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 Snagtooth
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 8,330 feet
A mountain in the North Cascades. Climbing gear and route-finding expertise required to summit.
Washington Pass Overlook
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 0.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 61 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,581 feet
This trail is a narrow, paved trail to a lookout on a ledge overlooking Liberty Bell Mountain. This area is worth the trip from the west side, because of spectacular views, and the myriad hiking trails in the area.
Stiletto Spur Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 4.54 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 943 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,359 feet
The Stiletto Spur Trail is a connector trail between the McAlester Lake/Twisp junction and the Pacific Crest Trail near Highway 20.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section L - Rainy Pass to Manning Park
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 60.2 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 15,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,100 feet
This last leg of the Pacific Crest Trail (or first depending on whether you're north- or southbound) offers breathtaking views as it passes along the eastern edge of the North Cascades and into the Pasayten Wilderness. Note that as of 2025, hikers are no longer allowed to cross the border into Canada.
Golden Horn - Snowy Lakes
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 23.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
Experience the Pacific Crest Trail at its finest. This backpacking trip takes you across four passes to two lovely alpine lakes in the shadow of Golden Horn, Tower Mountain and Mount Hardy.
Wing Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
A challenging offshoot trail from the Heather Maple Pass loop that traverses a large talus field to arrive at two stunning alpine lakes.
Nooksack Cirque
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
-
Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 640 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,840 feet
This unique, low-elevation hike follows the North Fork Nooksack River to spectacular scenery near the base of Mount Shuksan. This is a great late summer or early fall hike when Ruth Creek is low enough to ford. Keep in mind the limited maintenance this trail sees -- you may be in for a brushbash.
Dirty Harry's Balcony
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
-
Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
Get a workout and experience rock work completed by Department of Natural Resources and WTA volunteer crews on this hike. Your reward is a rocky overlook from which you can marvel at Mount Kent, McClellan Butte, and Mount Washington, the behemoths forming the south rim of the west entrance to Snoqualmie Pass.
Takhlakh Lake and Takh Takh Meadow
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
-
Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,624 feet
A figure-eight loop around Takhlakh Lake and past Takh Takh Meadow, ascending up a lava flow for fantastic vistas of Mount Rainier, the Goat Rocks, and Mount Adams. You can also do a lake-only loop for a much shorter and more level hike.
Lake Stuart
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,665 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,065 feet
The Core Zone of the Enchantments may be one of the most popular destinations in Washington state, but those who venture to Lake Stuart may just get the extra-enchanting reward of relative solitude in a high traffic area. Most hikers heading into the Enchantments use the Lake Stuart trailhead, but make for the Core zone via Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass. However, taking the right-hand trail 2.2 miles from the trailhead leads you into an adjacent valley, with a large, shallow lake at the base of the imposing massif of Mount Stuart.
Fourth of July Pass via Thunder Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 11.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
There are two ways to attain Fourth of July Pass - from Thunder Creek or from Panther Creek. Both offer wonderful opportunities to travel along burbling, blue-green creeks, but access via Thunder Creek is truly stunning. Make it an out-and-back or stash a second car for a traverse.
Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 82 feet
-
Highest Point
- 92 feet
The preserve will be closed from May 1 through late 2026 for construction.
If you just need some quiet time in nature and are not looking for a big workout, this little walk will be perfect. There is good access to the Snohomish River where you can find a place to throw a line in the water plus some good birding opportunities near the small lakes.
Silver Lake
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,950 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
There are few places where you start your hike at 7,000 feet without any effort. Spectacular views, a dizzying array of wildflowers and larch groves -- this hike is simply gorgeous and a pure Pasayten experience.
Robinson Pass Loop
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 7.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,942 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
This lightly used trail connects Robinson Pass and Slate Pass.
Buckskin Ridge
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 33.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Highest Point
- 7,300 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Alpine lakes, high ridge traverses, wildflower-filled meadows, and a stroll along the Pasayten River await hikers who elect to visit the Buckskin Ridge Trail.
Windy Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Experience a breathtaking section of the PCT packaged into a great dayhike.
West Fork Pasayten River
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 33.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,200 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Hike through alpine meadows and descend into a valley following the West Fork Pasayten River.
Trout Creek
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,420 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
This former stock driveway was maintained by sheep herders so they could drive their sheep to the beautiful sloping meadows of grass & flowers above the South Fork Trout Creek. After the 2003 Needle Creek Fire, the maintenance effectively stopped. So, until a significant effort is made to clear the tread, this is a very difficult trail to precisely follow.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Hart's Pass to Holman Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 14.4 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Stunning section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Starts high and stays high, going from Hart's Pass to Windy Pass to Holman Pass.
Slate Peak
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,440 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
This is a road hike on Forest Service Road 5400 from the gate to the old lookout site on top of Slate Peak.
Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass
North Cascades > Pasayten
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,386 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in a section where its name describes its location. From the trail high on the ridge, the views abound. In the three passes are flowers in the summer and golden larch in the fall. A side trip up Tatie Peak provides 360 degree views of the North Cascades.
Hart's Pass to Rainy Pass
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 30.6 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,900 feet
4.29.26: Hart's Pass Road is closed at the Monument Creek trailhead due to washouts. Hikers can proceed past the closure by foot.
Walk along the Pacific Crest Trail through some of the most stunning landscape Washington has to offer. Traverse the treeline as you enjoy sweeping views and mountain passes.
Church Mountain
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 8.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,750 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The rewards for this strenuous hike are vast alpine meadows and a wide panorama of North Cascades peaks.
Yacolt Burn / Silver Star Loop
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 16.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,242 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,070 feet
This long day hike is 16+ miles and goes through all manner of terrain. There’s a fair amount of elevation gain as well, but in return you get to see three sites of WTA’s past work, a hidden waterfall, and get a heck of a workout. Visit at the right time and you might also get a heck of a flower show with very few other people.
Wood Trails
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 400 feet
The Wood Trails area provides for a pleasant walk through a shady forest on a hillside with a native plant understory.
Hamlin Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 440 feet
Explore forested trails in Shoreline's oldest and largest park. These include a main half-mile trail that is wheelchair accessible. Appreciate 100-year-old trees, and hike trails featuring impressive staircases.
Little Lake Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Highest Point
- 900 feet
The Little Lake Forest was acquired by King County Parks in 2018. A small forested lake sits in the middle of this 155-acre park, and a gravel access road leads to the northern shore of the lake.
Blakenship Lakes
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,170 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,290 feet
4.28.26: This trail is currently inaccessible due to a washout on Deep Creek Road (FR 1808).
Enjoy a trio of lakes and meadows on this excellent summer destination.
Twin Sisters Lakes
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
4.28.26: This trail is currently inaccessible due to a washout on Deep Creek Road (FR 1808).
A long dirt road provides access to the central trailhead for the William O. Douglas Wilderness Area. The popular, easy forest hike to the Twin Sisters Lakes is a prelude to miles of exploration possible on trails and cross-country through open forest, past meadows, ponds, and lakes.
Tumac Mountain Loop
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 13.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,340 feet
4.28.26: This trail is currently inaccessible due to a washout on Deep Creek Road (FR 1808).
Nestled far from civilization, at the end of Deep Creek, you will likely have this glorious loop to yourself. A brief, three-mile section of the famous Pacific Crest Trail makes up the western link of this loop.