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
4225 HikesBig Butte Lookout
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 222 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,010 feet
Although the lookout tower has been deconstructed, the hike up Big Butte offers spectacular vistas of the Umatilla National Forest.
Soda Springs
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 4.9 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,780 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,880 feet
This moderately difficult trail accesses the William O. Douglas wilderness area. Passing through dense timber near Flat Iron Lake, the way also hosts good campsites for visitors
South Fork Boulder Creek
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 0.7 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
This short trail connects the Boulder De Roux and Paris Creek trails, and provides hikers a method to link together a much longer hike.
Elsnor Mine
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 0.95 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 950 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,860 feet
This steep connector trail between the Paris Creek and Boulder De Roux trails takes hikers past remnants of old mining activity in the area.
Tinkham Discovery
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,550 feet
Tinkham Discovery Trail is a 0.5-mile family-friendly nature path — wheelchair- and stroller-accessible — that starts in Tinkham Campground. Note that only registered campers can access this hike; there is no day-use parking at the trailhead.
Lillian Ridge
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
Enjoy majestic mountain panoramas from this relatively low-effort, high-vista hike on the Olympic Peninsula.
Grand Ridge
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 15.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,625 feet
Grand Ridge is the highest continuous trail in the Olympic Mountains. On a clear day it is among the most beautiful places in Washington; the 360 degree view includes the interior of the Olympics, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Canada, and the Cascades.
Badger Valley
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,080 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
The Badger Valley Trail is located in the NE corner of Olympic National Park. This trail starts at the Obstruction Point Trailhead and trends down into Badger Valley to end at Grand Lake.
Cathedral Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
Hike along a lush green valley wall above Goat Creek to Cathedral Falls. Because this part is so infrequently visited, it's possible you won't see another soul on the trail, meaning you'll get to have the incredible falls all to yourself.
Townsend Mountain
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
A nontechnical climb with good views of Merchant, Gunn, and Baring.
Whidbey Institute
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 4.5 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 420 feet
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Highest Point
- 420 feet
The Whidbey Institute includes a 106-acre conservation forest with 4.5 miles of trails that are hilly but all below 500 feet. This hike is deep in the forest and very quiet. You will see lots of ferns, cedars and Douglas fir trees.
Possession Point State Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
Located on the south side of Whidbey Island, this tiny state park includes the short but fun and challenging Dorothy Cleveland Trail, with plenty of elevation gain in the form of switchbacks.
Big Chief Mountain
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Highest Point
- 5,858 feet
A hike up to the highest point on the Stevens Pass Ski Area.
Priest Rapids Shoreline Trail
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 45 feet
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Highest Point
- 538 feet
Enjoy easy walking, wide-open views and plenty of sunshine along the Columbia River shore near Priest Rapids Dam.
Kirkland Watershed Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.6 miles of trails
Explore the upland forest areas and hiking trails with interpretive signs at the 73.37-acre Kirkland Watershed Park. There are a few hiking options to choose from Check out the Cochran Springs Creek trail or take a hike to the old reservoir. From the reservoir near the top of the park, there are two more loop options to explore.
Smooth Ridge
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,540 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,529 feet
Smooth Ridge offers incredible views into the rugged heart of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness.
Redlining Heritage Trail - First Hill and Little Saigon
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.97 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 250 feet
A 2 mile loop through one of Seatle's seven hills, exploring a section of the redlining heritage trail.
Norse Peak
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,856 feet
A steep, yet surprisingly comfortable climb to views of Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, Glacier Peak and the Olympics.
Spokane River Centennial State Park - Wilbur Trailhead to Trail 211
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 140 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,200 feet
This wheelchair-friendly small section of Spokane’s 40-mile Centennial Trail passes through Riverside State Park and additionally showcases some regional history at the site of a former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp.
Coal Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 0.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 44 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,420 feet
Visit an alpine lake via a short walk from the trailhead. A washout before the official trailhead adds 0.2 miles each way to your walk.
Valhalla Peak
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,300 feet
Valhalla Peak is a modest summit located in the Olympic National Forest and can be reached via the Tunnel Creek Trailhead or via Dosewallips Road.
Columbia Mountain
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,450 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,765 feet
One of the most popular hikes on the Colville National Forest is the short but challenging hike to the summit of Columbia Mountain, where vistas of surrounding mountains, wildflowers and one of the oldest fire lookouts in the state await you.
Kloshe Nanitch
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,160 feet
Hike to a former fire lookout site on the Olympic Peninsula. Fires are now patrolled by aircraft here, but the beautiful, rugged surroundings can still be reviewed by hikers from the lookout with a name that draws on a Chinook phrase that translates to "take care".
Chelan Gorge Trail
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 5.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 504 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,208 feet
A series of trails near the town of Chelan wind along the contours of the hills and dip into the rocky plain of Washington’s shortest river.
Madison Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 46 feet
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Highest Point
- 292 feet
Hike a paved 0.1 mile trail ending at the beautiful Madison Falls.
Farrel-McWhirter Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
Hikers will appreciate the trails that wind through the park and connect to even more miles of walking.
Sentinel Mountain
Central Washington > Potholes Region
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Highest Point
- 2,372 feet
A peak scramble on the east side of the Cascades.
Abercrombie Mountain Trail
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 7.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,300 feet
From Eastern Washington’s second-highest peak, the former home to Eastern Washington’s second-highest lookout, take in hundreds of square miles of rolling forested terrain, from the Canadian Purcells to the Columbia Plateau.
Augspurger Mountain - North
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 2.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,667 feet
Find spring wildflowers and one of the best ridge hikes in the Gorge; just be prepared for a difficult drive to get there. While Dog Mountain to the south is crowded, you’ll have these sweeping vistas to yourself. WTA volunteers have put in many hours to improve this trail.
Josephine Lake
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,150 feet
Josephine is a beautiful lake 5.2 miles south of Stevens Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail winds thru the Stevens Pass Ski area, climbing for two miles to top of the hill, gaining 1000 feet along the way.