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
4207 HikesBreeden Road - Wall Lake
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
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Length
- 9.9 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 522 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,726 feet
Breeden Road offers expansive views of arid grasslands and basalt outcrops, punctuated with a rushing creek and a small lake.
Titlow Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
Start out at a historic lodge, then walk along the edge of a lagoon before heading out to the beach.
Redlining Heritage Trail - Chinatown / International District
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 80 feet
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Highest Point
- 100 feet
This section of the Redlining Heritage Trail traverses Seattle's Chinatown and International District. It is just adjacent to the 1-mile section through Pioneer Square and the nearly two-mile First Hill section.
Redlining Heritage Trail - Pioneer Square
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 25 feet
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Highest Point
- 10 feet
A short one-mile loop in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle outlining the redlined neighborhood in the area.
Three Peaks and Mosquito Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 9.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,180 feet
Three Peaks is a ridgeline trail that takes hikers into the edges of the Goat Rock Wilderness. Hike it in a day, or use it as a starting point for a number of backpacking options.
Chair Lift
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 3.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 1,500 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,000 feet
Rocky Top and Cowiche Mountain
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 20.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 1,148 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,970 feet
Many trails at Rocky Top are permanently closed. Hikers can still take the Walk N Roll trail then cross onto the William O Douglas Trail to Snow Mountain Ranch.
Rocky Top is an extensive system of interconnected mountain bike trails open to hikers. It offers innumerable out-and back and loop options though shrub-steppe on the flanks of Cowiche Mountain as well as a scenic ridge walk on a portion of the William O. Douglas Trail to the summit of the mountain and a connection with the Snow Mountain Ranch trail system.
Ruston Way
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
-
Highest Point
- 23 feet
Ruston Way runs along the Tacoma Waterfront from Jack Hyde Park to Point Defiance Park.
McKinley Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.32 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 260 feet
Nestled against I-5, this neighborhood park boasts the title of oldest park in the Metro Parks Tacoma network.
Julia's Gulch Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.9 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
Named for a Puyallup-Klickitat tribal member who lived nearby, this park is a strip of green forest that sits between a residential neighborhood and an industrial area below.
Tacoma Nature Center Interpretive Walks
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.5 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 113 feet
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Highest Point
- 408 feet
At 71-acres, the Tacoma Nature Center preserve boasts more than 20 different species of mammals and about 100 species of birds. It is also home to reptiles, amphibians and native plant populations.
Wright Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 70 feet
-
Highest Point
- 335 feet
Peppered with statues and monuments, this park near the heart of downtown Tacoma is designed in a classical style.
Wapato Hills Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.34 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
This park with a handful of trails is nestled into a residential area in South Tacoma.
Judge Jack Tanner Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles of trails
Judge Jack Tanner Park features barbeques and areas for families to enjoy views of Puget Sound and the surrounding vistas. Come for a picnic or just to relax, or take Ruston Way -- the hard-surface trail running through the middle of the park -- for a longer stroll along the waterfront.
Senator Rosa Franklin Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 375 feet
Senator Rosa Franklin Park borders Franklin Elementary school in Central Tacoma. The park features a playground, a baseball field, picnic areas, a sprayground, restrooms and several paved paths.
Cowiche Canyon Preserve
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 20.0 miles of trails
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Highest Point
- 1,844 feet
The Cowiche Canyon Preserve is a small pocket of wildlands near Yakima. It includes both the canyon itself and the canyon’s southerly uplands. There are approximately 20 miles of interconnected trails open to hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular when there is enough snow.
Aldrich Butte
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 3.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,129 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,400 feet
This trail — closed for years as the private property the trailhead is on underwent a management change — is back open as of early 2025, offering hikers a short but steep hike to the top of Aldrich Butte.
Meadowlark Natural Area
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 2.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,150 feet
Take a stroll on the sunny, warm slopes of Studhorse Mountain just outside of Winthrop. This hike is usually among the first to melt out and bloom in the spring, providing much needed forage for the mule deer population. An easy 2.5 mile loop gives great views of the Sawtooth/Chelan Wilderness and Winthrop’s downtown is at your feet.
Old Wagon Road Trail
Central Washington > Grand Coulee
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 550 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,300 feet
From the same trailhead as Northrup Canyon, the Old Wagon Road Trail heads high, rather than into the canyon. Begin on the same trail as that to Northrup, but after just a few hundred yards, look for a trail branching off to the south. There's a sign where the trail enters the trees, reading 'Old Wagon Road Trail'. Do note that this trail is closed from November to March to protect bald eagle nesting habitat.
North Fork Asotin Creek to Pinkham Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Length
- 20.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,080 feet
This trail follows the north fork of Asotin Creek before climbing to Pinkham Butte.
Lake Hills Greenbelt
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 330 feet
Hike through a pastoral area first settled and farmed in the 1880s. Along the way, enjoy a dense grove of cedars, followed by close-up views of blueberry fields that still produce an annual crop. Circle Larsen Lake, and view a restored pioneer home. Optionally, extend your hike to view nearby Phantom Lake.
Milton Interurban Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.8 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 240 feet
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Highest Point
- 237 feet
This wide well-maintained paved path is perfect for a quiet leisurely stroll or brisk run surrounded by greenery, without ever having to leave the city.
Far Country
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 178 feet
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Highest Point
- 932 feet
Visit a beautiful, many-tiered waterfall and a small lookout area on the west side of Cougar Mountain. Perfect for photos as well as an escape from the city.
Fallsview Canyon (Falls View)
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 400 feet
Here are two quick and easy trails to view an unnamed waterfall splashing 100 feet down into the Big Quilcene River. Though the campground is seasonal, the trails are open year round. Bring the dog and the kids, stretch your legs, and take in some fantastic scenery located 4 miles south of Quilcene, immediately off of Olympic Highway 101.
Indian Dan State Wildlife Refuge
North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
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Length
- 3.0 miles, (type not yet set)
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
Much of the trails in this area follow old roads and Jeep roads around the area. It's an excellent area to bring dogs (on-leash) and apart from some blowdowns, is a very easy trail to follow with a low grade.
Yost Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 220 feet
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Highest Point
- 360 feet
Explore this Edmonds park, centered on the deep ravine of Shell Creek. Enjoy the surrounding second growth forest, with its tall red alder and fir trees. Observe spring wildflowers or, seasonally, fall colors. And appreciate the sounds of a multitude of bird calls.
Capitol Lake Trails (Marathon Park and Heritage Park)
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 5.7 miles of trails
The paved sidewalk and trail that encircles this large lake in the heart of Olympia serves as a popular location year-round for locals and visitors to run, walk and hike. Additionally, trails to the south along the west edge of Capitol Lake lead to an Interpretive Park, for you to extend your hike.
Watershed Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 1.36 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
Discover the area that was the original source of Olympia's drinking water--a delightful little green wetland known as Watershed Park. With thirty structures on the 1.35 mile loop, you can be sure to have an intimate look at the workings of a wetland without getting damp yourself.
Thelma Gilmur Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
Tucked away in the residential city of Fircrest and named after the woman who fought for its protection, this park offers a short loop trail around a small pond.