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
4224 HikesSkyline Lake Snowshoe
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Dramatic mounds of snow, a frozen lake and sweeping views into the Alpine Lakes and Glacier Peak Wildernesses await snowshoers at Skyline Lake. Easily accessed from the Stevens Pass ski area, this steep and rewarding ridge walk is a classic on a sunny day.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Cedar Falls to Change Creek
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 480 feet
3.20.26: The Palouse to Cascades trail is closed (1) between the Olallie Trail to Homestead Valley trailhead and (2) between the Carter Creek campsite to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel until further notice due to storm damage.
The hike from the Cedar Falls trailhead to the junction with the Change Creek route is one through history. You will walk along a decommissioned railroad passing by the remnants of the line. Starting at the Cedar Falls trailhead, begin your hike just past the outhouse, crossing a paved road, and picking up the gravel path.
Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 8,365 feet
Permits are required to summit Mount St. Helens. Find details about acquiring them in the hike description.
The rim is extremely unstable. Please stay well back from the edge.
Mount St. Helens is a peak that should be on every life list. And because it is an active volcano, it is best not to put it off for too long. Climbing to the crater rim is an opportunity to see not only amazing views in every direction, but to see geology raw, unformed and in its making.
Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,789 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,832 feet
Incredible views and beautiful alpine lakes are your reward if you can ascend this steep trail in the North Cascades. At the top, you can choose between taking in sweeping panoramic views of North Cascades National Park and the Pickets Range, or relaxing near the lowest of the Thornton Lakes, both of which make a rewarding destination.
Hyas Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,500 feet
The relatively flat hike to this long, shallow lake makes an excellent destination for families with children or an easy overnight camping trip.
Quick Link
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 0.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 163 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,657 feet
The Quick Link Trail is a short segment in the middle of the East Tiger trail system. Combine this trail with others to form any number of loop hikes, including a trip to the east tiger summit.
Snow Bowl Hut Snowshoe
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,300 feet
Bruni's Snow Bowl Hut is named for Brunhilde (Bruni) Wislicenus, a passionate mountaineer and wilderness skier who donated a substantial portion of the funds to rebuild the hut after a fire in 2007 burnt the original to the ground. Now, it provides skiers and snowshoers a place to warm up after a bracing 4.5 mile jaunt along forest roads in Tahoma State Forest.
Rhododendron Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 295 feet
A multi-use county park with a short system of rambling trails through native rhododendron forest in central Whidbey Island.
Big Tree Botanical Area Interpretive Site
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 2.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 175 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,280 feet
A lovely short trail in a gorgeous setting, this hike is worth planning as a weekend trip to include camping at nearby Lost Lake.
Garfield Gulch
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 150 feet
Garfield Gulch is a deep ravine located in the north end portion of Tacoma with a short trail.
Acorn Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 0.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
This short connector trail, maintained by WTA, links Max's Shortcut trail to BL-1616 on Blanchard Mountain.
Larrabee State Park - South Lost Lake Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
-
Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,950 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,650 feet
Tucked away atop Chuckanut Mountain is shallow Lost Lake. The south trail to the lake leads through a recovering forest of bigleaf maple, alder, Douglas fir, and western hemlock, meandering 4.5 miles to a riparian hideout, providing waterfalls, old growth, fall color, and year-round hiking to those who make the journey.
South Hill Bluff
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 23.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,340 feet
This local location for after-work hiking in Spokane boasts nearly 25 miles of trails. From a flat traverse high above the railroad tracks to longer loops; there are many possible outings to be done at South Hill.
Sky Country
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 123 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,180 feet
A connector to Military Road along 166th Way SE on Cougar Mountain.
Yacolt Burn State Forest - Silver Shadow Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 2.81 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 87 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,250 feet
Silver Shadow Trail is a three-mile connector trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest named for being in the shadow of neighboring Silver Star Mountain. Hike it one-way, or connect it with the Tarbell trail to make a 5 mile loop.
Shy Bear
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 1.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
The Shy Bear runs through the southern portion of Cougar Mountain. The official ends of this trail can only be reached on foot and must be accessed from one of the various trails that connect to Shy Bear.
Shangri La
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 3.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 643 feet
The section of trail between the junction of Bear Ridge Trail heading east to the property boundary with the Talus neighborhood is closed until further notice due to flood damage.
A gorgeous trail accessible from the Harvey Manning trailhead on Cougar Mountain. Enjoy wildflowers, as well as the notable "Fantastic Erratic" glacier boulder.
Sams Walker Nature Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 100 feet
Take a mile-long stroll along a gravelled trail through abandoned farm fields. This trail is barrier free, and trail maintenance WTA is performing will greatly improve it, making it more wheelchair friendly in the future.
Larrabee State Park - Rock Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,820 feet
The Rock Trail is one of WTA's signature projects, built from scratch thanks to WTA’s partnerships with various organizations, including Larrabee State Park and Chuckanut Conservancy. A dedicated group of enthusiastic WTA volunteers worked countless hours here, carving a connector trail out of the steep, rugged hillside from the top of Cleator Road to the South Lost Lake Trail. The Rock Trail provides hikers and trail runners a steep climb, gorgeous views, and a peek at the area's fascinating geology.
Riverside State Park - Trail 25
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
-
Length
- 25.0 miles of trails
Trail 25 is the main artery that runs through Riverside State Park. Loop options abound here, as do out-and-backs, or just short wanderings.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Southwest Washington > Vancouver Area
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 100 feet
More than 5,000 acres of marshes, grasslands and wooded areas are home to more than one hundred species of birds, waterfowl and fish. The refuge has a $3 entry fee, which can be waived with an America the Beautiful/Interagency pass.
Red Cedars
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 212 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,007 feet
Access several loop options at the north side of Cougar Mountain with the Red Cedars Trail.
Rainbow Canyon
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
This is a short hike into a tree-filled gorge. Views include a waterfall, Elbo Creek, and the Quilcene River.
Quarry
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 1.0 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 563 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,312 feet
A trail leading from Coal Creek Falls that takes hikers even deeper into Cougar Mountain Wildland Park.
Orangegate Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles of trails
-
Highest Point
- 400 feet
Orangegate Park Is a large greenspace managed by Pierce County Parks. This parcel has a trail network that is still under development. WTA volunteers have worked here to develop these trails.
Notch Pass
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
Believed to be a former Native American trading route through the Olympics, this historic trail was rebuilt by the Civilian Conservation Corps (the CCC) in the 1930s. It was relocated in the early 2000s and is a popular WTA volunteer work party site to this day. The route now goes through a notch easily spied from Highway 101 in the Quilcene Range, climbing steeply to the notch and then traversing the hillside.
Noisy Creek
Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range
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Length
- 5.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
Cross Noisy Creek on this difficult trail through Colville National Forest.
Nike Horse Trail
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
-
Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 39 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,223 feet
A way from the Sky Country Trailhead on Cougar Mountain to access the Cave Hole Trail via a loop with Old Man's Trail.
Moran State Park - Mountain Lake
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 3.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 950 feet
The loop around Mountain Lake is the perfect way to spend a relaxing day on Orcas Island. If part of your crew is interested in the more challenging Mount Constitution, this is a good way to while away the time that they're trekking to the top.
Mount Walker
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,804 feet
Approachable throughout the year, the Mount Walker trail’s average 20% grade makes it a go-to route for hikers and trail runners looking for a short, brisk tromp. (While it is also a designated stock trail, riders and pack animals rarely make an appearance.) Spring, summer, and fall the 2-mile trail is both ascended and descended by those on foot. In the winter, when the Mount Walker road is gated closed to vehicles, many will pursue the then 2.25-mile jaunt up to the north viewpoint, saunter over to the south viewpoint and then descend on the more gentle grade of the road.