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
4224 HikesElowah and Upper McCord Creek Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 620 feet
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Highest Point
- 660 feet
This hike is actual a twofer, forking to two paths each leading to a waterfall – go up to Upper McCord Creek’s twin waterfalls, or down to the towering Elowah Falls. Each waterfall has its own character and it is worth visiting both of them.
Coyote Wall
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
Thanks to an extensive planning process in this popular area, this formerly user-created trail has been re-routed and improved to make it enjoyable for hikers and mountain bikers, and sustainable for the land it is on.
Mima Mounds
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 2.75 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 225 feet
These mysterious mounds inspire imagination and speculation among visitors. With a half-mile ADA accessible path and another two miles of more rugged wandering, the Mima Mounds are a great destination for many hikers.
Parkland Prairie
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.5 miles of trails
The preserve is closed until late 2026 for a trail resurfacing project.
This neighborhood park has a short loop trail that takes visitors through a prairie ecosystem brimming with interesting trees, flowers and grasses.
Ross Dam Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
This forested trail in the North Cascades National Park Complex leads down to Ross Lake and the network of trails in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Look out over both Ross Lake and Ross Dam before making your way down to Ross Dam itself
Happy Creek Nature Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 2.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 570 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,780 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
Hikers can choose from an easy loop partially along Happy Creek, or a longer hike to Happy Creek Falls, site of an old sawmill that supported the mining in the late 1800's.
Thunder Woods Nature Trail
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,200 feet
3.19.26: Highway 20 is closed at (and east of) Colonial Creek Campground until further notice due to a rock fall.
Hiking the North Cascades is a treat for all ages. This short nature trail gives a taste of moss-draped old growth with moderate elevation gain.
Erinswood
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 600 feet
Heybrook Ridge Park (including this trail) is closed due to construction on the Erinswood Trail. It is expected to reopen in June.
Erinswood is a barrier-free trail that meanders through a variety of ecosystems over its short length. Meditate to the sound of rushing streams as you pass through riparian, deciduous, and evergreen habitats that form the backdrop of a 0.7-mile sojourn under the shadow of Heybrook Ridge. Erinswood is still under construction and likely to be completed by the end of 2019.
Heybrook Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 775 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,327 feet
Heybrook Ridge Park (including this trail) is closed due to construction on the Erinswood Trail. It is expected to reopen in June.
The Leovy Trail, a testament to community land conservation, is a moderate ascent through second-growth Cascade rainforest to the summit of Heybrook Ridge. At the top, take in stunning views of Mount Index, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Skykomish Valley.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 10 feet
Formerly known as the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and renamed to honor the memory of a noted activist, this an excellent year-round destination for wildlife viewing and photography.
Roundup Park
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 1.6 miles of trails
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 775 feet
This short loop trail visits a riparian island rich with birdlife and beavers in this forgotten corner of the Okanogan River.
Wild Horses Monument
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 0.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 150 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,300 feet
Witness up close one of the most frequently viewed public artworks in the state of Washington, while admiring a broad view of the Columbia River and the tiny hamlet of Vantage.
Monte Carlo
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,560 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,360 feet
Get a good workout on this trail that climbs to a summit with views of the south Cascade range. Continue on to make it a longer hike, continuing down into deep forest to the south trailhead.
West Elwha
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 650 feet
Take a short but very scenic hike starting from the Altair campground in Olympic National Park. Traverse along the edge of the Elwha River, recently free-flowing thanks to the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam.
Murhut Falls
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,050 feet
This short trail in the Hood Canal Ranger District on the east side of the Olympics takes hikers to a relatively unknown waterfall that delivers its reward -- a captivating 130-foot plunging waterfall -- in just under a mile.
Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
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Highest Point
- 3,612 feet
Fans of geology, history and, of course, nature can enjoy this 168-acre day-use park. The top of the butte has magnificent views from above the Palouse Hills, and you can learn more about the area’s unique geology from interpretive panels at the summit.
Divide Camp
South Cascades > Mount Adams Area
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Length
- 5.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The Divide Camp Trail features dense forests, glacial creeks and wildflower-strewn meadows. It also sees less traffic than the nearby Killen Creek Trail – the standard approach to High Camp.
Beacon Rock State Park - Equestrian Trail
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,750 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,300 feet
Explore the back door to Hamilton Mountain on the double-track Equestrian Trail. Former logging roads now act as service roads for the park staff and multi-use trails for hikers, bicycles and equestrians to reach the park’s backcountry trails.
Royal Basin via Royal Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,700 feet
You will see plenty in the first 7.2 miles of this trip that take you to the shores of Royal Lake, but you should plan your hike to have the time — and energy — to enjoy the wildflower-dotted alpine basin and its milky blue tarns in Upper Royal Basin about three-quarters of a mile past the lake.
Capitol State Forest - McLane Creek
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 1.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
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Highest Point
- 60 feet
This is one of the best places to go if you're looking for wildlife and a little leg-stretchers. McLane Creek's boardwalk provides an intimate glimpse into nature, whether it's swimming families of news, spawning salmon, or laughing ducks. As always, please refrain from feeding the wildlife.
Sequalitchew Creek
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 218 feet
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Highest Point
- 250 feet
Sesqualitchew Creek is a fantastic find in the middle of DuPont. Transition from urban to forest and back over a short trail that provides a great distraction from the buzz of urban life -- and all possible on your lunch break!
Precipice Top Trail
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 0.3 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 181 feet
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Highest Point
- 957 feet
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a mishmash of roads, trails, abandoned Army missile silos, and plenty of wildlife. Not only is Cougar Mountain King County’s largest park, it is one of the largest wildland parks in an urban area in the United States.
Confluence Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 13 feet
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Highest Point
- 85 feet
This short, easy trail that loops through both forested and grassy areas with access to Issaquah Creek.
Lakes Loop
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 5.25 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,550 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
Explore this loop that begins and ends at the popular Paradise Ranger Station on Mount Rainier. Hike a little more than 5 miles around and through a myriad of delightful lakes at the base of Washington's tallest volcano.
Lakes Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,700 feet
The Lakes Trail offers a nice day hike along a volcano-created lake, or a gateway into the Mount Margaret Backcountry.
Douglas Creek Canyon - North
Central Washington > Wenatchee
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,100 feet
Walk up a wild and remote canyon on an old railroad grade.
Artist Point Snowshoe
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Artist Point is the top competitor for best viewpoint in the state. The beautifully shaped Mount Shuksan is the star of the area, with a gorgeous summit pyramid and several impressive glaciers. This relatively easy snowshoe is an excellent winter destination with a virtual guarantee of good snow coverage.
Packwood Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
When most of Washington’s alpine lakes are still snow-covered, Packwood Lake rewards hikers with a relaxing early-season hike ideal for dusting off your boots.
LBA Park
Olympic Peninsula > Olympia
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Length
- 4.0 miles of trails
The LBA of LBA Park stands for Little Baseball Association, but there is much more to do than just play baseball at this urban park. There are 4 miles of gentle walking trails in the adjoining LBA Woods and more.
Snowall Cradle Lake
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
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Length
- 9.1 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,100 feet
The valley that Snowall Creek runs through is laden with amazing meadows of wildflowers, great views of the peaks surrounding it and tons of wildlife. It's part of a loop that you