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
4203 HikesYoung Hill
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 587 feet
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Highest Point
- 665 feet
The hike up Young Hill is a San Juan Island classic. A moderate trail leading to surprisingly expansive views, and the short side trip to the English Camp cemetery offers a chance to observe unique natural and historical features.
Yellow Island Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
Yellow Island Preserve is an island in the San Juan archipelago. The entire island is a preserve managed by the Nature Conservancy, and luckily for us, visitors are allowed between 10 am and 4 pm.
Wygant Peak Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,200 feet
A little-known trail on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. This route escaped damage from the Eagle Creek Fire, but it is still recovering from a flash flood event in 2016 that blew out a bridge crossing Perham Creek.
White River Falls State Park
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,000 feet
Hike down the canyon to the White River and a historic hydroelectric power at White River Falls State Park. Located just east of Tygh Valley in Oregon, the park also has dramatic waterfalls, fishing, desert flowers in the spring and fiery colors in the fall.
Westcott Bay Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
Part hike, part wander, this 20-acre sculpture garden is an outdoor gallery of nature-oriented artwork. There are few paths, but more than 100 pieces of artwork to discover in this special place adjacent to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island and managed by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
West Port Madison Nature Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.4 miles, roundtrip
This nature preserve has a network of trails that wind through the trees and out to bluffs above Puget Sound.
Welts-Samish Restoration Site
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Elevation Gain
- 30 feet
This wildlife area is considered one of the best places in northwest Washington to view falcons, short-eared owls, and shorebirds.
Vendovi Island Trails
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
Washington Trails Association is working with the San Juan Preservation Trust to create and improve the trail system on this undeveloped and little-known San Juan island.
Upright Head Preserve
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
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Highest Point
- 195 feet
A relaxing walk through land once slated for a housing development, the trail around Upright Head Preserve is an easy hike where one can watch ferries travel from one island to the next while waiting for their own. Remnants of roads and utilities make up part of the trail, with the rest on narrow dirt paths through the dense forest.
Turn Point Lighthouse
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 280 feet
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Highest Point
- 300 feet
It doesn’t get better than Stuart Island if you want to combine a quaint little hiking trip with sea kayaking, camping and wildlife watching.
Trillium Community Forest
Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
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Length
- 7.0 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 260 feet
The 721 forested acres of Trillium Community Forest can be explored by the quiet, meandering trails provided for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Your path is lined with ferns and soaring stands of Douglas-fir trees.
Silver Falls State Park
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 8.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
Located in Central Oregon, this delightful hike in an extremely popular state park is a great day hike diversion for those hoping to venture deeper into Oregon.
Tooth Rock
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 315 feet
This 2.1 mile loop trail follows a restored section of the historic Columbia River Highway, which was constructed to route around the Tooth Rock (aptly named, for its shape). It then jogs right on a much older road, from the 1850s, before looping back to the beginning.
Tiger Mountain Trail North
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
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Length
- 15.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,500 feet
Hike along the northern half of the main Tiger Mountain Trail, the TMT. If you like, make it a shorter hike and turn around at any of a number of pleasant stopping spots, or perhaps hike on as far as Custer's Bridge, one of the most remote places in the Tigers.
Ted Olson Nature Preserve Trail
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.6 miles, roundtrip
This hike on Bainbridge Island is a great option for a short stroll through the woods.
Swinomish Channel Loop Trail
Puget Sound and Islands
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 0 feet
This route along the Swinomish Channel is on private land. The public is asked to refrain from hiking here.
Starvation Creek Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 0.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
A delightful little waterfall tucked off of scenic Interstate 84, Starvation Creek State Park is also the jumping-off point for a handful of other popular hikes in the Columbia River Gorge.
Columbia Hills State Park - Stacker Butte
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
If your car can take the chassis-rattling drive to the Stacker Butte trailhead, you'll be rewarded with one of the most gratifying views-per-mile hikes in Washington. The Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve boasts spreading views of the east side of the Columbia River Gorge, both in Washington and Oregon, and provides one of the only protected areas for houndstongue hawkweed and Idaho fescue grasslands. These protected plants need mininmal disturbance, so it's especially important to stay on trail and four-legged hiking companions have to stay home from this hike.
Square Lake Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
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Highest Point
- 72 feet
A local part in Port Orchard, Square Lake has a fishing pond, picnic opportunities and the chance to get a breath of fresh air close to home.
Spencer Spit
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 60 feet
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Highest Point
- 60 feet
Spencer Spit State Park is located on the northeast corner of Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. A campground sits at the northern edge of the park. The network of hiking trails loops around the edge of the park, heads along the edge of a lagoon and extends out onto the spit.
Bluff Trail
Southwest Washington > Lewis River Region
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Length
- 4.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,500 feet
Hike a steep and sometimes difficult to follow trail to where it intersects the Lewis River Trail a half mile downstream of Forest Road 90 near Crab Creek.
Snider Ridge
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 11.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,340 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,340 feet
The Snider Ridge Trail is part of a trail network that runs along the ridge just north of Highway 101 and east of Lake Crescent. Two trailheads access the trail: the Kloshe Nantich trailhead on the west, and the Mount Muller trailhead on the east.
Sleepy Hollow Trail
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 16.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,950 feet
Hike along an old road being converted to trail in Olympic National Park.
Scatter Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 4.75 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
By combining rare prairie wetlands, a large forested area, and an old historic building all in 960 acres, Scatter Creek has attractions for everyone.
Sather Park
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Sather Park is a small park on Morgan Hill in the City of Port Townsend. It is a green space in an otherwise residential neighborhood.
Rain Shadow Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 170 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,007 feet
A short half-mile hike, the Rain Shadow Loop takes you to the top of Blue Mountain. Views of the Cascades, Vancouver Island and the Strait of Juan De Fuca, Gray Wolf Ridge, and so much more await you here.
Pickhandle Gap Loop
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,200 feet
This is a great loop which combines everything great about hiking at Crystal, while staying away from crowds and out of the ski area.
Nick's Lagoon
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Nick’s Lagoon is a small greenspace managed by Kitsap County Parks. The lagoon sits in the nook of Seabeck Bay.
Ned Hill
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,469 feet
Here's a good training hike to the site of a former fire lookout. You'll get a workout in heading through the tangle of salal, Oregon grape, and imposing rhododenrons. There's not much of a view from the top anymore, since it hasn't been used as a lookout in decades, but it's still worth a visit, particularly if you need a leg-stretcher or you're in the area.