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
4214 HikesEmerald Lake via Deadman Trailhead
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
Approach a calm, quiet lake on a rugged canyon trail, where wildflowers bloom in spring, and you can rest lakeside in the heat of the summer.
Bertha May and Granite Lakes
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
Visit several charming lakes just south of Mount Rainier National Park using a pleasant little trail. Granite Lake is a beautiful place for a dip, while Bertha May and Cora Lake offer good fishing.
Lodge Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 3.75 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 950 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,500 feet
Snoqualmie Pass grows ever more developed each year. Condos go up left and right, the ski area plans new ski lifts (or replacements for existing chairs), and hotels pop up east and west. But even with the development, these are still mountains and there is still stunning mountain scenery to enjoy, even on the fringes of the developed areas. Lodge Lake stands as proof.
Thunder Mountain Lakes
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
This area is incredibly sensitive. Pack out all human waste.
Jackson Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 2.2 miles of trails
This gentle 2.2 mile trail winds its way through the native shrubs and old growth conifers that surround the Jackson Park Golf Course. Only a short section of the mostly flat gravel trail is wheelchair accessible, and there are two short, steep climbs along the way.
Glacier Vista - Panorama Point
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
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Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,700 feet
Paradise is one of the most gorgeous (and, as a result, popular) parts of Washington. This short but steep trail offers tourists and locals alike one of the most stunning views for the fewest miles in Washington state, but that doesn't mean you won't sweat! Be prepared to climb more than 1,000 feet in less than a mile at the outset of this trail.
Oak Tree Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 0.63 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
Visit a rare remnant of Garry Oak Prairie in the state at this small but mighty park in Tacoma.
Spirit Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
Trail closed: This trail is on private property and the landowners have closed access to hikers. Please do not hike.
This hike is on private property; please do not use this trail.
Badger Mountain - Canyon Trail
Central Washington > Tri-Cities
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Length
- 3.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,195 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,579 feet
This mountain just outside the town of Richland is nice place for locals and visitors to recreate, with several trails for hiking, biking and equestrian. Views extend in every direction and include mountains as well as agricultural fields.
Kaleetan Peak
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,224 feet
A peak near Melakwa Lake on the north side of I-90. Climbing experience and route finding necessary to gain the summit.
West Lake Mills
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 11.04 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,016 feet
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Highest Point
- 686 feet
Formerly a trail that bordered Lake Mills, the West Lake Mills trail winds through the second-growth forest along the now free-flowing Elwha River.
Stephenson Canyon
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 0.7 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 113 feet
Stephenson Canyon Loop is a great trail for a quick dip into nature in an urban landscape — complete with a forested canyon, a small creek and a seasonal waterfall.
Boulder Cave
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,700 feet
Boulder Cave is closed for the winter. It will reopen again in mid-May of 2026.
Boulder Cave formed millions of years ago from volcanic activity. Today, the cave is home to a dwindling population of Pacific western big-eared bats.
Big Creek Falls
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,824 feet
Take a leisurely hike on an old logging road to a beautiful waterfall.
Pioneer Park - Mercer Island
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
This Mercer Island park offers a dense network of forest trails with tall trees and a lot of moss, ferns and some seasonal wildflowers. All the trails are open to hikers and bicyclists; some also are designated for use by equestrians.
Echo Ridge
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 15.0 miles of trails
Designed for cross-country skiing, Echo Ridge also offers routes for mountain biking, family hiking, and horse use. Recreation enthusiasts are greeted with a variety of loop trails with spectacular views of Lake Chelan, the Enchantments, Pyramid Peak and Okanogan Highlands.
Mount Pilchuck - Winter
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
A popular summer destination, Pilchuck requires more experience with routefinding and snow gear in the winter. Be sure to have both should you venture here when snow or ice are present.
Port Gamble Forest - Ewok Trail Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
-
Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 377 feet
-
Highest Point
- 433 feet
A moderate loop trail takes you through ferns and Douglas firs.
Copper Pass via Copper Creek
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 9.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,710 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,720 feet
Start with a pleasant walk along Bridge & Slate Creeks and then earn your way to the high country with a climb up to the miles of sloping meadows, flowered in July. Finish with a steep climb through the heather to larch fringed Copper Pass with its views to the east/west with scrambles to the north/south.
Stiletto Peak
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,650 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,660 feet
Starting in a forested creek valley, climb through alpine forest, meadows, and rocks to expansive vistas at the Stiletto Lookout site. Your destination is visible from the trailhead, on the end of the ridge to the southeast.
Port Gamble Heritage Park - Stottlemeyer Loop
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 197 feet
-
Highest Point
- 393 feet
Enjoy a lowland forest stroll with lots of add-on route options from the Stottlemeyer trailhead on the south end of Port Gamble’s Heritage Forest Park.
Preston-Snoqualmie Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 6.5 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
Preston – Snoqualmie is a 6.5 mile one-way, paved, rail-to-trail path that trail meanders through a densely wooded environ and intermittently offers unique perspectives of the Snoqualmie River Valley, leading to a zoomed-out viewpoint of Snoqualmie Falls.
PJ Lake
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
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Length
- 1.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 825 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,020 feet
PJ Lake is a short but steep primitive trail to a subalpine tarn teeming with jumping trout. The lake’s beautiful color draws anglers, day hikers, and campers alike. However, the trail is so steep that the short mileage to get there is eclipsed by the vertical exertion and lingering leg pain.
Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
-
Highest Point
- 50 feet
Located at the head of Hood Canal, Theler Wetlands consists of more than 3 miles of accessible walking trails within 139 acres of protected salt marsh and estuary wetlands. If they’re open, you and your family can discover the displays and hands-on exhibits that teach more about the wetlands ecosystem.
Mirror Lake via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,180 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,195 feet
This short dayhike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a nice alternate route to quiet Mirror Lake, or just a lovely forest hike on a quiet section of a rocky and rooty trail. You could consider it as a first-time backpacking destination, too, since the trail is never particularly steep here.
Nannie Ridge-Sheep Lake
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 9.3 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,056 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,842 feet
A steep climb rewards you with huckleberries, stunning mountain views, wildflower meadows and a charming alpine lake along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Nannie Peak Loop
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 14.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,800 feet
Head to the site of a former fire lookout for expansive sunset views, then wait for darkness to enjoy a star-spangled night sky before heading back to camp.
Cispus Pass
South Cascades > Goat Rocks
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Length
- 12.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,400 feet
Hike to a stunning viewpoint high above two river valleys in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.
Ryan Cabin
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 1.7 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
One of several feeder trails to the Kettle Crest, the Ryan Cabin Trail provides easy access to numerous route options in the Kettle Range.
Old Stagecoach Trail to Copper Butte
Eastern Washington > Okanogan Highlands/Kettle River Range
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Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,640 feet
Hike to a viewpoint on the Kettle Crest trail that was the site of a former fire lookout.