22 Short Summer Hikes with Giant Views
Dramatic views are kind of Washington's thing. So many of our summer alpine trails turn a corner or pop over a ridge and *bam*! Mountain views stretching on for miles. Alpine cirques. Hanging lakes. Seas of wildflowers. The hulking face of a glacier. And you might not always want to put in 7, 12 or 25 miles to reach those kind of views. These are a sampling of bigger views without the long miles. But that doesn't mean they're easy.
Klahhane Ridge is a nice, relatively easy hike on the Olympic Peninsula. Photo by Michelle Ascensio.
Don't underestimate the challenge of shorter hikes! There are two ways to reach these kind of views in less than 2.5 miles: by letting a car or bike do most of the work, or by hauling yourself up.
To reach high points with great views, many trails climb and descend more steeply than longer, gentler hikes or more accessible trails. Trail tread and exposure can also make these trails more or less difficult. Depending on the condition of the road leading to the trailhead, you may also need to tack on extra road-walking miles.
Read the full hike descriptions, recent trail or road conditions and pay attention to the gain to figure out which hikes are right for you.
Mount Rainier Area
Mount Rainier's high elevation hubs are Paradise and Sunrise, both a treasure trove of big view hikes. Views smack you in the face from these parking lots, but head a mile or two down any trail here and you'll be rewarded with wildflowers, the chance to spot some wildlife and a slightly different perspective. Here are a few to get you started.
GOLDEN GATE LOOP
Location: Paradise Area
Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1160 feet
A carpet of heather and paintbrush make a beautiful foreground to the Golden Gate Trail. Photo by JenPhong.
The Golden Gate Loop climbs up through meadows is best done at the height of wildflower season after snow has melted off the trail. (Snow can stick around through July this high on the mountain.) Check trip reports before you go to get a sense of the wildflower situation.
> Plan your visit to Golden Gate Loop via WTA's Hiking Guide
Dege Peak
Location: Sunrise Area
Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Two hikers head down the Dege Peak trail out of Sunrise with a cloud layer between them and the ground. Photo by LostWisconsinite.
This relatively gentle climb features the in-your-face views of Mount Rainier typical of Sunrise. But on a clear day, the end of the trail where you perch above Sourdough Ridge also offers views of peaks ranging from the Cowlitz Chimneys to the far-off peaks of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Glacier Peak and Mount Baker. The peak itself is small, so bit of summit courtesy (getting a look, and then moving off the small summit) may be in order if you visit when things are hopping.
> Plan your trip to Dege Peak using WTA's Hiking Guide
PINNACLE SADDLE
Location: Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
Length: 2.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
A hiker examines the view from the Pinnacle Saddle trail on a cloudy day. Photo by David Hagen.
If you want a telescope quality view of Mount Rainier, then Pinnacle Saddle is where you want to be! Seemingly so close you can touch it, this view of our state's iconic peak is coupled with the beautiful lushness of the Nisqually River valley below.
> Plan your trip to Pinnacle Saddle using WTA's Hiking Guide
Southwest Washington
SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN
Location: Lewis River Region
Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
A colorful carpet of wildflowers on the Silver Star Mountain trail complete with peek-a-boo views of Mount Adams. Photo by justpeachy.
The view from Silver Star Mountain is one of the best around. Sitting in the center of the Chinook Trail System near Battle Ground, Silver Star offers expansive vistas from the get-go, and is one of the absolute best spots in Southwest Washington for wildflowers in the springtime. (It's pretty spectacular in the fall as well.) The catch: you’d better have a high clearance vehicle, because you have to drive a notoriously bad road to access it.
> Plan your trip to Silver Star Mountain using WTA's Hiking Guide
Little Huckleberry Mountain
Location: Columbia River Gorge
Length: 5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
The views from Little Huckleberry Mountain are stunning. Photo by jrdearman.
Hike along the slopes of this mountain and snack on huckleberries during the right season. Once on top, feast your eyes on the surrounding peaks including Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood.
> Plan your trip to Little Huckeberry Mountain using WTA's Hiking Guide
South Cascades
WINDY RIDGE
Location: Mount St. Helens Area
Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Mount St. Helens is the star of most trails that surround it. Photo by Hiking Nerds.
Like many of the trails around Mount St. Helens, you don't need to get high to get spectacular views. The recovering blast zone has so few standing trees that vistas abound across this unique landscape. Windy Ridge is a great view hike without a lot of effort, and the visitor center offers a nice launching point. WTA Pro-Tip: Hike here early or late in the day. You'll stay cooler and enjoy the shadows created by the lower-angle light.
> Plan your trip to Windy Ridge using WTA's Hiking Guide
sunrise peak
Location: Dark Divide
Length: 3.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1400 feet
The lookout remnants at the top of Sunrise Peak make the top interesting, but the views are really the stunner here. Photo by austineats.
Visit Sunrise Peak at the right time, and you'll see why it got its name. The site of a former fire lookout, the trail is steep but short. Along the way, you'll have views of Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, and from the summit, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the incredible geology in the Dark Divide.
> Plan your trip to Sunrise Peak using WTA's Hiking Guide
Olympic Peninsula
Klahhane Ridge
Location: Northern Coast
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1700 feet
The Klahhane Ridge trail unfurling across the landscape in Olympic National Park. Photo by Bob and Barb.
You can approach the very popular Klahhane Ridge from multiple trails within Olympic National Park, but they all lead to stunning views of the Olympics. The way via the Switchback Trail is steep, so if you don't have the climb in you, approach the ridge via the Hurricane Ridge parking lot on the Mount Angeles trail.
> Plan your trip to Klahhane Ridge using WTA's Hiking Guide
Lillian Ridge
Location: Northern Coast
Length: 4.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
The Lillian Ridge trail meanders across a high alpine meadow before plunging down into Grand Valley. Photo by main_jane.
Another popular Olympic National Park trail that lets the road to the trailhead do most of your climbing. With big views of the Olympics and the Cascades from the get-go, you can make this hike a short stroll, or a much longer experience. Just be sure to plan for a day without thunderstorms, and be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. And know the road from Hurricane Ridge to the trailhead has a fair amount of exposure.
> Plan your trip to Lillian Ridge using WTA's Hiking Guide
Striped Peak
Location: Northern Coast
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 850 feet
An inlet along the Striped Peak Trail. Photo by parisrobin.
The best views of this trail within Clallam County’s 196-acre Salt Creek Recreation Area are not alpine views, but those of the big, blue Strait of Juan de Fuca. Plus, with nearby camping, playgrounds and Port Angeles not far away, a short hike can just be the start of your visit.
> Plan your trip to Striped Peak using WTA's Hiking Guide
Eastern Washington
Iller Creek
Location: Spokane Area
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1200 feet
Hikers on a high point at Iller Creek. Photo by Todd Dunfield.
Like many other short hikes with big views, Iller Creek is no secret. But this Spokane favorite is a reliable get away when you just need to get out of town for a couple of hours and take in the valley views from a perch. This little loop can even be a great way to reconnect with the wonder of the Palouse while you wait out traffic (it's only 15 minutes from the I-90) on your commute.
> Plan your trip to Iller Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
Grouse Mountain
Location: Palouse and Blue Mountains
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
A large rolling field on Grouse Mountain. Photo by Greg Brown.
This trail an hour from Walla Walla is one of the few ridge hikes that you will hike down to. That means the road does a lot of your work here. You'll get classic Blue Mountain views on this ridgeline worth walking.
> Plan your trip to Grouse Mountain using WTA's Hiking Guide
Table Rock
Location: Palouse and Blue Mountains
Length: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
The lookout at Table Rock is a unique, interesting spot to visit. You may even be able to drive to it! Photo by Greg Brown.
While the views are spectacular, geology buffs will find this unique spot most worth a visit. When the road is dry and good shape, you might be able to drive to this fire lookout view of the Palouse. But go planning on walking the short road up. (Looking for a longer hike to a lookout? Try Oregon Butte instead.)
> Plan your trip to Table Rock using WTA's Hiking Guide
North Cascades
Tiffany Mountain Via Freezeout Ridge
Location: Pasayten
Length: 4.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1685 feet
The rocky summit and big views from Tiffany Mountain. Photo by RichP.
As one of the higher trailheads in the state, Tiffany Mountain via Freezeout Ridge will boast views that will take your breath away just as much as the elevation.
> Plan your trip to Tiffany Mountain via Freezeout Ridge using WTA's Hiking Guide
Lookout mountain Lookout - Methow
Location: Methow/Sawtooth
Length: 2.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
Appropriately expansive views from Lookout Mountain Lookout. Photo by Hiking Mom.
The historic lookout is not the only perk of this hike. In under two hours you will enjoy panoramic views, lush forests and wildflowers in addition to your destination. Note: If the lookout is closed, please respect the closure and don't try to enter it.
> Plan your trip to Lookout Mountain Lookout using WTA's Hiking Guide
Goat peak lookout
Location: Methow/Sawtooth
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1400 feet
The Goat Peak lookout is visible for a lot of the hike to it! Photo by Hiking Mom.
Goat Peak and it's iconic fire lookout comprise the most prominent landmark in the Methow Valley. Visible from nearly every angle between Mazama and Winthrop, the lookout provides sweeping views of the North Cascade's summits.
> Plan your trip to Goat Peak Lookout using WTA's Hiking Guide
Puget Sound and Islands
Turtleback mountain
Location: San Juan Islands
Length: 3.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 830 feet
Little islands dotting the water around Orcas Island. Photo by kj15.
Turtleback Mountain Preserve is one of the largest conservation success stories in the San Juans. From the top of the mountain you are provided a vantage point at which you can view everything from the rolling pastures of the Crow Valley to the emerald hulk of Mount Constitution.
> Plan your trip to Turtleback Mountain using WTA's Hiking Guide
Chambers Bay Loop
Location: Seattle-Tacoma Area
Length: 3.25 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 315 feet
Chambers Bay Loop. Photo by Otter50.
This scenic golf course is not just for golfers. With a public path that circles the greens, and some steep sections climbing to views of Chamber's Bay this nearby park offers sweeping views of the Puget Sound.
> Plan your trip to Chambers Bay Loop using WTA's Hiking Guide
Snoqualmie Area
thorp mountain via knox creek
Location: Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
Length: 4.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1734 feet
The road to Knox Creek trailhead is rough but the views from Thorp Mountain are amazing. Photo by yasobara.
Short but steep with a big payoff at the end. The vista from the look out is the highest point for many miles in all directions. Enjoy wildflowers, berries and gorgeous views along your path to the summit.
> Plan your trip to Thorp Mountain via Knox Creek using WTA's Hiking Guide
Garfield Ledges
Location: North Bend Area
Length: 2.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 830 feet
View of the Middle Fork Valley from the end of the Garfield Ledges trail. Photo by Scotty22.
This trail reaches a scenic viewpoint in just over a mile. From the ledges hikers can take in the expansive Middle Fork Valley and watch the river wind its way through the forest.
> Plan your trip to Garfield Ledges using WTA's Hiking Guide
Central Cascades
heybrook ridge
Location: Stevens Pass - West
Length: 3.3 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 760 feet
Mount Index on a snowy day from Heybrook Ridge. Photo by thenomadicartist.
Heybrook Ridge is a relatively new trail that will take you through a rocky, moss covered forest en route to incredible views of the surrounding peaks.
> Plan your trip to Heybrook Ridge using WTA's Hiking Guide
poe mountain via irving pass
Location: Stevens Pass - East
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
Gorgeous Poet Ridge from Poe Mountain. Photo by bertman4.
Guaranteed to get your blood pumping (the elevation gain is significant) the hike along the ridge provides awesome views both to the north and south.
> Plan your trip to Poe Mountain via Irving Pass using WTA's Hiking Guide