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
4251 HikesHarmony Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 650 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,060 feet
An infrequently-used but surprisingly charming trail leading to the site of a former waterfall, and offering the only access to Spirit Lake.
Goat Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,161 feet
A nice hike with plenty of variety. Beautiful forest, a rushing creek, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, history, and of course a large blue-green lake surrounded by snowy peaks. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. You won’t be alone, though – this is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers.
Ghost Lake
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 5.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 640 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
Hike to a lovely, glittering, quiet little lake that at Mount St. Helens that few visit. You’ll have to work for it, of course. But it’s a neat little treat to share with friends, or head to it solo for some solitude.
Bluff Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,840 feet
This forested trail to a small, secluded lake — uniquely set on a ridge with a few campsites— provides an easy day hike or backpack trip.
Berkeley Park
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
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Length
- 7.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
Here's a hike that takes you through a stark landscape to a stunningly lush one. Berkeley Park is a flower-filled utopia where creeks chatter, pikas squeak, marmots lounge, and you can soak it all in just a few miles from the Sunrise Visitor Center.
Moose Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,450 feet
A hike with great scenery in the high country of Olympic with good opportunity to see the endemic Olympic marmot and wildflowers!
Skyline Trail Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,450 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,800 feet
The Skyline Trail is the main route for hiking out of Paradise, Mount Rainier’s south side hub and most popular destination, providing visitors a unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of Washington’s grandest mountain.
Annette Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Waterfalls, wildflowers, sheltering forests, mountain views and an alpine lake are offered on this well-maintained trail. At the lake, enjoy the sights and relax for a while. If you backpacked in, stay at the campsites for a sunrise and sunset on the lake.
Samish Crest Open Space
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 490 feet
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Highest Point
- 880 feet
Connecting the Puget and Samish neighborhoods of Bellingham is the Samish Crest Trail, meandering through the Samish Crest Open Space, where hikers will find even more trails to explore.
Kaleetan Lake
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 18.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,690 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,560 feet
The Talapus Lake trail and FR 9030 will be closed Sept 21-Oct 31 for trailhead construction.
Press on past Pratt Lake to reach a measure of backcountry solitude at Windy Lake or Kaleetan Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Lower Wildcat Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
The trail will be closed Sept 14-25 for construction.
Lower Wildcat Lake offers an opportunity to get deeper into the backcountry past Snow Lake, while still on a formal trail.
Upper Wildcat Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 15.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,920 feet
The trail will be closed Sept 14-25 for construction.
A lake located above the extremely popular Snow Lake; Upper Wildcat offers backpacking opportunities for the route-finding enthusiasts in the summer months.
Gem Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,857 feet
The trail will be closed Sept 14-25 for construction.
Gem Lake is nestled at the foot of Wright Mountain and is about two miles beyond the trail junction at Rock Creek trail #1013.1 that intersects with the Snow Lake trail starting at Alpental. Beautiful colors surround the lake in autumn as do the many climbable peaks in the area.
Snow Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
The trail will be closed Sept 14-25 for construction.
Within a stone’s throw of Seattle, the Snow Lake trail delivers splendorous alpine scenery – crystal clear waters, towering peaks — on a rather exposed and rocky hike. Just don’t expect to have the trail to yourself; it's Washington's most heavily-used trail in a wilderness area!
Pratt River Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,240 feet
The trail is closed July 23-25 for trail maintenance. The closure starts at the intersection with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail and extends for 2 miles.
This entry describes the most direct approach to the Pratt River Trail, which starts by fording the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Pratt Connector to Pratt River Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 900 feet
The trail is closed July 23-25 for trail maintenance. The closure starts at the intersection with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail and extends for 2 miles.
Just a short drive from civilization, this is a good moderate choice if you're seeking a relaxing, riverside ramble.
Timberline Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 38.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 12,338 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,336 feet
The Timberline Trail is a roughly 40-mile scenic loop trail in northwest Oregon State that circumnavigates the young stratovolcano Wy'East or Mount Hood at or mostly at the treeline. At 11,244 feet, Mount Hood is the highest point in Oregon and the fourth highest peak in the Cascade Range.
Baker River
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 5.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 900 feet
Baker Lake Road will be closed past Shannon Creek Campground to all traffic (including foot and bike) July 15-Aug 31 due to active construction. Baker Lake north trailhead will be inaccessible at this time. The south trailhead remains accessible.
Take a mellow walk on a trail that wanders among large old trees and huge mossy boulders. The trail alongside Baker River takes you on a path of gentle up and downs, splashing your way through stream crossings and past open areas filled with young alder, huckleberry and salmonberry. On a quiet spring day, your chances of seeing wildlife are excellent.
Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,010 feet
This infrequently visited trail is the perfect hike early in the season, because the snow melts off the south-facing flanks of the peak early. If you miss the springtime, save it for fall, because the deciduous trees that line the path make it ideal for a shot of fall color. Enjoy a moderately graded that leads you to a summit that boasts views of Rainier and the White River valley from the summit.
Gothic Basin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,840 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
Rough and tumble is the trail, just like the miners that constructed this path. Becoming progressively more rugged, the ascent to Gothic Basin offers tremendous rewards at its end. Early on, one simply meanders alongside the relentless South Fork of the Sauk River, then turns into a forested, increasingly steep bee-line to the basin with waterfalls, flowers, and views of the surrounding mountains to keep one distracted once you leave the forest.
The Enchantments
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 18.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,800 feet
The Enchantment Lakes are an alpine wonderland of pristine lakes set among polished granite, soaring peaks, blazing larches and ambling mountain goats. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives.
Dirty Harry's Museum
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,250 feet
Dirty Harry's Peak was so named by Harvey Manning in recognition of Harry Gault, who operated a logging show on this mountain years ago. The trees have grown back, and Harry is long gone, but his truck remains in what is known as Dirty Harry's Museum. Abandoned 2000 feet above the highway, this relic of a time gone by is a destination for hikers on their way to the peak, though it takes some route finding to get there.
Bridal Veil Falls
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,600 feet
A beautiful waterfall flows out of Lake Serene and cascades below the rugged east wall of Mount Index at the end of a trail on the west side of Bridal Veil Creek. Take time to see and enjoy a stunning view of Bridal Veil Falls and climb flights of steps paralleling the falls.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Easton
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
A segment of the cross-state Palouse to Cascades Trail
Henskin Lake
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,550 feet
This is a beautiful hike that "has it all," from wonderful wildflowers and a deep forest, to wild creeks and an alpine lake. You will even see an abandoned gold mine along the way!
Mirror Lake via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,180 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,195 feet
This short dayhike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a nice alternate route to quiet Mirror Lake, or just a lovely forest hike on a quiet section of a rocky and rooty trail. You could consider it as a first-time backpacking destination, too, since the trail is never particularly steep here.
Kendall Katwalk
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, that’s part of it. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins.
Bare Mountain
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,353 feet
Bare Mountain, the site of a former fire lookout, is a superb viewpoint with mountains in every direction and lakes close by. In season, appreciate the great variety of wildflowers, beginning at the trailhead and continuing all the way to the summit. And be alert for birds and wild critters. They are out there.
Olallie Lake via Pratt Lake Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 6.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,446 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,880 feet
Olallie Lake is a wonderful first-time destination for hikers or backpackers just beginning to discover trails.
Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,420 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,320 feet
Sun drenched ridgelines, blooming trillium, and sparkling alpine waters define this fitting tribute to one of Washington’s greatest trail advocates.