The Best Hikes in Washington State: Our 25 Favorite Trails

Over the course of the climb, you’ll progress from dense forest and babbling brooks to granite slabs and rocky terrain.

Ultimately, you will arrive at the true highlight – a beautifully positioned mountain lake overlooking the Cascade mountain range. Much like peering over the edge of infinity, the scene is quite stunning.

The viewpoint is farther along and will require some climbing to access.

The perspectives from the lookout are incredible, and you can spend the night there. It’s first-come-first-served, meaning you’ll need to begin the hike at sunrise in the summer because demand is so high.

You’ll also need authorization to access secluded regions documented on the National Park Service website.

This hike is truly spectacular, but it’s not suited for those with low tolerance. Bring plenty of water, food, and sun protection for the climb.

Read Next:The Finest Hikes in North Cascades National Park

It doesn’t. Head to the third option, you won’t be disappointed.

The hike up Burroughs Mountain is the finest of the various hikes on the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier, which receives less attention but provides the highest elevation accessible by vehicle in the park.

Not that the height of the parking lot truly matters much, since you’ll be climbing several thousand feet above it on this hike. Proceed counter-clockwise.

That will have you climbing Sourdough Ridge, undertaking the out and back to the three burroughs, and returning via the sunrise trail, which is a pleasant walk through the woods.

You’ll start the climb up to Sourdough Ridge from the parking lot, and follow that until reaching a three-way junction in the trail at Frozen Lake.

To the right is the hiking trail ascending the ridge to Mount Fremont, which is also among the notable day treks located within Mount Rainier National Park.

Straight ahead is Berkeley Park, which is full of wildflowers during the peak summer months. And to the left is what you came for – the climb up to the three burroughs.

• While exploring the park, staying on designated trails is crucial. These routes not only safeguard the diverse species but also ensure your safety from possible wildlife hidden in the vegetation.

Read More: Hiking the Amazing Burroughs Mountain Trail in Mount Rainier National Park

It’s more of a stroll along a sandy beach, with the Pacific Ocean lapping at your hiking boots as you make your way north along the Washington coastline.

You’ll pass picturesque rocks and driftwood, and just before arriving at Hole in the Wall are a couple of extremely scenic rock formations that make superb subjects for sunset photographs.

Just under two miles from the parking area for Rialto Beach, you’ll arrive at an arch formed by years of erosion.

The finest perspective here shows the sea stack perfectly framed by the hole in the wall from the far side of the opening. There are also some amazing tide pools on either flank.

Be sure to gaze upwards as you stroll! We spotted two bald eagles – I saw one perched high in a tree above us, and as Alysha scanned the tree branches searching for it, she noticed another nearby in a different tree. A bald eagle family sighting!

A note: To properly experience this scenic hike, it is essential to check the tidal patterns before venturing out to plan for optimal walking conditions at low tide.

It has everything you might be searching for – a picturesque lake (with stunning views of the Mountain), meadows full of wildflowers blooming with all sorts of color in the early summer, and great views of Mount Rainier. All for a relatively easy 3.5 miles!

One thing you should definitely know before you hit the trail – do this hike clockwise starting from the Tipsoo Lake parking lot (or from one of the other parking lots nearby – it doesn’t matter, just do it clockwise!).

The reason? For the second half of this hike, you’ll be walking directly towards Rainier, and there are a couple locations where the views rival any perspective of Rainier in the park.

The route starts with a mild uphill climb amongst the forest, where blankets of wildflowers usually cover the ground. A bridge crosses over the highway, and right away the trail leaves the national park and transitions into the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

Follow the PCT, which meanders its way along a ridgeline with great views to your left, as it gradually climbs.

Right before the summit, you’ll reach a particularly picturesque tarn.

When you reach the summit of the hike – around 1.8 miles in, just after the PCT turns left down to Dewey Lake, you`re in for a treat.

First, another mountain lake. But this one has the snow covered peak of Mount Rainier in the background.

Next, an unblocked view of the Mountain from a ridge, where we saw a wedding photoshoot happening and spent the rest of the hike marveling at the fact that the bride made it up there in her dress.

The last part of the hike goes straight downhill (which is why you should do it clockwise), and you’ll exit at the south end of Tipsoo Lake.

P.S. Tipsoo Lake is an incredible sunrise location – the sun rises behind you as you look west towards Rainier’s face, and illuminates the peak with a golden orange light.

Apart from their taproom in McMinnville, here are some locations where one can find Bierly Beer (see their “beer locator” here).

Wildflowers. Panoramic perspectives. Considerable climbing to have you waddling around in discomfort for a few days later.

This hike is equally good in summer and fall.

In the summer, which truly starts in August for the entire area surrounding Mount Baker, you’ll see wildflowers lining the trail for miles.

In the fall, the landscape lights up with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.

The primary disadvantage of this trail, along with other hiking routes around Mount Baker, is that it’s just reliably accessible two months out of the year – August and September, with October being a little uncertain due to snow.

Snow often lingers on the trail into July, and then returns quickly in October most years.

This is another hike that requires some tricky driving, at least if you have a low-clearance vehicle, to access. The trailhead is up a narrow forest road with questionable upkeep.

However, upon arriving and parking, the stress evolves into an “oh man, this hike is going to be challenging” type of stress rather than an “is my vehicle going to survive this?” kind of stress.

The climb begins with switchbacks immediately, then transitions to a gradual ascent through dense forest. Eventually, the first glimpse of Baker emerges as the trail curves left into a wildflower meadow, following the valley.

You’ll emerge onto a ridge, with Mount Baker views galore, before starting the final ascent up to the butte, which is a steep one.

From the top, you can continue on to an additional peak, which requires climbing along a narrow ridge with steep drop offs on either facet.

We chose to skip it, mostly because heights make me uncomfortable, but two hikers completed it while we were at the peak.

Read More: Hiking the Jaw-Dropping Yellow Aster Butte Trail near Mount Baker

Colchuck is perhaps the most readily accessible of the lakes in the area, but that certainly does not imply it is any less magnificent. Before sunrise above the nearby peaks, the waters are tranquil, with ideal reflections. When the sun reaches its zenith, the waters transform into an unbelievable shade of azure-green.

The hike itself isn’t too difficult – at 8 miles and 2,300 feet of elevation gain. It’s a fairly gradual climb through the forest, but as you approach the lake it definitely gets a little bit rockier and steeper, making it harder as you go.

The perspectives accessible upon arrival at the lake are magnificent, but you ought to carefully explore along the shoreline to the left and right directions. Particularly, the left side presents exceptional perspectives of Dragontail Peak and Aasgard Pass seen across the lakefront.

The trailhead attracted quite a large crowd, especially in the summer and fall months, so we’d recommend arriving before 6:30am, which is when we got there and secured one of the last parking spots available.

The road leading to the trailhead is a bit bumpy, but if Homer (that’s our Honda Odyssey) can manage it, so can you! Proceed slowly and you`ll be fine.

Read More: How to Hike the Stunning Colchuck Lake Trail

First thing’s first – this is DEFINITELY an overnight backpacking trip. The trail isn’t particularly difficult. There’s some ups and downs, but climbing approximately 3,000 feet over 13.5 miles is really a walk in the park when you’re talking about hiking in Washington.

Round trip, it’s 27 miles long, which means AT LEAST one night in the wilderness. Overnight permit information is here.

The trail itself is gorgeous, particularly after the first two miles of the trail, which take you up, then down to Pony Bridge, where you meet the East Fork of the Quinault River.

As you initiate the descent down to Pony Bridge, you’ll listen to the roar of the river, which will continue all the way through the rest of the hike, which follows the river carefully up into the Enchanted Valley.

The lush rainforest here has unrivaled scenery, with dense ferny woods abundantly draped with hanging moss essentially the entire route.

Alysha and I were joking about how jaded we became by the end of it. “Oh, YET ANOTHER breathtaking stretch of trail with ferns covering the ground, mossy trees towering above us, and sunlight streaming through the rainforest canopy? DULL.”

Eventually, you arrive at the Enchanted Valley, which is most renowned for the 1930’s chalet that sits in the center of it. Regrettably, you can’t in fact venture inside these days, but it employed to be a place where you could spend the night.

We trust this is best done as a three day / two dark trip, spending one dark at Pyrites Creek on the conductance up, one dark in the valley, and the ultimate day executing the whole 13.5 mile hike out.

The waterway provides many opportunities to access it along the trail, which is always appreciated.

Further Reading:Backpacking the Enchanted Valley Trail in Olympic National Park

We did this hike on a beautiful summer morning, and got to the lake before the crowds. We’d recommend you do the same, because the parking lot is small, and by the time we were on our way back down, the crowds had shown up.

Blue Lake is, as you may have guessed, a lake of a blue hue. It’s crystal clear – so clear that you can see the fish swimming – and is surrounded by some of the most famous peaks in the North Cascades, including the Liberty Bell.

When you arrive at the lake, take the fork on the right, cross over the stream, and stroll along the lake. This is where you’ll see all the other hikers who made it up that day.

For a more secluded experience, take the trail up the hill to the right, keep left at the fork, and make your way down to the lakefront, where we found exactly zero people.

This area is also well known for viewing mountain goats, who occasionally traverse down that gravel slope at the far end of the lake.

The only factor placing it in the moderate classification is the distance being a hair over 8 miles. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks.

The hike begins at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which merits a stop to learn all regarding the energetic volcano and the eruption that cloaked the whole Pacific Northwest in ash just a few decades past.

From there, you’ll traverse the surprisingly barren terrain east with minimal elevation increases and decreases.

Upon reaching a few splits in the trail, remain on the left side at the initial two intersections to persist in a northeasterly direction, then take the marked path to Harry’s Ridge to embark on the brief but pleasant climb to the summit of the ridge that overlooks Spirit Lake to the left, and Mount. St. Helens to the right.

From this vantage point, you can see the countless logs that remain in Spirit Lake today from the eruption four decades ago. The devastation is incredibly extensive.

Enjoy a snack while taking in the views, then return the same way.

I jest. We found this hike enjoyable, and think you will too.

This hike was among our favorites near Mount Baker, though the trail was located on the southern side of the mountain along Highway 20, which serves as the gateway to the North Cascades rather than along Highway 542 (the Mount Baker Highway).

The starting point of the trail was along the western edge of Baker Lake, approximately eight miles up a perilous forest road that we barely managed through with white knuckles and Alysha at the wheel (she prefers me not driving on the bumpy roads).

Proceed cautiously. But if you happen to have a vehicle with adequate ground clearance, definitely use that.

This hike starts with roughly a mile of meandering through meadows before crossing a bridge over rip-roaring creek (at least when we were there) and you start the climb in earnest.

You’ll ascend a series of switchbacks preceding emerging into some of the most spectacular meadows you’ll encounter anywhere north of Rainier (which has the best meadows in the world, we think).

One after another, you’ll stroll through meadows exploding with wildflowers and amazing views of snow capped Mount Baker before, once again, starting to ascend.

This passage marks the concluding ascent to the fire lookout tower, offering awe-inspiring vistas of the encompassing region including Mount Baker.

We did it as a sunset hike, arriving at the pass around 45 minutes before sunset and making the descent in the dark. We definitely recommend trying it, but be sure to bring a headlamp as it gets dark incredibly quickly.

The climb itself is fairly unremarkable, with views of Mount St. Helens blocked and scenery behind only moderately appealing. HOWEVER, vistas from Norway Pass itself are rather impressive, validating the physical effort required to arrive.

Sightseeing in Philadelphia & Amish Country buggy ride

In early summer, wildflowers grow prominently in the foreground, creating a scene that appears artistically crafted.

The most exciting one, we believe, was Dog Mountain. Especially in the spring, when the wildflowers were in full bloom.

Note that during wildflower season, which generally takes place in late May to mid June, you will need a permit. They restrict the number of individuals on the trails in the early summer weekends to protect the fragile wildflowers.

This hike begins with switchbacks through the forest. About two thirds of a mile in, you’ll reach a junction in the trail which marks the starting point for the loop route.

We hiked up and down the trail to the right, which apparently presents a greater challenge, but I don’t think we were aware of that at the time. Be sure to stop at the two viewpoints along the way up, both of which feature amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge.

Beautiful infinity pool on the rooftop with a huge deck and a popular poolside bar serving a wide selection of drinks and light meals.

We waited for about a quarter of an hour at the top in the freezing wind and mist before deciding we had experienced enough and retreating back to the sunny slopes just below the summit.”

Come prepared for fog and wind with multiple layers.

It’s essentially a wide, paved path for basically the entire route, and is highly accessible for most hikers across all experience and fitness levels.

It’s a mandatory activity when exploring Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.

It also means that the hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, which marks the border between Oregon and Washington State, is basically our own backyard. We hike in the Gorge all the time, and we tackled Coyote Wall one spring morning in May.

Coyote Wall is a massive basalt rock formation that we have seen from across the Gorge, but had never ventured far enough east to see up close and personal until that recent trip.

We were the first to arrive in the parking area – situated on the Washington side of the Gorge several miles past the town of White Salmon and Hood River Bridge – and welcomed by a picturesque display of wildflowers upon ascending to the ridge, approximately two miles into the hike.

It was early spring, and the pathway was blanketed in yellow blooms and blue blossoms as far as one could view, with Mount Hood’s snowcapped peak in the distance. Magical.

There are two routes here – the longer and more gradual Little Maui trail, and the rockier, steeper, and more exposed Little Moab trail.

You can do a nice little reverse figure-eight, going up Little Moab and coming down Little Maui before trailing the Coyote Wall route along the ridgeline.

Watch out for ticks and rattlesnakes on this one, especially in the summer.

We had hiked the Skyline Trail that morning, and were searching for an easy hike to tackle in the afternoon. The 2.4 miles and minimal elevation gain led us to this hike.

The parking area is along Stevens Canyon Road, and has no restroom facilities and space for 10-15 vehicles. The trail is surprisingly up and down, which gives the impression it’s more elevation gain than what is truly experienced.

There are three main highlights to this hike – the two lakes, obviously, and the meadow located between them. From that meadow, which is found between the two lakes, you’ll have spectacular views of Rainier’s peak.

Bench Lake, the first lake you’ll encounter, has a stunning reflection of Rainier’s peak from the south shore (which is where the trail leads you).

No views of Rainier could be seen at Snow Lake, the further one, but it’s backed by a ridge of rocky peaks, which is spectacular on its own. Go left at the junction near Snow Lake for the best perspectives of the lake and mountains beyond.

During our first autumn living in Portland, we took a nice break out to the Gorge for a few nights and stayed past White Salmon on the Washington side (which, for the record, has become our preferred side of the Gorge to stay on).

We stayed at a little B&B called the Ruby June Inn (which we appreciated), and we were conversing with the helpful owners about hikes in the region, and stated that we were pondering doing something near Adams, which is a little far from our house to be done as a day outing.

The first response to hearing of our destination was filled with positivity: “Sleeping Beauty is great!”, and so our hike began to tackle this scenic yet physically demanding trail.

Ascending 1,350 feet in a little over a mile is no simple feat, but it transpires expeditiously and waiting at the end of the hike is what has to be one of the finest panoramas in the entire state.

You`ll traverse some winding switchbacks that place you atop a rocky projection that once housed a fire lookout – you can still see the structure – which has unblocked perspectives of Mount Adams` southwestern face.

We did this early on, and we saw exactly one group on our journey up. We had the summit entirely to ourselves, and sat up there for a solid quarter of an hour to twenty minutes lifting our jaws off the rocks before making the return trip down to the vehicle.

However, we think that section of path up to Comet Falls is totally worth the effort, and makes a nice accompaniment to one of the longer hikes at Paradise (like the above-mentioned Skyline Trail).

Not only do you get to see what we would argue is the most stunning waterfall at Paradise (and there are several beautiful ones here!), you also get an unexpected BONUS waterfall that we didn’t know about until we were standing at its base (pictured above).

The hike begins from a tiny parking lot right along the road up to Paradise, which is perpetually full most summer days between 9am and 6pm or so.

You’ll immediately cross a bridge over Christine Falls (though there’s a significantly better view from the nearby pullout on the road), and start a forested ascent.

It’s not an especially difficult hike, just a steady climb until reaching Bloucher Falls, the bonus waterfall, at the 1.5 mile mark. Just around the bend is Comet Falls, and the trail continues to a scenic viewpoint where the entire falls can be seen.

Optional Continuation to Van Trump Park: Van Trump Park is a meadow situated numerous thousands of feet increased than Comet Falls, and the ascent to achieve it is no laughing matter. However, this is paradise for wildflower fans in the summer. You’ll continue past Comet Falls up a steep set of switchbacks, and fortunately here is that once you’ve gone an additional mile (and climbed roughly 800 feet), the hike is reasonably adjustable to your physical condition. You can continue all the way to the end of the trail (reflected in the numbers above), or cut it short and save your legs for a different hike.

Further Reading:Hiking the Comet Falls Trail in Mount Rainier National Park: A Helpful Guide

This hike has everything you want in an alpine adventure – an alpine lake, great views of Mount Baker, and the squeaking of pikas greeting you as you traverse rock fields.

Exploring Observation Point is made easier considering the reasonably gentle incline of the hike when measured against climbs providing similar rewards of scenic vistas and geological features. Additionally, navigating poorly maintained forest roads is avoided thanks to direct road access from the parking area.

We parked at the Chain Lakes Trailhead and added a small addition to our hike so the bathroom there could be used before starting, as there is also an adequate sized parking lot right at the trailhead holding 15-20 vehicles.

The hike takes an unusual route in terms of the path. Commonly, trails in the Pacific Northwest begin at a lower elevation and ascend to a high point (a beautiful vista, a pass, a ridge, etc).

The starting point for this hike is at roughly the same altitude as Lake Ann, but you descend from the outset location into a valley before ascending back up to Lake Ann.

This implies that the concluding section of the hike involves an exclusively upward trek back to the vehicle parking area, which tends to be the most difficult part of the journey.

Still, the reward is worth it. Lake Ann is an elevated lake, and you come up to it from the northern edge, looking straight ahead past the lake at the snowy peaks of North Cascades National Park.

It’s also worth noting that this would be an excellent backpacking destination for a 1-2 night trip, though there aren’t really any side trips to take, so I’m unsure what you’d do with a second day (aside from admire the view and hang out in the backcountry, of course).

My mom resides in the suburbs to the east of Seattle, which means it’s another 10-15 minutes closer to Snoqualmie Pass (where you’ll find this hike), and we love this hike.”

Most visitors follow the path to the mountain lake, dip into its waters, then head back to their vehicle.

If you continue on the trail past Snow Lake for a couple miles, you’ll find yourself at equally stunning and far less crowded Gem Lake. And we think exploring further is worth the extra effort.

This hike begins from the parking lot at Alpental, one of the ski resorts closest to Seattle, where there is a sizable parking area with restroom facilities.

The hike begins with a forested ascent, and then turns into a set of switchbacks that bring you into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. From there, you descend down to Snow Lake (which means you have a slight climb on the way out).

If you’re merely doing Snow Lake, the trail continues around the eastern border of the lake for a while, and there are plenty of spots to get down to the shoreline.

Keep in mind that the 6.7 miles reflects the trail to the eastern edge of the lake, and if you continue around the lake it can add a half mile or more to your journey.

If you’re continuing on to Gem Lake, follow the trail as it turns northwest, and it’s about a mile from the northern shore of Snow Lake to Gem Lake. Gem Lake is far less frequented, but is equally beautiful.

It’s still seven miles and 1,900 feet of elevation gain, which isn`t insignificant, but it’s notably easier than Lake Ann or Yellow Aster Butte.

And the reward – a series of pristine alpine lakes and views of Baker’s snowy peak – are about as good as you could possibly hope for.

The Chain Lakes Loop begins at the Chain Lakes Trailhead, which shares a parking area with Artist Point at the end of the road at Mount Baker (Artist Point also merits a look while you’re there).

We’d tackle this hike clockwise, heading west from the parking lot along a ridge with great views of Baker. The first mile and a half or so of the hike are roughly level, with the trail hugging a hillside facing Baker.

You’ll pass the junction for the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail – another great hike there – and then turn right and decline down into the valley where you’ll pass five lakes on your way back to the trailhead.

Outdoor swimming pool, spacious well-equipped fitness centre, business centre with print/scan/copy/fax facilities, and 24-hour front desk.

The hike ends with a climb back out of the valley up to Bagley Lake. Don’t forget to turn around and look behind you, where you’ll have an excellent view of Iceberg Lake with Table Mountain and Mount Baker in the background.

It’s a loop that takes you through the dense forest up to a ridge where on one side you have a string of seven gorgeous alpine lakes, and on the other you have the Hoh River Valley and Mount Olympus.

Getting to the top of the ridge required significant effort, but the view from there made all the exertion worthwhile.

It’s best done with no less than two nights (which is what we did). You need to reserve campsites ahead of time, and that’s going to be your limiting factor here.

If you can snag a night or two at Lunch Lake, which is up on the Divide in the heart of the best alpine lakes, do it! If not, we’d stay at Heart Lake and Deer Lake on either side of the Divide.

Read More: Hiking the High Divide Trail Through the Seven Lakes Basin in Olympic National Park

This is the only hike on this list situated in a Washington State Park, which signifies you’ll require a Discover Pass to park at the trailhead (that’s Washington’s State Parks Passage).

The destination is situated at the western extremity of Highway 2 near Monroe, making it an convenient single-day excursion from Seattle, being approximately an hour and a half away from downtown in the absence of traffic.

This is a moderately challenging hike that follows the Wallace River for most of the route, with three key attractions along the way.

The initial perspective of the Lower Falls was pleasant, but not the finest vantage point attainable.

A bit more climbing later leads you to the highlight, the Middle Falls, which provides the best view of the entire hike.