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
4045 HikesOneonta Gorge
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - OR
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Length
- 3.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 425 feet
-
Highest Point
- 385 feet
Trail closed until further notice due to potential danger of falling objects.
This lovely trail loops around Oneonta Gorge and takes you behind Ponytail Falls.
Rockport State Park
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 3.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 250 feet
-
Highest Point
- 750 feet
The family friendly trails of 670-acre Rockport State Park explore an ancient forest where dappled sunlight illuminates mossy trees and lush ferns — perfect for a springtime stroll.
Lake Serene
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,521 feet
Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls compete for attention on this hike. Either would be a worthy destination by themselves and combined they are a great day on the trail.
Lake 22
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
The curiously-named Lake 22 is the center of an oasis of alpine wetland nestled on the northern shoulder of Mount Pilchuck. The hike to the lake combines the best of mountain rainforests, old-growth, wetlands, and mountain views, yet it is readily accessible. In winter the route lends itself to snowshoeing.
Anderson Landing Preserve
Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
This 66-acre preserve sits on the shores of the Kitsap Peninsula overlooking the Hood Canal. There are about 2 miles of trails to wander.
Four Stream
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
A short hike near the Staircase area of Olympic National Park.
Staircase Rapids
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
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Length
- 2.1 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 574 feet
-
Highest Point
- 950 feet
Staircase Rapids is a beautiful 2.1 mile loop trail following the North Fork of the Skokomish River. Enjoy the Olympic old growth forests with a lush understory of mosses and ferns.
Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,650 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,100 feet
This long, meandering hike heads upstream along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, offering a long day hike, or a great beginning backpacking experience.
Shoreview and Boeing Creek Parks
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
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Length
- 1.9 miles of trails
-
Elevation Gain
- 280 feet
-
Highest Point
- 440 feet
This pair of back-to-back urban parks just west of Shoreline Community College offers some very tall trees, small creeks, and a network of (mostly) good trails with a few ups and downs. Wildflowers, ferns, moss, birds: they are all here.
Lord Hill Regional Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
-
Length
- 6.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 633 feet
Lord Hill Park is a wonderful wild park and an excellent place to hike, covering about 1,463 acres of wetland and forest. Hikers can roam all day on the network of trails leading through the forest, down to the Snohomish River and up to views of the Cascades and Snohomish Valley.
Silver Lake - Monte Cristo
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,791 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,405 feet
Visit the remains of an old mining town in a basin surrounded by high peaks. Climb to Silver Lake nestled under the steep side of Silvertip Peak with good camping and good views of surrounding peaks.
Perry Creek
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 10.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,250 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Perry Creek proves you can have it all in a single hike – old-growth forest, wildflowers, waterfalls, meadows, expansive mountain views, even lakes! Tread lightly, though-due to its unparalleled diversity of native plants, the area between the summits of Stillaguamish Peak, Mount Forgotten, and Mount Dickerman is a research natural area that could (in theory) be closed to all uses but scientific study.
Old Government
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,400 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
This is a pleasant, short, lowland forest walk, accessed in Barlow Pass, the popular jumping-off point for locations like Monte Cristo and Gothic Basin.
Mount Forgotten
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 4,300 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,005 feet
Mount Forgotten is an appealing target for the peculiarly determined hiker-turned-climber. Its sheer wall of a summit is very striking and easily instills visions of alpinism in those headed to Mount Forgotten Meadows, but the route takes a roundabout journey that requires not so much vertiginous daring-do as it does oodles of patience. The views from the top are spectacular, particularly the unobstructed view straight up Glacier Peak.
Monte Cristo Ghost Town
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 2,800 feet
Hike to an old mining town by heading up a long-closed road along the South Fork Sauk River. This route largely sticks to the old route taken by miners over a century ago.
Mount Dickerman
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 8.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,950 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,760 feet
If the best views come to those who earn them, Mount Dickerman offers the fairest vantage along the Mountain Loop. You’ll huff and puff through 4,000 feet of elevation on your way to the summit; in return, you’ll get a superb panorama of nearly every peak in the Mountain Loop. In late summer, it also rewards the intrepid with a bounty of mountain blueberries.
Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 7.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,700 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,950 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Vesper Lake is squeezed, like a thumbprint in clay, deep in the saddle between the twin summits of Sperry Peak and Vesper Peak. Rarely is a lake situated so close and steeply below two summits like this–its unique setting gives you remarkably up-close (and straight-up) views of mountainous terrain. And all that comes after the former mining trail that provides incredible scenery along the way.
Gothic Basin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 9.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,840 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,200 feet
Rough and tumble is the trail, just like the miners that constructed this path. Though not always easy, the ascent to Gothic Basin, has tremendous rewards. Early on, one simply meanders along side the relentless South Fork of the Sauk. Quickly though this trail will turn to a no-nonsense bee-line to the basin with waterfalls, flowers, and views of the surrounding mountains to keep one distracted. The ultimate rewards come to those who have enough strength to explore the basin after the ascent.
Glacier Basin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 12.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,159 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Strenuous hike out of Monte Cristo with trail conditions ranging from smooth incline to rough rock scrambles. Absolutely beautiful hike along the way and even better once you reach your destination.
Goat Lake
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Length
- 10.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
-
Highest Point
- 3,161 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
A nice hike with plenty of variety. Beautiful forest, a rushing creek, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, history, and of course a large blue-green lake surrounded by snowy peaks. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. You won’t be alone, though – this is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers.
Del Campo Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 6,610 feet
A scramble to Del Campo Peak from Gothic Basic. Class 3 or 4. Technical expertise required.
Big Four Ice Caves
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 2.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 220 feet
-
Highest Point
- 1,938 feet
Never go into or climb on top of the Ice Caves.
This is an easy walk on a wide gravel and boardwalk path to views of Big Four Mountain and the caves beneath the snow. Hikers of all ages and abilities can enjoy this trail.
Barlow Point
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 2.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,200 feet
From Barlow Point’s rocky promontory, hikers can take in views of Mount Dickerman, Big Four, and Stillaguamish Peak.
Bedal Basin
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,900 feet
-
Highest Point
- 4,700 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Follow a trail up an old mining trail before reaching a boulder-filled basin with views of Sloan Peak above. The first half of the hike is fairly easy, while the second is a steep climb through a creek bed. Navigational skills are required for this hike.
Lewis Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Highest Point
- 5,608 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Cadet Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 16.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 5,000 feet
-
Highest Point
- 7,186 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Sperry Peak
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 6.4 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
-
Highest Point
- 6,120 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
Scramble to the top of this peak from Headlee Pass, located off the Mountain Loop Highway.
Twin Lakes - Monte Cristo
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 17.2 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 2,939 feet
-
Highest Point
- 5,300 feet
Take a nice long walk up the old Monte Cristo Road grade and stop by the townsite on your way. Rougher terrain begins on entering the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness area, and past Silver Lake, the trail becomes difficult to find. Trek along a steep mountain-side before finally cresting the ridge to look down on Twin Lakes and make the steep descent to the camp sites.
St'auk Mountain
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
-
Highest Point
- 4,715 feet
The Mountain Loop Highway is closed for the winter season from Barlow Pass to Bedal Campground.
A scramble to a wooded summit near Barlow Pass. Climbing experience and route-finding skills required.
Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
-
Highest Point
- 200 feet
This stunning Olympic coastal hike is one of the more photographed places in Washington for good reason.