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
3991 HikesMonte Cristo Ghost Town
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 700 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,800 feet
Mountain Loop Highway is closed from Deer Creek (milepost 24) to Bedal Creek (milepost 36) for the winter.
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.
Diablo Lake
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
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Length
- 7.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,400 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,950 feet
Follow the Diablo Lake Trail up and across talus slopes on the flanks of Sourdough Mountain to impressive cascading waterfalls and stunning views of Ross Lake and Colonial, Pyramid, Davis Peaks, as well as Jack Mountain.
Pratt Lake Basin
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,100 feet
You’re bound to run into all manner of people on the Pratt Lake Trail: trail runners, families, beginning hikers, backpackers hungry for a night out in the woods, even folks looking for fish (in the lakes, not on the trail). All that traffic does a number on the trail, but fortunately WTA work parties have worked hard here, ensuring that all trail users can easily follow the picturesque path to Pratt Lake.
Mailbox Peak
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 9.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 4,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,822 feet
While still relatively steep, this new route up Mailbox Peak, built in part with help from WTA volunteers, offers a safer and more easily navigable way for folks to summit this formidable peak than the old trail.
Lake 22
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,350 feet
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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.
Manastash Ridge - Westberg Trail
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 4.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,560 feet
Named after and built in honor of an Ellensburg wrestling coach, this trail provides the sought-after combination of great workout and big views. But its exposed; you'll want to be up here in spring or fall, because the direct sun of summer and lack of water can make this one a burner (literally).
Robinson Canyon - Ainsley Canyon
Central Washington > Yakima
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,400 feet
This is a gem of a hike, providing you easy access to the best of the best of the rich L. T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area.
Mount Pugh
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 11.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 5,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 7,201 feet
Mount Pugh -- also known by its native name "Da Klagwats" -- has one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the North Cascades, offering a vista that includes Glacier and Sloan Peak, Mounts Baker, Shuksan, and Rainier, the Olympics, Monte Cristo, Three Fingers, and White Chuck. The first fire lookout here was established in 1916; a lowly tent perched on the peak until a cabin with a cupola was built in 1922. This was hit by lightning in 1927 and a second lookout was built, but it was subsequently destroyed in 1965 and never rebuilt. Remains of these structures can still be seen on the mountain, when you can tear yourself away from the view.
Iron Goat Trail - Winter Route
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
WTA does not recommend winter use on the Iron Goat Trail due to avalanche danger and lack of parking. The Iron Goat Scenic Interpretive Site is also closed in winter.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Homestead Valley to Mine Creek Trestle
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 5.5 miles, roundtrip
-
Elevation Gain
- 1,077 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,607 feet
Hike a short stint on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, crossing high trestle bridges and roaming through old growth forest with expansive views of nearby peaks, just a short drive away from the city.
Teneriffe Falls
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,585 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,370 feet
You'll work up a sweat on this easy to moderate hike to the spectacular Teneriffe Falls. Go in the spring when the tread is snow-free and the waterfall is flowing at full volume. Along the way, you'll be rewarded with views of the surrounding Snoqualmie valley and nearby peaks.
Mount Si via Mount Teneriffe Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 10.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,950 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,043 feet
Mount Si via the back way. Begin from the large Mount Teneriffe parking are and add on some miles to sneak up this popular peak from behind.
Mount Si - Old Trail
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 7.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,420 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,980 feet
The “old” trail that ascends Mount Si’s western flank offers a shorter, steeper, slightly more scenic, and if one dare say it — less crowded — route to the summit, where you can rejoin the rest of the people who flock to one of Snoqualmie Pass’s most popular hiking destinations.
Little Si
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 3.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,550 feet
Companion piece to neighbor and big brother Mount Si, the small rocky bluff known as Little Si is a moderate grade 3.7 mile trail located in the hike rich North Bend area. Although relatively steep inclines bookend this hike, this primarily North/South route is perfect for beginners who are looking to get back in shape, while still accommodating veterans with opportunities to cut away on the Boulder Garden Loop (at .3 miles and .5 miles) to merge with the more challenging Mount Si trail. Expect crowds, even in winter, as New Year’s resolutions (the two Si mountains are sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Resolution Peaks” for the deluge of hikers that appear after January 1st), proximity to the city and a degree of refuge from the elements often divert heavy foot traffic to this mini-mountain to keep it busy year round.
Mount Si
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,150 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,900 feet
There are many reasons – besides its proximity to Seattle – why Mount Si is the most popular hike in the state: beautiful views, wildlife (some of it not so wild), old growth forest, and a dramatic summit worthy of a more remote peak. Rising dramatically above the Snoqualmie Valley, it serves as a literal and figurative gateway to the Cascades for thousands of hikers.
Mount Teneriffe
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 13.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,800 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,585 feet
Mountains to Sound Greenway did this road to trail conversion in order to create a more sustainable, safer route for hikers to a summit on the I-90 corridor. Hike through second- and third-growth forest, pass a lovely waterfall, and enjoy a slightly less-crowded trail than the nearby Mount Si.
Peoh Point
Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
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Length
- 3.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 50 feet
Peoh Point offers 180-degree views of the Cle Elum Valley and the Stuart range from from atop a 2000-foot cliff with very steep dropoffs. While the views are stunning, use caution at the summit.
Chelan Lakeshore Trail
Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
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Length
- 17.0 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 4,030 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,700 feet
Looking for an early-season backpack featuring craggy, snow-capped peaks, a sapphire-blue lake, a myriad of wildflowers, and a trail that’s regularly maintained by WTA volunteers? The 17-mile thru-hike on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail might be just the thing for you.
Franklin Falls
Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass
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Length
- 2.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 400 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,600 feet
Hiking with kids, new to hiking, or just looking for an easy day hike with a spectacular endpoint? Look no further then Franklin Falls! At just 2 miles with 400 feet in elevation gain it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful!
Granite Creek Trail to Granite Lakes
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 8.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,270 feet
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Highest Point
- 3,070 feet
Granite Creek courses through the gorge between Mailbox Peak and Russian Butte. Ascend through the creek’s ravine, immersed in mountain rainforest, alongside whitewater rapids, waterfalls, wildflowers, and mushrooms, while you take in majestic views of the mountains of the Middle Fork valley. Seasonal treats include berries and fall colors.
Dirty Face Lookout and Peak
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East
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Length
- 9.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,950 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,989 feet
Dirty Face Lookout is one of the earliest high Central Cascade trails to melt out. At four miles and with 4000 feet of elevation gain, the trail provides hikers with a very good workout. Along the way, you'll have lots to look at, as the elevation change can roll an entire season of wildflowers into a single hike. Rock roses and paintbrush bob near the trailhead, while avalanche lilys sway in the breeze near the summit. When you aren't looking at the wildflowers, the vistas are outstanding.
Granite Creek Flats Natural Area
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
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Length
- 0.1 miles, one-way
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Elevation Gain
- 10 feet
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Highest Point
- 855 feet
A short access trail to a stretch of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie.
Deception Pass
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 28.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,100 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,500 feet
Accessible from Highway 2, I-90, or the iconic Pacific Crest Trail, Deception Pass is a gateway to alpine lakes, stunning mountain views or, if you're a thru-hiker, Mexico or Canada.
Coyote Wall - The Labyrinth Loop
Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA
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Length
- 7.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,200 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,250 feet
This year-round hike offers great views of the Columbia River Gorge along with enchanting stands of oak, cascading waterfalls, dramatic basalt outcroppings, and profuse wildflowers in the spring. Often sunny here while raining in Vancouver, it is a great place to hike while waiting for snow to melt at higher elevations.
Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
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Length
- 5.4 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 2,350 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,107 feet
Cascading waterfalls from the numerous streams and the frequent tarns located along the way make this an enjoyable hike. Mountain goats are known to frequent the area. During the late summer, ripe huckleberries can be found at the pass. But it comes at a cost -- a steep scramble on an unmaintained trail.
Fairhaven Park
Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area
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Length
- 3.0 miles of trails
Used largely as a way to cool off in the summer or access the larger network of trails on Chuckanut Mountain and Larrabee State Park, Fairhaven Park also has a small network of looping, interconnected trails that provide a nice distraction for half a day or more.
American Camp and South Beach
Puget Sound and Islands > San Juan Islands
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Length
- 2.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 167 feet
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Highest Point
- 175 feet
Hike from the site of a historic military occupation down to South Beach, the longest public beach on San Juan Island. Wildlife abounds as guests often encounter red foxes and may see orcas in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Licorice Fern Trail
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
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Length
- 3.8 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 200 feet
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Highest Point
- 700 feet
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is the largest “urban wild land” in the United States, with more than 3,000 acres of forest riddled with 38 miles of hiking trails. The Licorice Fern Trail is a great choice for Cougar Mountain veterans looking for a fresh approach to Far Country Falls.
Baker Lake - Maple Grove
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
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Length
- 8.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 500 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,000 feet
Magnificent old growth forests, stellar views of Mount Baker, turbulent tributaries, and, of course, a beautiful lake make this trail a great path to travel.
Wallace Falls State Park
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
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Length
- 5.6 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 1,300 feet
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Highest Point
- 1,500 feet
An accessible hike for seasoned veterans and neophytes alike, Wallace Falls provides visitors with breathtaking views of the Wallace River and the surrounding falls on a relatively low difficulty, scenic 5.6 mile round-trip. Although well attended and often busy, the trail stands as a true showcase of the diversity and majestic beauty that the Central Cascades can offer to hikers who journey into the heart of this sublime mountain range.