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 HikesSultan River Canyon Trail
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
If you don’t mind descending first, then ascending later, the Sultan River Canyon trail is a nice alternative for the shoulder season when snow is still too deep in the mountains. Drop to the sparkling Sultan River, then climb back up on nicely graded switchbacks in the shade.
Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 130
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
If you're looking for the best workout in the park, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better than this, the longest trail. Circumnavigate the park's namesake peak by following trail 130 "round-the-mountain" for nearly 12 miles of forested trail punctuated by the occasional open meadow, or opt to turn around at any time for a shorter stroll.
Box Spring Canyon
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 9.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,300 feet
The adjacent shooting range will have live-fire shooting training on various dates in March - June. Please be extra aware of your surroundings when hiking on trails during this time.
This is part of the William O. Douglas Trail, which runs from Davis High School in Yakima to Mt. Rainier. This trail is still being established.
Pipestone Canyon Rim Trail
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,420 feet
Explore a scenic and incredibly varied landscape near Winthrop where you are almost certainly guaranteed to see some of the region’s abundant wildlife.
Amabilis Mountain Snowshoe
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 9.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,570 feet
This route provides both spectacular views and solitude at the summit, but keep in mind trail etiquette. You'll likely share the trail with skiers enjoying the groomed route.
West Fork Methow River
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 15.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,280 feet
3.30.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot. The hike's trailhead is a 2.6-mile one-way road walk from the closure.
Take an short and simple walk for a couple of miles up the West Fork Methow River valley, enjoying the sounds of the river along with spring flowers from mid-May to mid-June. Or in late season, take a hike in the early snow, before the road is closed.
Robinson Creek - South
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 19.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,660 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,220 feet
3.30.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot. The hike's trailhead is a 1.5-mile one-way road walk from the closure.
The sight and roaring sound of Robinson Creek will accompany you on your forested hike up the valley, following in the footsteps of an early trapper, Billy Robinson. The low starting elevation makes this a popular late spring/early summer day-hike or overnight.
Puyallup Loop Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 541 feet
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Highest Point
- 351 feet
A roughly 4-mile loop near the city of Puyallup, where locals and visitors can get their exercise and spend some time on trail near an urban center.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 450 feet
The 0.7-mile interpretive trail from the upper falls viewpoints to the lower falls viewpoint is family- and pet-friendly, good for beginners, teaches the basics of the flora and fauna near Snoqualmie Pass, informs about local Native American culture, and ends with impressive views of a Washington icon.
Guillemot Cove
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 360 feet
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Highest Point
- 360 feet
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Olympics from a secluded cove with many different types of seabirds and wildlife. Try to keep your feet dry while exploring a series of trails amid the historic 184-acre Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve.
Big Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 4.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 850 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,850 feet
This low-key loop in the shadow of Mount Ellinor makes for a great respite on a hot summer day or a low-country winter ramble when it's rainy.
Mount Teneriffe
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,585 feet
Mountains to Sound Greenway did this road to trail conversion in order to create a more sustainable, safer route for hikers to a summit on the I-90 corridor. Hike through second- and third-growth forest, pass a lovely waterfall, and enjoy a slightly less-crowded trail than the nearby Mount Si.
Goldmyer Hot Springs
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 24.0 miles, roundtrip
The way to Goldmyer Hot Springs is a delightful forest walk through deep woods, along the rushing Snoqualmie River, and ultimately to a beautiful privately owned hot springs tucked against the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Because it is privately owned by a non-profit, reservations are strongly recommended and are the only way to assure access to the property and hot springs.
Black Canyon
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 8.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,224 feet
On this hike, you’ll experience the renewal of life after a devastating fire as you climb a canyon through bunch grasses, wildflowers and regenerating stands of aspen to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the distant Cascades.
Company Creek
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 11.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 5,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,600 feet
The trail over Hilgard Pass (near the end of the hike) has eroded and is dangerous to use at this time.
A trail that climbs out of the Stehekin River valley and into the Glacier Peak wilderness.
Ebey's Landing
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
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Highest Point
- 260 feet
Perched on a bluff overlooking majestic Puget Sound is the unique acreage of Ebey’s Landing. In addition to the Bluff Trail, visitors can experience the seaport town of Coupeville, observe working farms, and get their fill of wildlife viewing, all in a tiny National Park on Whidbey Island.
North Twentymile Peak
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 12.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,387 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,437 feet
On this little used trail, hikers can see history, both natural and man-made. Large sections of the forest are recovering from the 2006 Tripod Complex Fire, and the two lookouts on the summit provide a glimpse of the 1920's and 1940's construction.
Silver Star Mountain - Ed's Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,240 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
There are two routes up the north side of Silver Star Mountain that in good conditions can be combined to form a sort of loop. Along the way, hikers will be delighted with a diverse array of wildflowers, a natural arch, volcanic views and fine hiking. But some sections of Ed's Trail are very exposed, and require agility and flexibility to navigate.
Backbone Ridge
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 6.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,900 feet
This is a nice woods trail, but views don't reward the hiker until she or he arrives at Stevens Canyon Road in Mount Rainier National Park. Trail starts alongside a grassy rock slab and works its way to the top of the ridge.
Independence Ridge
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 40 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
A connector trail in the Mount St. Helens area linking Independence Pass with the Boundary Trail. Views from here include Spirit Lake and the north side of the volcano.
Carbon River Rain Forest Nature Trail
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
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Length
- 0.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 20 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,780 feet
The Fairfax Bridge (3 miles south of Carbonado) is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice due to safety concerns. The bridge closure renders this hike inaccessible.
The Carbon River Rain Forest Nature Trail is a pleasant and easy stroll that offers two short segments which can be combined to create a 0.6 mile roundtrip walk. Both paths penetrate primeval rain forest where giant ferns, maples, and spruce tower above charming cedar puncheon bridges and babbling brooks. This hike is great in any season, and takes on particular wildness in winter. Interpretive signs and photo opportunities abound.
West Fork Foss River and Lakes
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 14.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,900 feet
3.23.26: The trailhead is inaccessible by vehicle due to floor damage and downed trees on West Fork Foss Road (FR 6835). There is a 2.4-mile road walk to the trailhead.
Visit any of several beautiful alpine lakes, in rocky basins. The day can be as easy as a 3.6 roundtrip hike to Trout Lake, or as strenuous as the nearly 15-mile hike to Big Heart Lake as you like. Good options exist both for day-hikers and for backpackers.
Elk Bench
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,100 feet
This short trail is located near Coldwater Lake and connects visitors to the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater to the Lakes Trail and the Mount Margaret backcountry.
Hummocks Loop
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 9.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,200 feet
Why drive to the top when you can hike? Try this day hike as an introduction to Mount St. Helens for visitors who’ve never been here, or if they haven't been in a long time.
Winds of Change
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 0.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,100 feet
Although this trail is short, take time to savor the broad views across the Mount St. Helens volcanic blast zone while interpretive signs help you contemplate the forces that created it.
Loowit Falls
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,575 feet
This trail is closed through all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.
Hike to a glacier-fed waterfall pouring out of the heart of a volcano. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.
Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 11.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,800 feet
The Miller River Road washed out 4 miles from the trailhead in 2011.
Day-hikers and backpackers alike visit Lake Dorothy, a very large and beautiful lake less than two miles from the trailhead. Once there, they either rest and play for the day, or continue on to Bear and Deer Lakes, a pair of very pretty smaller lakes deeper in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The very ambitious press on to remote Snoqualmie Lake. Lake Dorothy can be crowded on summer weekends, but the other lakes see fewer visitors.
Douglas Creek Canyon - South
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 4.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,600 feet
Visit a popular water feature close to the trailhead, or get your feet wet and continue walking up the canyon along a rough road/railroad grade.
Clearwest Peak
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,400 feet
The trailhead is inaccessible due to a washout on West Fork/Martin Gap Road (FR 74) from 2007.
The trail up Clearwest Peak is inaccessible due to West Fork/Martin Gap Road (FR 74) being closed from a washout in 2007.
Crystal Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
3.23.26: The trailhead is not accessible due to a washout at mile 4 on Whitechuck Road (FR 23). There is a closure in place on the road.
A relatively easy hike to a tranquil mountain lake.