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
4223 HikesLyle Cherry Orchard
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 6.5 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 1,050 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
The trail is closed 4.24.26.
This little-known gem of a hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge offers spectacular views of the Columbia River, amazing spring wildflowers and an old garry oak forest of gnarled old trees. This stunning preserve is owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and tops out in an old cherry orchard with a few surviving trees.
Moses Stool - Badger Mountain
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 6.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Walk along a ridge to a couple of high points in Central Washington, with gigantic views in all directions.
Silver Lake - Monte Cristo
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,791 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,405 feet
Visit the remains of an old mining town in a basin surrounded by high peaks. Climb to Silver Lake nestled under the steep side of Silvertip Peak with good camping and good views of surrounding peaks.
Perry Creek
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 10.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,250 feet
Perry Creek proves you can have it all in a single hike — old-growth forest, wildflowers, waterfalls, meadows, expansive mountain views, even lakes! Tread lightly, though — due to its unparalleled diversity of native plants, the area between the summits of Stillaguamish Peak, Mount Forgotten and Mount Dickerman is a research natural area that could (in theory) be closed to all uses but scientific study.
Old Government
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
This is a pleasant, short, lowland forest walk, accessed in Barlow Pass, the popular jumping-off point for locations like Monte Cristo and Gothic Basin.
Mount Forgotten
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,005 feet
Mount Forgotten is an appealing target for the peculiarly determined hiker-turned-climber. Its sheer wall of a summit is very striking and easily instills visions of alpinism in those headed to Mount Forgotten Meadows, but the route takes a roundabout journey that requires not so much vertiginous daring-do as it does oodles of patience. The views from the top are spectacular, particularly the unobstructed view straight up Glacier Peak.
Mount Dickerman
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,950 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,760 feet
If the best views come to those who earn them, Mount Dickerman offers the fairest vantage along the Mountain Loop. You’ll huff and puff through 4,000 feet of elevation on your way to the summit; in return, you’ll get a superb panorama of nearly every peak in the Mountain Loop. In late summer, it also rewards the intrepid with a bounty of mountain blueberries.
Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,950 feet
Vesper Lake is squeezed, like a thumbprint in clay, deep in the saddle between the twin summits of Sperry Peak and Vesper Peak. Rarely is a lake situated so close and steeply below two summits like this–its unique setting gives you remarkably up-close (and straight-up) views of mountainous terrain. And all that comes after the former mining trail that provides incredible scenery along the way.
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.
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
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed between Barlow Pass and Bedal Campground for the winter season.
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.
Glacier Basin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,159 feet
This strenuous hike out of Monte Cristo features everything from smooth incline to rough rock scrambles. There is tough but absolutely beautiful trail along the way and it gets even better once you reach your destination.
Bedal Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 7.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,554 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed between Barlow Pass and Bedal Campground for the winter season.
A scramble up a peak off the Mountain Loop Highway. Route finding gear and previous experience required.
Barlow Point
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
From Barlow Point’s rocky promontory, hikers can take in views of Mount Dickerman, Big Four, and Stillaguamish Peak.
Vesper Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,214 feet
Vesper Peak is definitely not for the novice hiker, but for those thirsting for one step beyond hiking into backcountry adventure, it's a good leaping off point. The smooth, low angle granite of Vesper's upper reaches make for relatively easy off-trail travel and beginning routefinding.
Twin Lakes - Monte Cristo
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 17.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,939 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,300 feet
Take a nice long walk up the old Monte Cristo Road grade and stop by the townsite on your way. Rougher terrain begins on entering the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness area, and past Silver Lake, the trail becomes difficult to find. Trek along a steep mountain-side before finally cresting the ridge to look down on Twin Lakes and make the steep descent to the camp sites.
St'auk Mountain
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Highest Point
- 4,715 feet
A scramble to a wooded summit near Barlow Pass. Climbing experience and route-finding skills required.
Sperry Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,120 feet
Scramble to the top of this peak from Headlee Pass, located off the Mountain Loop Highway.
Sage Hills
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 650 feet
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Highest Point
- 800 feet
Just adjacent to the equally popular Horse Lake Reserve, the Sage Hills is home to great trails for hiking, running, or mountain biking. The rolling hills found at Sage Hills offer wonderful views of the Columbia River, the Wenatchee Valley and the North Cascades. Springtime brings vibrant color to the area with wild sage, yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, Indian paintbrush and purple lupine abound.
Soaring Eagle Regional Park
Issaquah Alps
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Length
- 12.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 500 feet
Soaring Eagle Regional Park features 12 miles of trails that are regularly used by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. The Pipeline Trail crosses through the park and is wide and flat—in fact, it is quite common to see families with baby strollers out enjoying the trail. Soaring Eagle is also popular for trail running competitions.
Dog Mountain
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,948 feet
The stunning views and unparalleled springtime flowers make this one of the most popular hikes in the Gorge. On a good day, you can get a bird’s eye view of Mount Hood and the Columbia River. In the spring the top is carpeted with vibrant yellow balsam root. Although the trail is steep and sometimes crowded, this hike is unquestionably worth the effort.
Beach 2
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
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Highest Point
- 30 feet
A short walk through a forest to a long beach.
Heybrook Lookout
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 980 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,800 feet
Heybrook Lookout is a short and moderately steep hike through a fern and moss covered forest to a fun, staircase-ridden lookout with great views of the nearby mountains. If you are introducing someone to hiking, limited on time, or trying to add on another hike or activity in the area, this is the hike for you.
Chief Joseph Wildlife Area - Green Gulch
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
Hike down into a canyon starting at 1000 feet of elevation and descending. The trail is an old road that goes for several miles.
Cape Disappointment State Park - North Head Lighthouse and Bell's Overlook
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
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Length
- 0.75 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 25 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
Take a couple of ADA-accessible trails to some of the most scenic parts of Cape Disappointment State Park.
Cape Disappointment State Park - Coastal Forest Loop
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
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Highest Point
- 140 feet
This trail is closed until summer 2026 due to nearby construction.
Tucked off of Spur Road 100, the opposite direction from the Cape Disappointment State Park camping area, the Coastal Forest Loop offers a chance to experience the signature environment of this area in either a half mile or mile and a half loop. Be sure to snag the brochure offered at the park office with interpretive information corresponding to posts along the way.
Moss Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
WTA has done some general trail maintenance in this beautiful neighborhood park. The site is extremely valuable from an ecological standpoint.
CCC Road: Upper Trailhead
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,450 feet
The upper section of the CCC Road is just adjacent to the Middle Fork Road. Hiking this way, you'll avoid the somewhat confusing lower section, where DNR and private property bump up against each other. Here the trail is on National Forest land, so you'll need a Northwest Forest Pass, but the 3.4 miles to the Middle Fork Campground pass through uninterrupted quiet forest, creeks, and lovely views of the nearby peaks.
Lower Big Quilcene River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 12.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,890 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,943 feet
The Lower Big Quilcene Trail begins just outside the Buckhorn Wilderness and follows the lower Big Quilcene River along a mostly non-technical tread for approximately 6.5 miles. The moss-lined route starts on an old road bed through younger forest and then winds past large old-growth cedars. In spring and summer, blooming rhododendrons add vibrant color to your journey. This trail is also a great choice during the fall and winter months because the trees provide shelter from precipitation.
Irely Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 145 feet
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Highest Point
- 615 feet
A temperate rainforest saunter up from the Quinault River valley floor to a fauna rich lake within the Olympic National Park
North Fork Quinault River and Halfway House
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 10.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 800 feet
The hike to Halfway House follows the first five miles of the North Fork Quinault River along the same route taken by the Press Expedition of 1890. The trail passes through superb lowland rainforest before entering the canyon of the Quinault. Halfway House makes a good picnic spot for day hikers and is also a great camp site for backpackers on a longer journey.