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 HikesGlendale Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.25 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 200 feet
Through the efforts of WTA, King County Parks, Earth Corps and other community partners, this small 5-acre forest has become a green oasis within the North Highline area of Seattle.
Pinnacle Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,800 feet
A short, but rough hike to two small lakes on the eastern slope of Mount Pilchuck. The first, Bear Lake is under a half mile from the trailhead on a good trail. Once on the way to Pinnacle, however, the trail changes to a rocky, rooty, muddy mess, slow going up, and slow coming down. The reward for putting up with this mess of a trail, is a nice quiet little lake ringed by rocks and trees, usually not crowded, even on a sunny Saturday.
Big Tree Ridge
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 680 feet
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Highest Point
- 770 feet
This is the most direct entry to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park from Seattle, Issaquah and Bellevue. WTA has done lots of work on Cougar Mountain since 2009, but signage may not be entirely up-to-date.
Red Hill
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,710 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,835 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
If you are looking for a moderately long amble without much likelihood of seeing others, look no further. The terrain is dry Ponderosa forest cut deeply by winter runoff. The scars of humankind’s usage are quite evident, but the balance of nature’s hand is slowly returning beauty to the area. The elevations are low making access easy early in the season or the potential for a winter outing.
Etienne Creek
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
This trail follows the drainage to join the Falls Creek Trail. The trailhead is found behind a gated Shaser Road, making it a 4-mile road walk or bike ride to hike this four mile round-trip trail.
Beverly Turnpike
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 7.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
Spanning the Wenatchee Mountains and offering views of the backside of the Enchantment Peaks, the Beverly Turnpike trail (named for the two creeks it parallels) offers a straightforward out-and-back hike to a pass, or a more rugged thru-hike into the Ingalls Creek drainage. It also can be used to create loop hikes, or access nearby peaks. Hikers share this trail with mountain bikes and horses, and it isn’t uncommon to see occasional evidence of them along the way.
Miller Peak Loop
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 12.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
Try this long loop for a challenging day hike. There’s not much in the way of camping options, but it’s a great trainer, and you’ll enjoy views of the Stuart Range, but only after you do a little bushwhacking and a lot of climbing. Bring as much water as you can carry – you’ll parallel creeks on the way in and on the way out, but the majority of the hike is high and dry.
County Line
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,875 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,700 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
A multi-use trail connecting with the Teanaway Ridge Trail and continuing on to Miller Peak.
Bean Creek Basin
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
A sub-alpine meadow teeming with wildflowers greets hikers who make their way up the Bean Creek Basin. Beginning along Beverly Creek as it tumbles past the trailhead, the trail then climbs up Bean Creek to the colorful meadow from which it is fed.
Standup Creek
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 14.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,200 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
The lesser known creek between Bean and Stafford, Standup offers a gentle valley followed by steepness to an open hillside and ridge with views. But this quiet hike is only accessible via a road only appropriate for high-clearance vehicles.
Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,489 feet
This trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Labor Mountain Fire.
In spring and early summer, enjoy abundant wildflowers and views of the Stuart Range on these multi-use trails east of the Cascades.
Bayshore Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
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Highest Point
- 40 feet
Bayshore Preserve is a 74-acre spread of land on the Bayshore Peninsula which pokes into Oakland Bay. A former golf course, WTA is working on improving the informal trails here so hikers can enjoy an area that is undergoing restoration efforts.
Methow Wildlife Area - Bowen Mountain East Loop
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 725 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,150 feet
A bit rugged, but with lots of diversity. This trail loops you through rangeland, shrub-steppe and dry ponderosa forest. Huge views and an intimate creek reward you.
Camas Meadows
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
This beautiful meadow is visible from a variety of logging roads that surround it. Visitors are asked to not walk in the meadow, as it is a protected research area and a fragile ecosystem.
Shriner Peak
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,434 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,834 feet
SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with SR 410 to the north and the Mount Rainier National Park boundary (near Ohanapecosh Campground) to the south for the winter season.
Gorgeous weather and late-season color make this one of the most beautiful autumn hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. This hike is a tough climb, but the payoff is great views and lots of solitude.
Mount McCausland
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,747 feet
Mount McCausland delivers mountain views, lake views, and even solitude at the summit. The cost? The first three miles of the trail is easy, but the last half mile to the summit is steep and occasionally brushy. Taking a break on that climb is no hardship, though: the hillside is carpeted in berries and the views start early.
Esmeralda Basin (Esmerelda)
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,960 feet
Esmeralda Basin promises hikers the opportunity to walk through old forest, meadows brimming with wildflowers, and along rocky hillsides, all while enjoying the striking scenery of the jagged and craggy Esmeralda Peaks.
Seeley Lake Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.3 miles, roundtrip
Seeley Lake Park offers a 1.3 mile roundtrip urban hike in the city of Lakewood. Though the lake itself is more of a marsh, the wildlife here is plentiful, Hikers see ducks, squirrels, and other creatures flitting about, and in spring the flowers blooming provide a cheerful background.
Anderson Point
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 250 feet
Enjoy a short hike to one of the best beaches in Kitsap County.
Bluff Mountain
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 890 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
Hiking across bare talus slopes, past rocky outcrops and fields of wildflowers while admiring sweeping vistas, you would think you're at 7,000 feet. But the alpine-like setting at this mid-elevation is the result of period of wildfires that swept the area in the early 1900's.
Battle Ground Lake State Park - Lower Lake Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 120 feet
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Highest Point
- 680 feet
Battle Ground Lake State Park is a local favorite, particularly good for families with its short loop around the lake and the playground.
Colquhoun Peak
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 630 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,173 feet
This short, steep hike leads to an abandoned lookout site, where nature has obscured the views with tree growth. A careful descent to the southeast from the lookout site leads to the top of a steep rocky area with magnificent views of Mount Rainier and the Greenwater River Valley – just don’t lose your footing if you're snapping pics at the peak!
Forest Park - Everett
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 4.9 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 370 feet
With several miles of wooded trails, a self-guided nature tour plus hill climb and orienteering courses, Forest Park gives you plenty of reasons to get outdoors without leaving the city.
Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 192 feet
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Highest Point
- 157 feet
This hike boasts a great combination of wetland and sea shore. It is doable by hikers of all ages, and most of the trail is wheelchair accessible.
Glacier View
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 950 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,450 feet
The trailhead is inaccessible due to a washout on FR 59.
Climb a ridge to a rocky promontory nine miles due west of Tahoma’s summit and experience multi-volcano, jaw-dropping views under clear conditions. Glacier View’s short but moderately intense route is ideal for lovers of huckleberries, wildflowers, old-growth forest, mushrooms, fauna and lakes.
Little Quilcene River
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 6.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,180 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,200 feet
Take this lung-busting trail up the north side of Mount Townsend, through coniferous forests offering cameo views to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, opening onto views of the Dungeness and Graywolf watersheds to the west.
Bearhead Mountain
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,089 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.
Bearhead Mountain is a moderate, well-marked trail through the forest that carries you to an old fire lookout site with a bold and brassy Rainier view.
Ohanapecosh Hot Springs
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 0.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,000 feet
SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with SR 410 to the north and the Mount Rainier National Park boundary (near Ohanapecosh Campground) to the south for the winter season.
This short, sweet little loop near the Ohanapecosh Visitors Center make a great visit for a leg stretch or a history hike with little ones. You can't get into the hot springs (and you probably wouldn't want to) but you can still have a nice short hike here.
Three Lakes via Laughingwater Creek
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,000 feet
SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with SR 410 to the north and the Mount Rainier National Park boundary (near Ohanapecosh Campground) to the south for the winter season.
The name "Laughingwater Creek" conjures up a nice stroll alongside a bubbling creek, but this trail mostly keeps hikers far above any running water. At several spots early in the hike, it is possible to hear the creek, but not to see it.
Stafford Falls via Deer Creek
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 375 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,250 feet
SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) is closed between the junction with SR 410 to the north and the Mount Rainier National Park boundary (near Ohanapecosh Campground) to the south for the winter season.
The hike to Stafford Falls drops steeply from the road, requiring a climb to return to your vehicle. But after 0.4 miles, it follows crystal-clear Chinook Creek as it cascades down a gentle slope, with small plunges, narrow chutes, beautiful blue-green pools, and a 25-foot punch-bowl waterfall. Such beauty and serenity are seldom this easy to get to.