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 HikesHoward Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
-
Length
- 3.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,180 feet
Just behind the High Bridge Guard Station at the end of the road in Stehekin, a trail leads to a quiet little lake nestled in lush, vibrant forest. This trail is primarily used by hikers heading to the summit of McGregor Mountain, the most prominent peak towering over the Stehekin Valley, but Howard Lake is a nice destination in and of itself, if you don’t have the time or the desire to tackle the 16 mile roundtrip hike up McGregor.
Kamiak Butte
Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
-
Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,600 feet
Hikers who venture to the summit of Kamiak Butte are rewarded with a rolling patchwork of green and yellow fields in every direction, and bright blue skies overhead.
Chambers Creek Canyon
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 2.5 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
Chambers Creek Canyon is a deeply incised, forested stream corridor between Lakewood and University Place in the South Puget Sound region.
Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area
-
Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 20 feet
The 5-mile Center Road trail is closed between Oct 1 and May 31 each year.
Julia Butler Hansen was the first woman to serve on the Cathlamet City Council and to head an appropriations subcommittee in the Washington Legislature. This wildlife refuge is an excellent way to honor and experience what Butler Hansen held dear: protecting our nations natural resources.
Mystery Bay State Park
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 0.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5 feet
A nice spot on Marrowstone Island for a picnic, birding or a very short walk on a beach.
Middle Fork Connector Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
-
Length
- 0.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 40 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,150 feet
Enjoy Garfield Mountain from the Taylor River, spot Stegosaurus Butte through the trees, enjoy the lush moss, and get a quick dose of nature on this short ramble.
Dry Creek Falls
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
-
Length
- 4.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 860 feet
-
Highest Point
- 870 feet
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) runs from Mexico to the Canadian border through the Columbia Gorge. While it is well-known for traveling along the waterfall-filled Eagle Creek Trail, purists know that it is an alternate route; the actual trail runs a bit south closer to the Bridge of The Gods. Here, the PCT leads you to the secluded gem of Dry Creek Falls just a few miles away from the noise and bustle of I-84.
Greenwater Trail to Lost Lakes
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,000 feet
Take the trail less traveled by and visit some quiet lakes near Mount Rainier. Or, continue on to extensive views afforded by Noble Knob.
Huckleberry Creek
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
-
Length
- 8.6 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,835 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,778 feet
This lesser known trail starts in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and then enters the northeast corner of the park, is snow-free early in the season and goes through some amazing old growth.
Nason Ridge
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
-
Length
- 21.9 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,200 feet
Hike a trail that traverses Nason Ridge. Along the way, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding summits, as well as access to an old fire lookout.
Heart O' the Forest
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
-
Length
- 4.8 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,900 feet
This trail is a really nice accompaniment to your morning coffee, but bring a thermos -- it's long enough that the coffee might get cold by the time you reach the end!
Adventure Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
-
Length
- 1.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 800 feet
Part of a series of lowland loop trails from the Tradition Plateau trailhead area of Tiger Mountain.
Big Tree Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
-
Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 110 feet
-
Highest Point
- 530 feet
The Big Tree Trail is a short (0.5 mile) trail on Tiger Mountain's Tradition Plateau. It passes one of the largest Douglas firs still standing in the Tigers, and also passes a short section of some of the best true swamp you will find in the area, with lots of hanging moss and standing water.
Swamp Trail
Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain
-
Length
- 1.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 75 feet
-
Highest Point
- 520 feet
Take your young hikers out on a half-mile trail through the swampy area north of Tradition Lake. It could even be their first hike! The trail is solidly-constructed, with good footing, no mud and it's almost all level. It's designed with the young visitors in mind. But hey, it's OK if you older folks enjoy it, too!
Hummocks Trail
South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
-
Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,550 feet
Popular because it's the perfect balance between day hike and easy enough for little legs, the Hummocks Trail goes up, down and around the hummocks, strange hills that were left behind by the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, forming a loop from the trailhead.
Burnt Mountain
South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley
-
Length
- 5.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,500 feet
This short, easy ridge walk climbs to a small summit with huge Cascade views and a chance to see mountain goats.
Coal Mines Trail
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
-
Length
- 5.5 miles, one-way
-
Elevation Gain
- 453 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,375 feet
The Coal Mines trail is a mellow hike from Cle Elum, through Roslyn and onto Ronald with views of many different coal mining remains. This trail is great for hiking, biking, horseback riding and running.
French Cabin Creek
Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
-
Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,800 feet
This short trail guides hikers through open forest to a junction with the Kachess Ridge Trail, where you can continue on to Thorp Lookout or just a little longer wander along the ridge.
Mount Townsend - Winter
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
-
Length
- 13.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,500 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
Hiking Mount Townsend in the winter can be challenging. Depending on how much snow is present, it could require route-finding skills and the ability to evaluate slopes for avalanche risk. Go prepared with gear and a plan B.
Faraway Rock
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
-
Length
- 1.3 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,220 feet
Stevens Canyon Road is closed for the winter season.
The overlook at Faraway Rock is a short jaunt along the Mazama Ridge Trail up from Stevens Canyon Road and Reflection Lakes along the Wonderland Trail. This viewpoint showcases glistening Lake Louise below and the towering Tatoosh Ridge to the south.
Crystal Peak
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
-
Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,100 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,595 feet
SR 410 (Chinook Pass) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard (12 mi north of summit) and Morse Creek (5 mi east of summit) for the winter season.
Check the weather before heading out for this hike, and if it’s going to be clear, bring a camera. From the summit, it’s possible to see six (yes, six!) volcanoes spanning two states. Baker, Glacier, Adams, Rainier, St. Helens and Hood wait patiently for you to climb the more-than-moderately steep path to the summit of Crystal Peak, where you can take in beautiful snow-capped majesty from the top.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
This garden comprises 22 acres of native forest intermingled with numerous other plant species, most notably rhododendrons.
Margaret Lake
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
-
Length
- 6.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,100 feet
Logging paid for most of the trails in the Cascades, so sometimes hikers must expect to hike the terrain that provided that rich stock of timber. This trail starts on an old logging road, leads through old clearcuts—now nicely regrown as lush berry meadows and forest stands—and enters lush old second-growth forest. It’s a great way to experience both the natural and human history of the area, while enjoying some remarkable wild country around a pristine alpine lake.
Snow Lakes
Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area
-
Length
- 14.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,500 feet
The Snow Lakes trail is known mostly as the long, gradual way into the Enchantments; but it is a worthwhile - if deceptively grueling - destination in its own right. The narrow isthmus between the lakes offers a majestic view across the water to the towering heights of McClellan Peak.
Mount Spokane State Park - Entrance Loop
Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene
-
Length
- 1.6 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 417 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,570 feet
This loop connecting Trails 120, 121 and 122 at Mount Spokane State Park is short and sweet, with enough elevation gain to make it a bit spicy, too!
Lake Sawyer Regional Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 15.0 miles of trails
-
Highest Point
- 300 feet
A quiet park where locals and visitors can enjoy a placid lake, birdwatching and relaxing.
Maplewood Heights Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 1.25 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 500 feet
Short forested lollipop trail in the Renton Highlands that crosses a creek and has several access points.
Sunrise Beach Park
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
-
Length
- 2.0 miles of trails
This 82-acre park sits right on the water, providing visitors with nearly half a mile of shoreline and 2 miles of trails.
Clark Lake Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 1.5 miles of trails
This 130-acre park in Kent contains a small lake and several walking trails.
Rotary Community Park (Woodinville)
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 0.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 0 feet
-
Highest Point
- 39 feet
Families will enjoy this small community park in the city of Woodinville. Take a walk in the woods along a half-mile boardwalk loop trail or blow off some steam on the playground pr climbing boulder.