
Methow Community Trail
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
-
Length
- 18.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,215 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,188 feet
The Methow Community Trail runs along the Methow River valley between the towns of Mazama and Winthrop. It is a multi-use trail that provides countless connections to other trails like the Sun Mountain trail system and beyond.
City Hall to Pike Place
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 162 feet
A Downtown Seattle walk featuring stairways, art, architecture, history, and views of Puget Sound.
Wyeth
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
-
Length
- 7.3 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,100 feet
This trail, on the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge, weaves through old-growth Doug-firs and offers hikers a nice day hike, or access to longer backpacking loops.
Nesmith Point
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
-
Length
- 8.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,985 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,850 feet
On the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, Nesmith Point Trail provides hikers with a relatively low-elevation trail that generally melts out in spring, offering a great early season hike for those hoping to get outside.
Eastrail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
This trail is currently under construction, and will eventually become a 42-mile urban route connecting Renton and Snohomish County.
Gold Basin Mill Pond Interpretive Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
This extremely short paved and boardwalk trail is a nice, quick stop to make while traveling the Mountain Loop Highway. Interpretive signs along the way explain the history of the area.
Race Track Shortcut
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
-
Length
- 0.6 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 85 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,285 feet
Use the Pacific Crest Trail as an alternate approach to the Indian Racetrack via the Shortcut Trail.
Panther Creek Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
-
Length
- 0.16 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
Take a beautiful, very short hike to a lovely waterfall off the beaten path.
Quartzite Mountain
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
-
Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Highest Point
- 3,714 feet
Enjoy this short day hike with views of Chewelah and the surrounding valley and mountains.
Lakeview Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 95 feet
-
Highest Point
- 410 feet
Follow a gentle, stroller-friendly slope for about a mile along the eastern and northern shores of scenic Lake Ballinger. You can extend your walk by continuing west along Lakeview Drive to the nearby Interurban Trail, or head east to explore the gravel forested path through Terrace Creek Park