Bigfoot and Batsquatch: Find Washington's Mysterious Creatures on These Trails
You’ve probably heard of the shy primate with big feet who lives ... where? There are a lot of environs in Washington that could be Bigfoot habitat — and many communities around the state who are happy to say that they are home to the fur-covered biped.
But Bigfoot is just a start. Washington may have many more mysterious beasts prowling between the trees and swimming in the water. Deepen your knowledge of local cryptozoology, then head out on these trails. Keep your camera at the ready; you never know what you might see out there.
Southwest Washington
North Bonneville Heritage Trails
Location: Columbia River Gorge
Mileage: 12 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 20 feet
Even if you don’t find the real deal, you can still enjoy the sculptures of Bigfoot and family on the North Bonneville Heritage Trails. Photo by Anna Roth.
The North Bonneville Heritage Trails consist of 12 miles of trails throughout the town of North Bonneville. In addition to the nature trails, art installations can be enjoyed along the way. This area is pretty bright and sunny, not ideal Bigfoot habitat, but there are a few wooden sculptures of Bigfoot and family.
> Plan your visit to North Bonneville using WTA's Hiking Guide
Tarbell Trail
Location: Lewis River Region
Mileage: 24.75 miles, roundtrip
Try to spot Bigfoot hiding in the trees from the Tarbell Trail. Photo by Must Hike Must Eat.
This 24.75-mile loop through a varied landscape offers views of the Yacolt Burn Recreation area. Former burn areas are spooky enough, with their charred trees and their tendency to hold fog. But you may even catch a glimpse of a hairy creature scurrying between the trees as you take in the wide-open views.
> Plan your visit to the Tarbell Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
Eastern Washington
Oregon Butte
Location: Palouse and Blue Mountains
Mileage: 6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 987 feet
See for yourself if Bigfoot really roams the Blue Mountains on the Oregon Butte trail. Photo by RichP.
According to Kevin Jones in this Seattle Times article, Bigfoot wanders the Blue Mountains along the Washington-Oregon border. Try spotting him yourself from the lookout on the Oregon Butte Trail. There's a lot of forest to cover, so keep a sharp eye out as you hike.
> Plan your visit to Oregon Butte using WTA's Hiking Guide
South Fork Walla Walla River
Location: Palouse and Blue Mountains
Mileage: 39.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 2,885 feet
It’s a good idea to stay on the trail where ever you go, but this sign on South Fork Walla Walla River trail gives an extra warning to stay safe. Photo by SwissHill.
Head just over the Oregon border to the South Fork Walla Walla River trail. With 19.6 miles to explore, you can hike, camp, bike or search for Bigfoot. However you choose to spend your day, be sure to bring a camera to this scenic spot.
> Plan your visit to the South Fork Walla Walla River using WTA's Hiking Guide
Olympic Peninsula
Queets Campground Loop
Location: Pacific Coast
Mileage: 2.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 50 feet
Make your search for Bigfoot an over-nighter on the Queets Campground Loop. Photo by MtnBliss.
The Olympic National Forest is particularly popular with those who seek evidence of Bigfoot. This area includes campsites for anyone who wants to experience Bigfoot habitat overnight. Fall asleep to the sounds of the wild, or stay awake and listen for unusual noises.
> Plan your visit to Queets using WTA's Hiking Guide
Barnes Creek
Location: Northern Coast
Mileage: 10 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 3,300 feet
Once you hike past the popular Marymere Falls on the Barnes Creek trail, it’s not hard to imagine Bigfoot hiding amongst the old-growth trees. Photo by MtnBliss.
The Olympic Peninsula is said to be a Bigfoot (and UFO) hotspot. On this trail, you can see why: Close-growing vegetation and old-growth trees, eerily-quiet trail, and a narrow tread will keep you on your toes as you look around, particularly once you're past the popular Marymere Falls.
> Plan your visit to Barnes Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
Mount Rainier Area
Huckleberry Creek
Location: Chinook Pass — Highway 410
Mileage: 2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: minimal
Listen for Bigfoot calls near the patrol cabin on the Huckleberry Creek trail. Photo by ejain.
Huckleberry Creek is a quiet, peaceful trail populated with wildlife such as deer and elk. You can enjoy a low-key riverside ramble here year round, but sometimes, particularly in fall, you may hear an odd noise. That piercing, eerie cry — is that Bigfoot calling, or the bugling of an elk?
> Plan your visit to Huckleberry Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
Colquhoun Peak
Location: Chinook Pass — Highway 410
Mileage: 1.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 630 feet
Even if you don't see the real Bigfoot, you might find a lookalike at Colquhoun Peak. Photo by lathrop fam.
The short hike up to Colquhoun Peak is a great way for young hikers to seek Bigfoot, but even if you don’t find any hairy humanoids, there is still plenty to see. Take in views of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the 120-degree panoramic view from the Colquhoun Lookout.
> Plan your visit to Colquhoun Peak using WTA's Hiking Guide
Snoqualmie Region
CCC Road: Upper Trailhead
Location: North Bend Area
Mileage: 6.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Keep a lookout for falling (or flung) logs on the CCC Road: Upper Trailhead just in case. Photo by ejain.
Sure, the Middle Fork River Valley is prime Bigfoot territory, but another cryptid may live here, too. According to legends, the agropelter lived in northern forests of America. They were said to have a fondness for throwing heavy logs on the heads of loggers. Hopefully none of the Civilian Conservation Corps team, who built this trail, fell prey to their devious deeds.
> Plan your visit to the CCC Road using WTA's Hiking Guide
Stirrup Lake
Location: Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
Mileage: 2.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 476 feet
While looking at the gorgeous scenery at Stirrup Lake, you can look for the elusive hidebehind too. Photo by JohnTheFisherman.
On this hike, you might see a Bigfoot, but you definitely won't see the other cryptid who calls this area home: the hidebehind. This sneaky beast gets its name because it hides behind whatever it can when looked at directly. While it is elusive, the hidebehind was believed to be the cause of some loggers and lumberjacks never returning to camp. Bring a friend if you head here, they can watch your back. Plus hiking with friends is fun.
> Plan your visit to Stirrup Lake using WTA's Hiking Guide
Puget Sound & Islands
Schmitz Preserve Park
Location: Seattle-Tacoma Area
Mileage: 1.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 220 feet
This wooden croc may not be the only beast at Schmitz Preserve Park. Photo by puroticorico.
You may not think of a city park in Seattle as an optimal place to find Bigfoot. But the old-growth trees could make an excellent hiding place for a certain shy and hairy beast. Even if you don’t see Bigfoot, you can find a crocodile carved out of a log (which is basically a cryptid by city standards).
> Plan your visit to Schmitz Preserve Park using WTA's Hiking Guide
Scott Pierson Trail
Location: Seattle-Tacoma Area
Mileage: 6.6 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain: 383 feet
Look out over the Narrows Bridge to see the possible home of the world’s biggest octopus on the Scott Pierson Trail. Photo by wafflesnfalafel.
As you walk along the paved Scott Pierson Trail and look out over Narrows Bridge, it may not seem like the kind of place you’d find a legendary creature. But according to local legend, the largest octopus in the world lives in the waters beneath the bridge. Giant Pacific octopuses really do exist (and yes, that's the correct pluralization), but whether one that holds the world record really lives in Tacoma remains a mystery.
> Plan your visit to the Scott Pierson Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
Point Whitehorn
Location: Bellingham Area
Mileage: 4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: minimal
Try to spot the legendary Cadborosaurus swimming in the Pacific at Point Whitehorn. Photo by tess.
Look for more that just porpoises and sea lions at Point Whitehorn. The waters of the Pacific are also said to be the home of the cryptid Cadborosaurus. Reported sightings of the slippery sea serpent span all the way from Canada to California.
> Plan your visit to Point Whitehorn using WTA's Hiking Guide
South Cascades
Blue Horse Trail
Location: Mount St. Helens
Mileage: 10.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1,250 feet
Keep your camera ready for a possible encounter with the Washington-specific Batsquatch on the Blue Horse Trail. Photo by Anna Roth.
Batsquatch is a creature similar in booth name and appearance to the better-known Sasquatch. However, this winged beast is unique to Washington, and is said to have appeared as a result of the Mount St. Helens eruption. While hiking or riding your horse on the Blue Horse Trail, be sure to scan the forest (and the skies) just in case.
> Plan your visit to the Blue Horse Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
Steamboat Mountain
Location: Mount Adams Area
Mileage: 1.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 625 feet
Search for Bigfoot from the 360-degree view atop Steamboat Mountain. Photo by BeaverDawg.
The summit of Steamboat Mountain includes a 360-degree view perfect for scanning for mysterious creatures. It’s only 1.4 miles roundtrip, so little Bigfoot seekers can join in on the fun too.
> Plan your visit to Steamboat Mountain using WTA's Hiking Guide
Cultus Creek
Location: Mount Adams Area
Mileage: 4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Lookout for Bigfoot along Cultus Creek. Photo byminaco77.
The South Cascades is well-known for sightings of Bigfoot; in fact, the Dark Divide area is one of the areas most people believe Bigfoot lives. The viewpoints on the Cultus Creek trail overlook Goat Rocks, Sawtooth Mountain, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and maybe even a famous cryptid.
> Plan your visit to Cultus Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
Central Cascades
Lake Chelan State Park - Little Bear Trail
Location: Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
Mileage: 2.3 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 250 feet
As you walk along the shore of Washington’s deepest lake on the Lake Chelan State Park - Little Bear Trail, keep an eye out for the Lake Chelan Dragon. Photo by wagnerdusty76.
Bigfoot's watery cousin, the Lake Chelan Dragon is also rumored to be a relative of a certain monster of Scotland's Loch Ness. True or false, as you stroll along the shore, it may be worth your while to keep an eye out for this mysterious beast said to roam the depths of Washington's deepest lake.
> Plan your visit to Lake Chelan using WTA's Hiking Guide
Wellington Ghost Town
Location: Stevens Pass — West
Mileage: 2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 20 feet
Wellington Ghost Town is a hotspot (or perhaps cold spot would be more fitting) for mysterious happenings. Photo by Old Rod.
The Iron Goat trail has plenty of history in and of itself, but the forest surrounding it, particularly in fall, is prime Bigfoot habitat. With its mysterious vibes and wooded trails, it’s not hard to imagine every snapping twig as a sign that Bigfoot is nearby.
> Plan your visit to Wellington Ghost Town using WTA's Hiking Guide
North Cascades
DOWNEY CREEK (closed since September 2020 Due to wildfire activity)
Location: Mountain Loop Highway
Mileage: 13.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1280 feet
The Downey Creek Trail is a beautiful journey, whether you spot Bigfoot or not. Photo by C P.
One spot that Bigfoot likely calls home is the Downey Creek drainage. See if you can spot one on this lush trail. On your way, you'll hike beneath towering old-growth trees, pass fluffy mosses and ferns, and enjoy the sound of the river while you search. If you're looking for Bigfoot, they may be hard to spot through the lush green surroundings.
> Plan your visit to Downey Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
NEIDERPRUM TRAIL
Location: Mountain Loop Highway
Mileage: 2.65 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
The dense green forest near the Neiderprum Trail is the perfect place for Bigfoot to hide. Photo by geezerhiker.
The Mountain Loop Highway is a hotspot for Bigfoot sightings. If you can't find one at Downey Creek, try the Neiderprum Trail. Consider bringing a pair of binoculars so you can scan the forest for any suspicious movements from one of the fabulous views along the trail.
> Plan your visit to the Neiderprum Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide