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
4216 HikesCrater Lakes
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,220 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,980 feet
Hike to a pair of beautiful lakes. Haloed by larch on the steep, rocky slopes above, once here, you'll see the reason this area is called the Golden Lakes.
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
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Highest Point
- 150 feet
Visit a park near Olympia that boasts it all: native flora and fauna, an interpretive nature trail, historical markers and plenty to keep kids entertained all year round.
Big Cedar Tree - Quinault
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 80 feet
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Highest Point
- 100 feet
There are many big trees in the Olympics, but this enormous cedar is so large it has a trail named after it. Plus, it's just a quarter mile from the road. Unfortunately, storms in 2016 felled the large tree, though it's no less impressive. When you visit, be sure to take only pictures -- the Park Service is leaving the giant there in order to perpetuate the natural cycle.
Peabody Creek Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
Found on the outskirts of Port Angeles, the Peabody Creek Trail starts out from the Olympic National Park Visitors Center and follows Peabody Creek through a quiet wooded ravine for 2.8 miles. It’s an excellent short hike for visitors, locals, and trail runners alike.
Slab Camp Creek and Gray Wolf River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,540 feet
This is a classic Olympics river hike without the crowds, and it's downhill all the way to your destination.
Middle Fork (Toats Coulee)
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 5.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,380 feet
Don’t want to drive the very rough last 6 miles to the Iron Gate Trailhead? This mostly forested alternate approach adds 3 miles and 1000 feet elevation gain to the trip into Horseshoe Basin.
Rose Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
Just a few miles west of Chehalis, Rose Park provides 21 acres of green space — including a trail and plenty of places for a picnic — for visitors to enjoy.
Sand Point
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 100 feet
A beautiful hike through an interesting forest, often over boardwalks, ends at the beach with the potential for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. If you plan ahead and get a permit, it's a nice overnight destination.
Frye Cove County Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 110 feet
This small park near Olympia offers a nice meandering loop trail, as well as beaches and playgrounds for kids.
Pinegrass Ridge Sno-Park
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 10.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
Pinegrass Ridge Sno-Park offers outings on snowmobile trails that head up to the Section 3 trailhead for Bear Creek Mountain (a fairly steep route) or more casual loops on the closer-in trail network.
Long Lake
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,300 feet
Long Lake is a great option for those looking for a short hike to get back into the swing of things for the hiking season. It's relatively short and gains elevation steadily, so hikers can choose to make it an easy hike or bring a heavier pack for a bit more of a workout.
Jumpoff Lookout
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,531 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,749 feet
Hiking to Jumpoff Lookout may not be for everybody, but if you make the trek, it has a lot to offer. From a family-friendly lake to a more challenging climb to a fire lookout.
Ironstone Mountain
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 21.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,159 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,457 feet
The Ironstone Mountain Trail provides a challenging rollercoaster of a ridge hike, taking you to the summits of Burnt Mountain, Ironstone Mountain and McNeil Peak, with rewarding views of the surrounding area.
Cramer Lake Snowshoe
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 840 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,080 feet
Nestled between Spiral Butte and Cramer Mountain on the Tumac Plateau, Cramer Lake draws experienced snowshoers north into the backcountry for peace and solitude just east of White Pass. Although the distance is moderate, a section of steep terrain and creek crossings can make for an adventuresome outing.
Clear Lake Interpretive Trail
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
Located on the north shore of Clear Lake, this interpretive trail forms a lollipop loop that is accessible for all users.
Tumac Plateau Loop
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 20.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,340 feet
Link together six trails for a fall color loop past numerous lakes of the Tumac Plateau and hike Tumac Mountain in the William O. Douglas Wilderness.
Tieton Pond Snowshoe
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
A moderate snowshoe along forest roads to a beautiful frozen pond just outside of Yakima.
Spiral Butte
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,840 feet
Most folks enjoy the view of Spiral Butte from afar, whether they're skiing downhill or cross-country at White Pass, or hiking along other trails in the area. But if you want to tackle this trail, it makes a good diversion for those camping at Dog Lake, or simply looking for a day hike in the area.
Southwest Loowit Loop
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 12.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
Venture through dusty lahars, cool forest and the high country on the shoulder of Mount St. Helens on this 12-mile loop. Do it in a day, or plan to camp along the way—this hike is both beautiful and a bit of a challenge; you’ll need a little scrambling experience to be comfortable hiking the whole thing.
Raven Roost
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 3.9 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 540 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,900 feet
This trail starts out at the Raven Roost high point at road’s end. This trail starts out with the views before you even set foot on trail.
Jensen Family Forest Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 94 feet
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Highest Point
- 170 feet
This forested park in Bellingham was made possible by the Jensen Family’s generous donation of a public easement. The short, stroller-friendly loop trail includes a picnic table and parking area.
Driveway Butte
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 8.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,030 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,982 feet
Spring, summer, and fall all beckon hikers up the slopes of Delancy Ridge toward Driveway Butte, attracted by the views, seasonal flowers, or just a hard workout. The trail tells the tale to two forests, a mature pine forest in the first half and a forest recovering from fire in the second.
Machu Picchu
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
An illegally-built trail off of I-90. Hikers are encouraged to not use this trail.
Timberline Trail - Elk Cove To Gnarl Ridge Junction
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 10.4 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 3,759 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,336 feet
The northeast segment of the Timberline Trail provides the highest point on the trail and exposed moon-like landscapes; the most rugged of the sections of the circumnavigation.
Round Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Highest Point
- 5,720 feet
Try this ridgeline hike on the Round Butte trail, featuring open meadows, excellent views of the surrounding canyons, and plenty of solitude.
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
A lake located above the extremely popular Snow Lake; Upper Wildcat offers backpacking opportunities for the route-finding enthusiasts in the summer months.
Shinglemill Creek Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 400 feet
Shinglemill Creek Preserve is located in the northwest part of Vashon Island and encompasses 168 acres along the lower mainstem of Shinglemill Creek – Vashon’s second-largest creek.
Rock Mountain via Snowy Creek
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
Sometimes, taking the back door is better. At 9 miles and 3600 feet of elevation gain, the back way to the Rock Mountain Lookout is less steep, more scenic, and two miles shorter than the more frequently used route from Rock Lake. Try this as a key swap or a thru-hike if you want to get both sides of this gorgeous hike.
Shellrock Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 3.5 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,745 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,487 feet
The Shellrock Pass trail has not been maintained for 25 years. However, the way is relatively easy to follow if you have a map and are familiar with cross-country travel.
Robinson Mountain
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 6,166 feet
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Highest Point
- 8,726 feet
A challenging summit of a peak in the North Cascades. Route-finding experience required.