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 HikesSharpe Park - Sares Head
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 440 feet
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Highest Point
- 490 feet
This hike just south of Anacortes offers superb views of the ocean and islands from a pair of high vantage points, and it has some fine trails through mixed forest along the way.
Jakle's Lagoon
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 210 feet
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Highest Point
- 158 feet
Take this short one-mile stroll around an interpretive trail near the base of Mount Finlayson on San Juan Island.
Yudwasta Big Rock Park (Hoag Memorial)
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 460 feet
Yudwasta Big Rock Park (previously Hoag Memorial) is a small park located just east of Mount Vernon.
Clayton Beach
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 220 feet
Take a short trail from the Lost Lake Trailhead to Clayton Beach, where you'll find nearly a mile of shoreline to explore.
Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 286 feet
-
Highest Point
- 71 feet
Mora Road will be closed past Mora Campground between July 8 and Oct 5. Rialto Beach will not be accessible from Mora Road during this time.
Spend a day strolling the rugged Olympic Coast to dramatic sea stacks and natural wonders.
Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 170 feet
A combination of design art and nature, this 104-acre park features a trail that winds through Mill Creek Canyon right in the city of Kent.
High Divide Trail
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,723 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,821 feet
The High Divide Trail is popular because of its long ridge ramble through alpine meadows and its sweeping views of the North Cascades.
Bullitt Fireplace Trail
Issaquah Alps > Squak Mountain
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,830 feet
Hike a two-mile forest trail on the north side of Squak Mountain to reach the site of a former cabin owned by the Bullitt family. Only the massive fireplace and the foundation remain today. Optionally, extend your hike to Central Peak, the highest point on Squak Mountain (no view,) and make it an interesting loop by returning via the Old Griz and East Side Trails.
Moore Point
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
Moore Point is a starting point for hikers tackling the Lakeshore Trail, a popular spring backpacking trip. This trail is free from winter snow earlier than many thanks to its low elevation, and because of that, it can get quite full in the early season. Consider starting your hike midweek if you prefer to hike in solitude.
Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 10.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 800 feet
A classic hike in any season, but come in winter and you’ll find that the hordes of tourists, hikers, and climbers who use this trail in the summer have dwindled to just a trickle.
Hall of Mosses
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 0.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
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Highest Point
- 600 feet
A short rainforest loop from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park.
Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 141 feet
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Highest Point
- 499 feet
The Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail connects the Heritage Recreation Center to the South Hill Community Park via a wide paved trail.
Sherwood Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,250 feet
Starting out along Carey Creek, the Sherwood Trail climbs to a high point on the eastern edge of Taylor Mountain.
Hermit Trail
Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
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Length
- 2.24 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 750 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
Wander through the eastern reaches of Taylor Mountain Forest.
Northwest Timber Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
The Northwest Timber Trail can be an easy first hike for young hikers, or it can be a pleasant stroll for experienced hikers when they have limited time. For many, this trail is a gateway to other routes that lead to more distant goals, such as the Silent Swamp Loop or the Preston Railroad Grade, or to forest roads that lead to the summit of East Tiger.
Point Defiance Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
As the largest urban park in Pierce County, the network of roads and trails weaving through the forest preserve provides a quiet retreat for joggers, cyclists, and hikers.
Powerlink
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 0.6 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 280 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,004 feet
This trail on Tiger Mountain offers an alternative to taking the service road on the last 0.6 mile to the East Tiger summit.
Hex Mountain
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
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Length
- 7.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,034 feet
The winter access of Hex Mountain via NF-116 is closed to the public.
Hex Mountain is now located partially on private property and is inaccessible to vehicles.
Puget Creek Natural Area
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.91 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
This trail in Tacoma follows Puget Creek through a gulch just above Commencement Bay.
Twin Falls
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,000 feet
Visit a trio (yes, trio) of waterfalls just off I-90 on this sure-to-please short trail, perfect for families.
West Bay Woods
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
Right in Olympia is this small forest near West Bay, where hikers can see all sorts of wildlife and might even be able to find shells and other artifacts from when the forest used to be part of the shore.
Me-Kwa-Mooks Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles of trails
-
Highest Point
- 250 feet
This small West Seattle park across the street from the shore has a small trail network, as well as a lawn with picnic tables.
Snowgrass Flat
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,600 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
Enjoy a hike to a beautiful subalpine meadow in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. A good destination all on its own, it can also provide a jumping off point for a longer trip.
Snoqualmie Lake
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 18.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,147 feet
Visit this large, quiet lake in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snoqualmie is accessible both via Highway 2 and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road. From the trailhead on Highway 2, it's 7.3 miles to Snoqualmie Lake, and from the Middle Fork Road, it's 7.5 miles. You can even make this a thru-hike if you can arrange a pick-up at the other end.
Silver Star Mountain
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,990 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,390 feet
See beautiful wildflower meadows on the way up to a panoramic view that includes many of the big peaks in both Washington and Oregon.
Beacon Rock State Park - River To Rock Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 280 feet
From the Moorage at Beacon Rock State Park this short connector trail climbs through tall Douglas-fir trees, through the site of an old homestead and Filbert Orchard, then past Ridell Lake on its way to the namesake Rock. Its a great hike for people who arrive at the park by boat or for anyone wanting to make a longer hike of the 1.0 mile Beacon Rock Trail.
Ring Hill Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
A trip to Ring Hill Forest gives visitors an opportunity to observe a working forest in action as King County implements its Forest Stewardship Plan which is focused on creating a diverse, vigorous, and healthy forest that provides habitat as well as revenue.
Richmond Mine
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,006 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,241 feet
A trail that leads into the William O. Douglas wilderness, Richmond Mine offers miles of rugged rambling through a remote part of the state.
Rattlesnake Trail
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,000 feet
A mostly abandoned trail along (and sometimes in) Rattlesnake Creek that has been washed out in many places due to its numerous crossings of the creek.
Rattlesnake Trail
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,700 feet
Located deep in the Wenaha-Tucannon wilderness, the Rattlesnake Trail promises wildflowers, expansive views, and even solitude. It's possible to do an out-and-back hike to Indian Corral, but many opt to do the loop with the Panjab Loop.