Our 50+ Favorite Hikes in Washington (As Locals!)

Last updated on September 3rd, 2026

Washington is home to some incredible hikes full of alpine lakes, epic mountain views, and gorgeous waterfalls. In this guide we’re sharing some of the best hikes in Washington, ranging in skill level and distance!

When we first lived in Washington (from 2016-2019), we tried to hike every single weekend, rain or snow or shine. In 2018 we even completed the 52 Hike Challenge! Fast forward to 2026 and we’re back living in Washington after 6 years of full time van life. And a big reason why we chose to live here again is because the hiking is some of the best in the entire country. From mountains, to lakes, to the coast, to waterfall hikes in Washington, there’s so much variety to experience along the trails here!

Map of the best Hikes in Washington

Snoqualmie Region

Snoqualmie is the region just Southeast of downtown Seattle. It’s the most convenient area to hike from Seattle and therefore home to some of the busiest hikes in Seattle.

For this blog, we’re considering Issaquah to Cle Elum the Snoqualmie area, and the hikes in this section are between 30 minutes-2 hours from downtown Seattle. The further you go, the less busy it should be!

Rattlesnake Ledge

Miles (round trip): 5.3
Elevation Gain: 1459 ft.
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

Rattlesnake Ledge is a classic Washington hike! It was our first ever hike in Washington, so it holds a very special place in our hearts.

It’s always crazy busy, but its closeness to the city, easier distance and elevation, and incredible views make it a solid choice any time of the year. If we are ever short on time and want a quick hike, then we go to Rattlesnake.

Poo Poo Point

Miles (round trip): 6.6
Elevation Gain: 1794 ft.
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

Is it just us or is it impossible not to laugh at the name?! There are a couple ways to get to the top of Poo Poo Point (this is the shorter route). Try to go on a clear day to see the paragliders take off from the top! You will also get to enjoy views of Mount Rainier and Issaquah/Bellevue from the multiple viewpoints.

Gold Creek Pond

Miles (round trip): 1.2
Elevation Gain: 45 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

It may be a bit of a stretch to call Gold Creek Pond a hike, but if you’re looking for a super easy and short nature experience close to Seattle, Gold Creek Pond is a great option!

In just a few minutes from the parking area, you reach a pond with a beautiful mountain backdrop. The trail is even wheelchair and stroller accessible, making it one of the best hikes in Washington to take any guests who want to see some of Washington’s nature, but are unable to do a longer hike. 

PS: Gold Creek Pond is a popular spot to snowshoe in the winter, which you can read all about in our 11 Winter Hikes in Washington post!

Gold Creek Pond will be closing in 2025 for up to 10 years for a restoration project. They will likely be reopening it for the winter season, but make sure to check its current status here.

Ira Spring + Mason Lake

Miles (round trip): 6.8
Elevation Gain: 2309 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

We enjoyed Ira Spring + Mason Lake so much more than we expected! On the way to the top you get great views of the Snoqualmie and North Bend areas (and maybe Mount Rainier if you’re lucky!) before heading to Mason Lake, a beautiful, small alpine lake.

Mount Si

Miles (round trip): 7.9
Elevation Gain: 3395 ft.
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Ooof this one is a doozy! Mount Si is known as one of the tougher day hikes near Seattle (want something a little easier? Try Little Si!), but despite its difficulty, it’s still incredibly popular hike in Washington. We went on a foggy spring day, so we unfortunately didn’t get to experience any views, but it’s towards the top of our Seattle summer hike to-do list!

Mailbox Peak

Miles (round trip): 7.4
Elevation Gain: 4000 ft.
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

This hike is intense! It’s by far the hardest hike on our list of the best hikes in Washington, but definitely the most rewarding. We suggest taking theold trail up to Mailbox Peak, which is way harder than the new trail (but way more fun!) with a killer 4,000 ft gain in 2.7 miles. After you catch your breath and relax at the top, take the new trail down for 4.7 miles.  

Franklin Falls + Melakwa Lake

Miles (round trip): 10.5
Elevation Gain: 2500 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

These two hikes are great on their own, but make for a fun, long adventure when combined. Visit the popular Franklin Falls first before heading to Melakwa Lake. On your way to Melakwa Lake you’ll cross a stream (be careful and don’t cross if it’s flooded!) and pass a beautiful waterfall before arriving to the upper and lower lakes. The two lakes make for a great picnic spot! And this way you get to check off two of the best hikes in Washington at once!

Snow Lake

Miles (round trip): 6.7
Elevation Gain: 1699 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

This was the second hike we ever did in Washington and we loved it! We got there super early on a sunny summer morning (it gets very busy!) and enjoyed some peace and quiet at the lake before the crowds rolled in. Snow Lake is super picturesque and makes you feel like you stepped into a postcard. We can’t wait to backpack to Gem Lake (just past Snow Lake) later this summer. Since it’s easy to get there from Seattle, we’ve included it on our Weekend in Seattle article!

Annette Lake

Miles (round trip): 7.0
Elevation Gain: 2043 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

We did this hike on a sunny fall day, just as the snow was beginning to thickly coat the trail. It was a beautiful hike, with some views along the way, but the real reward is the gorgeous lake at the end, Annette Lake.

Mount Washington

Miles (round trip): 7.9
Elevation Gain: 3261 ft
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

We hiked Mount Washington on a sunny late spring day and were rewarded with insane views of Mount Rainier, as well as views of the Cascades, North Bend, Mount Si, and even Rattlesnake Lake. The trail is pretty challenging and rocky, but we really enjoyed the workout. It’s also a little less busy than some of the other hikes in Washington. 

Warning: The trail can be a bit hard to find at the beginning. After you take the main trail from the parking lot, you’ll reach a clearing with a sign that shows a couple trail options. Someone was kind enough to write Mount Washington below the sign and direct you towards the right. A minute or two after going towards the right, you’ll see an opening on your left where the Mount WA trail begins (someone etched into a tree “Mount WA” to help confirm you’re going the right way).

Navaho Peak

Miles (round trip): 12.8
Elevation Gain: 4146 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Navaho Peak is a gem! One of our Instagram followers recommended this hike to us, as it is less busy than some of the more popular hikes in Washington. And we’re so glad they did!

The hike is 12.8 miles, making it a long day hike, so we decided to backpack it instead. We hiked up to Navaho Pass, set up our tent with an epic view, and then towards sunset hiked up the rest of the way to Navaho Peak.

And WOW, what a sunset spot! We had the entire peak to ourselves (and same with our campsite!) and enjoyed one of the best mountain sunsets we have ever seen. While the 2 hour (from Seattle) drive out to this hike may be a bit longer than other hikes on this list, it’s absolutely worth the trek for a bit more solitude and mountain views.

Pete Lake

Miles (round trip): 9.0
Elevation Gain: 734 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

During one of our final weekends living in Seattle, we took a little backpacking trip to Pete Lake. At 9 miles and a small elevation gain, it’s definitely doable as a day hike, but also a great fairly easy overnight trip.

Maybe it’s just us, but before an Instagram friend went to Pete Lake, we had never heard about it. Similar to Navaho Peak, it’s a little bit farther out of town than some other hikes, so it is a nice spot to visit if you want to run into less hikers.

The trail to the lake is great, with a nice river along the way, but the lake at the end is stunning! We cannot believe we hadn’t heard more about this trail, but we’re glad it’s kept away some of the larger crowds. 

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is one of the most jaw dropping mountains in Washington! While you can see the mountain from Seattle, getting up close and personal is even better. There are tons of hikes both in and around Mount Rainier National Park that’ll give you incredible views. These hikes are around 2 hours from downtown Seattle.

See all of our best things to see and do plus places to stay and out tips for the park in our Mount Rainier Guide!

Mount Fremont Fire Lookout

Miles (round trip): 5.7
Elevation Gain: 1,108 ft
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

We’ve been to Mount Rainier a handful of times and Mount Fremont Fire Lookout is hands down our our favorite hike in the park. With a historic fire lookout, 360 degree mountain views, Mount Rainier right in your face, and relatively low mileage to get to the top, the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, and for good reason!

The trail takes you through alpine meadows, past a small lake, and up a rocky trail to the Mount Fremont Lookout Tower, which is one of the four remaining fire lookouts in the park and also the highest lookout at 7,181 feet.

If you want to experience Mount Rainier up close and personal, see a cool structure, and say “wow!” a ton, the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail is the perfect pick when exploring Mount Rainier National Park.

We have a whole guide to hiking the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail to help you plan your adventure!

Naches Peak Loop

Miles (round trip): 3.5
Elevation Gain: 659 ft
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

Even after three years of living in Washington, we still would gasp every time the mountain (Mount Rainier) is out. The Naches Peak Loop is a great family friendly hike with insane views of Mount Rainier on a clear day, as well as surrounding mountains. We recommend doing the loop clockwise for the best Rainier views! It’s easily one of the best hikes in Washington and it’s not super hard!

Tolmie Peak

Miles (round trip): 5.6
Elevation Gain: 1555 ft.
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

If you’re Mount Rainier obsessed like us, then Tolmie Peak is a must-do! You not only get a killer view of Mount Rainier, but you get to visit a fire tower and get to see a beautiful lake.

Just like all Mount Rainier hikes, try to pick a clear day to get the best views! When we did this hike it was a bit smokey from wildfires, so the view wasn’t crystal clear, but it’s on our list to try again when we are back in Washington.

Stevens Pass

Stevens Pass is an area on Hwy 2, just Northeast of Downtown Seattle and home to some awesome hikes in Washington. The hikes here are absolutely beautiful and also very popular, so get there early!

Blanca Lake

Miles (round trip): 8.1
Elevation Gain: 3415 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Our experience at Blanca Lake was not what we had hoped for, but from the little bit we did get to see, it definitely would be one of our favorite hikes in Washington on a sunny day. Even though we didn’t get very lucky, it’s a memory we will never forget!

We had seen photos of Blanca Lake for years—it’s a milky green-ish blue lake surrounded by mountains. You see the color of the lake and instantly want to rush there to see if it’s real or photoshopped.

On the day of our hike, we arrived at the Blanca Lake trailhead very early and began our hike to the lake. The weather was iffy, but we hoped it would clear up. When we got to the lake, we could only see small sections of the famous lake color—the rest was totally fogged in. And then the torrential downpour began. We sat there, trying to heat up our backpacking meals, while freezing in the pouring rain.

Moral of our story: go on a guaranteed nice day and you’ll be treated to epic views! We will 100% be doing a re-do of this hike!

Wallace Falls

Miles (round trip): 4.9
Elevation Gain: 1469 ft
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

This is a great waterfall hike that is perfect for a rainy PNW day. The falls are beautiful and the trail is very well maintained. Don’t forget to go to all three viewpoints! Wallace Falls is also a good hike during the winter, as it tends to not get super icy or snowy and the falls are even cooler when frozen!

Heybrook Lookout

Miles (round trip): 1.9
Elevation Gain: 879 ft
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

Heybrook Lookout is the perfect hike in Washington if you’re short on time or just want something a little easier. The tower at the end of the trail is super fun to walk up and has gorgeous views of the mountains, including Mount Index (if you look closely then you can see Bridal Veil Falls), Mount Persis, and Mount Baring.

Lake Serene + Bridal Veil Falls

Miles (round trip): 8.1
Elevation Gain: 2772 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Our favorite hikes in Washington were always the ones with a combination of mountain views, lakes, and/or waterfalls. The Lake Serene + Bridal Veil Falls trail checks all three off the list! 

The journey to Lake Serene can be a bit tedious at times, but with occasional mountain views and the detour to Bridal Veil Falls (which are super pretty!), it helps the time go by a bit quicker.

Once you get to Lake Serene, the climb will be worth it, as you’ll be treated to a stunning blue lake surrounded by some of the most epic mountain peaks. It is crazy beautiful!

A few things to note: The hike to Lake Serene alone is about 7.2 miles. Also, this hike gets busy in the summer, so come early to get a parking spot!

Barclay Lake

Miles (round trip): 4.3
Elevation Gain: 387 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

While we love the challenging hikes in Washington, sometimes you just want a nice forest stroll with a pretty view at the end. Enter: Barclay Lake. While this hike isn’t overly hard, the lake and mountain views at the end make you feel like you ventured many miles up into the mountains!

North Cascades Highway

North Cascades National Park may be the most beautiful area for hikes in Washington. With mountains, gorgeous colored lakes, and easy to access spots, it makes for a great road trip! This area can be a bit of a trek from Seattle, with Heather-Maple Pass being about a 3 hour drive, so we suggest spending the weekend out there. You can see all of our tips in our North Cascades guide!

Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm

Miles (round trip): 11.6 (or less if you stop earlier)
Elevation Gain: 3,966 ft (or less)
Pass: None
Dog friendly? No

Wow, if we had to pick one hike to do in Washington, this may be it! The Cascade Pass trail to Sahale Arm is hands down one of the most stunning hikes we have ever done.

While the first part of the trail is a bit of a slog, with endless switchbacks through the trees (and some views!), once you reach the top of the switchbacks, you’ll have sweeping views the rest of the hike. There are a handful of different landmarks along the trail, with the first being Cascade Pass. You could just hike here and turn around, but if you’re physically able, we suggest continuing on. Next, you’ll reach an overlook of Doubtful Lake. While you can go down to the lake, we suggest using that energy to continue to Sahale Arm. The end point on AllTrails is the Sahale Glacier Camp, a very competitive backcountry campground with limited permits. We personally only went until about halfway on the arm due to time constraints, but still felt like we got to experience the grandeur of this hike.

Important to know: To get to the trailhead you’ll have to drive about 13 miles on an unpaved road. And it’s pretty rough! However, any car is able to make it, you’ll just be going slow or rattling a lot. We suggest camping at the Mineral Park Campground the night before to break up the drive and get an earlier start. This trail is VERY busy, especially on the weekends. Try to hike on a weekday and start as early as possible to get a parking spot.

Maple Pass Loop

Miles (round trip): 7.2
Elevation Gain: 2000 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Most of this hike is in the national forest, so dogs are allowed in this section. They are not allowed in North Cascades National Park, which the hike dips into at the top.

The Maple Pass Loop is definitely high up on the list of our top hikes in Washington! The view from the top is breathtaking, with endless mountain peaks and a lake below. 

We hiked this trail in the fall during the larches season, which we highly recommend. But Mother Nature decided to give us snow instead (come prepared!). We then hiked it a second time and had a ton of wildfire smoke, so it looks like we will have to try it a third time to get pristine conditions.

Blue Lake Trail

Miles (round trip): 4.6
Elevation Gain: 915 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Blue Lake Trail is such a great bang for your buck! This relatively short hike leads you to, as the name implies, a very blue lake with the bonus of a nice mountain backdrop. If you’re visiting the North Cascades, then it’s the perfect length to stretch your legs without eating up too many hours. It’s also a fun spot to fish for cutthroat trout. So if you’re like Adam, bring some fishing gear along. A Washington fishing permit is required!

A+K Tip: Just like the Maple Pass Loop, it is amazing during larch season in the fall!

Thunder Knob Trail

Miles (round trip): 3.3
Elevation Gain: 669 ft.
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

While many people flock to the Diablo Lake Vista Point on the North Cascades Highway, the Thunder Knob Trail is a great way to get a different view of the lake, with less people. This short and sweet hike starts at the Colonial Creek North Campground and leads to a couple vantage points of the lake. And the best part? It’s dog friendly!

Islands

Washington is home to over 170 islands and if you’re in search of rugged coastal views and beautiful beaches, there are so many great Washington hikes to explore. In this section we’re sharing hikes on the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, and Fidalgo Island. Which are all accessible from the Anacortes area!

Mount Erie & Sugarloaf Mountain

Miles (round trip): 4.5
Elevation Gain: 1,279 ft
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

If you find yourself in the Anacortes area, do not skip Mount Erie! While you can drive to the top of Mount Erie (and we recommend that if you’re short on time!), we love doing this hike because it’s a great workout and the views from Sugarloaf Mountain are only accessible by trail. However, the first part of the trail to Sugarloaf Mountain is pretty steep. So keep that in mind!

Rosario Head, Lighthouse Point, & Lottie Point

Miles (round trip): 4.9
Elevation Gain: 626 feet
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Rosario Head, Lighthouse Point, and Lottie Point Trail is our favorite hike at Deception Pass State Park! Located on Fidalgo Island, before crossing the bridge onto Whidbey Island, this hike gives you some of the best views in Washington’s most popular state park. Along this hike you’ll get to visit multiple beaches, see different coves and island views from high up, and get a good look at the Deception Pass bridge.

Fort Ebey Bluff Trail

Miles (round trip):
Elevation Gain:
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

The Bluff Trail at Fort Ebey State Park has so much variety! You get to hike along the edge of a bluff, visit a beach, walk through part of the old fort, plus see wildlife (we saw multiple bald eagles!). And on a clear day, you can see the Olympic Peninsula and even Mount Rainier! We loved doing this hike while camping at the state park. However, we hear there is an even better Bluff Trail just a bit south, which we are excited to hike next time we’re on Whidbey Island!

Mount Constitution

Miles (round trip): 4.8
Elevation Gain: 787 ft
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Mount Constitution is our favorite spot on Orcas Island. From up here you can see more of the island itself, the neighboring islands, Mount Baker, and even Bellingham! While this is another spot that you can drive to, when we want a workout on Orcas Island, we love hiking to the top instead! You get more views this way, including of Mountain Lake and Summit Lake (which you can hike down to). There are different routes you can hike, including making a longer loop that takes you down to the shore of Mountain Lake. Which is perfect for a mid-hike swim!

Cascade Falls

Miles (round trip): 0.8
Elevation Gain: 137 ft
Pass: Discover Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

For a waterfall adventure on Orcas Island, hike to Cascade Falls! We love this hike because it packs quite a punch, with multiple waterfalls and river views, in a super short distance. While the waterfalls aren’t huge, they are still beautiful, especially in the forested setting.

A+K Tip: The parking lot is small, so if you’re hiking in the summer, we suggest arriving early to snag a spot.

Bellingham

Bellingham, which is located close to the Canada border, is one of our favorite places in Washington. And a big reason why is due to its access to the outdoors! This area is about a 1.5-2 hour drive north of Seattle, making it a doable day trip with time to explore some of the city as well.

Oyster Dome

Miles (round trip): 6.6 from Chuckanut Drive and 4.4 from the Samish Overlook
Elevation Gain: 1,925 ft from Chuckanut Drive and 1,066 ft from the Samish Overlook
Pass: Discover Pass if hiking from the Samish Overlook
Dog friendly? Yes

Oyster Dome is a classic Bellingham hike that takes you to sweeping views of the San Juan Islands, Olympic Mountains, and Samish Bay! To tackle this hike you have two options. You can either start along Chuckanut Drive, which is a bit longer and steeper. Or you can drive up a gravel road to the Samish Overlook and start there. We have done both options over the years and alternate depending on the time we want to start (Chuckanut has much more limited parking) and how we’re feeling.

Regardless of the option you choose, you’ll start your hike in a beautiful forest before ending at a rocky promontory on Blanchard Mountain. This is the tallest of the Chuckanut Mountains, which are an extension of the Cascades. It’s the perfect spot to have a picnic, before heading back down the same way you can!

Mount Baker Highway

The Mount Baker Highway is one of our favorite places to hike in Washington! Located close to Bellingham, it’s a bit of a trek from Seattle, but worth dedicating a couple days to exploring. And since it’s not a national park, it tends to get a little bit less traffic than Mount Rainier, but still offers insane views.

Artist Ridge to Huntoon Point

Miles (round trip): 1.5
Elevation Gain: 269 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

The Artist Point area is the star of the Mount Baker Highway. Only open in the summer, this road offers jaw dropping views from the car. And if you are only up for a short hike once at the top, check out Huntoon Point. This easy trail is doable for almost anyone and gives you amazing views of Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker, and the nearby peaks. Plus there’s a cool pond that offers amazing reflections if you time it right!

Chain Lakes Loop

Miles (round trip): 6.2
Elevation Gain: 1,814 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

The Chain Lakes Loop is one of the most popular hikes at Mount Baker. Along this trail you’ll visit a handful of alpine lakes (Bagley and Iceberg are our favorites!), plus have great views of Mount Baker. Since it’s a loop, you can go either direction. Counter-clockwise is said to be easier, since you avoid a set of stairs at the end and knock out the big incline first. But regardless, it’s still a bit difficult of a hike, with some long inclines at times.

A+K Tip: Start early! The Artist Point parking lot fills up early, especially on weekends. You can alternatively start at Heather Meadows, which was less busy when we visited.

Ptarmigan Ridge

Miles (round trip): 11.4 (you can end sooner though!)
Elevation Gain: 2,326 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

For nonstop views of Mount Baker and the surrounding wilderness, Ptarmigan Ridge is hard to beat! We did this hike as part of a 3 day backpacking trip that combined this trail, Chain Lakes Loop, and Lake Ann and we LOVED it!

The terrain here is very barren and rocky, offering a first hand glimpse of the volcanic activity this area has had. While the AllTrails map above has you going to The Portals, you can definitely turn around earlier. We personally hiked to the junction with Goat Lake (not marked, but easy to find) and then camped overlooking the lake that night. The trail down to the lake is a bit slick and steep at first, but gets easier as you get to the more flat ridge line above the lake. However, getting down to the water is also very steep. So if you don’t plan to camp, we suggest just hiking to right above the lake to get a closer view of it.

Also, as you hike along the trail, keep an eye out for the resident mountain goat herd!

A+K Tip: This hike is very exposed and has limited chances to fill up water. So make sure to bring sun protection, plus plenty of water and electrolytes. We love LMNT! If you purchase LMNT with our link, you will get a free sample pack with any order.

Lake Ann Trail

Miles (round trip): 8.7(you can end sooner though!)
Elevation Gain: 2,047 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

The Lake Ann Trail is another classic near Artist Point. Unlike many trails in the area, this one actually has some trees, so you get a bit of shade. And after going through the forest and through a meadow, you’ll tackle a rocky uphill climb to the lake itself. Once at the lake, we suggest going to its western side, which offers the best views of Mount Shuksan, plus its glaciers and waterfalls.

This is a popular spot to backcountry camp as well! There are many spots, but most do not offer a ton of privacy.

Important to know: The trailhead does not have a toilet, so make sure to stop at the Heather Meadows toilets beforehand. Also, if you plan to camp you are required to use a wag bag for human waste. We like this kit from Pact!

South Cascades

The South Cascades are Southeast of downtown Seattle, close to the Oregon border. This area is about a 3 hour drive (one way) from Seattle, so these hikes in Washington make for a long day trip, or a super fun weekend!

Mount St. Helens

Miles (round trip): 8.5
Elevation Gain: 4,655 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass + Summit Permit
Dog friendly? No

Summiting Mount St. Helens, one of the five active volcanoes in Washington, is without a doubt one of our favorite hiking memories. The hike is challenging, very rocky and ashy, and for us, super windy, but the feeling when you reach the summit is indescribable—even on a less than perfect weather day like we had! 

You have to obtain a permit to summit Mount St. Helens and similar to the Enchantments, it’s pretty difficult. We share how to get a permit, everything you need to know about the hike, and our experience summiting Mount St. Helens here!

Tip: We highly recommend checking out the Ape Caves before or after summiting Mount St. Helens. It’s a lava tube you get to crawl around in (see the photo of Adam above!).

Mountain Loop Highway

Mountain Loop Highway is north of Stevens Pass, but south of North Cascades National Park. This road is home to many popular and fun hikes in Washington, with most ranging from 1-1.5 hours from Downtown Seattle (Goat Lake is about 3 hours each way).

Heather Lake

Miles (round trip): 5.4
Elevation Gain: 1210 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

We loved this hike to Heather Lake! We hiked it when the lake was still covered in snow and frozen (so magical!) and we can only imagine that it’s just as magical in the summer. The views are very similar to Lake 22, but with a little bit shorter distance and elevation gain.

Goat Lake

Miles (round trip): 10.5
Elevation Gain: 1722 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Goat Lake is one of the longer hikes in Washington on this list, but the smaller elevation gain makes it feel a lot easier. There are two ways to access the lake, the upper and lower trail, and we recommend going to the lake on the lower trail and then taking the upper trail on the way back.

There are also some campsites if you’d like to backpack to the lake and stay the night. When we did this hike it was during all of the wildfires, so it was very smoky, but we can’t wait to go back and see this large lake on a clear day!

Lake 22

Miles (round trip): 5.9
Elevation Gain: 1450 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

The hike to Lake 22 gets crazy busy, but there’s a reason for that! Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s relatively short and easy to access. The parking lot can be a nightmare, so plan to arrive very early or on a weekday to easily snag a spot.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth is one of our favorite areas to visit in Washington! This Bavarian Village town is adorable and the gateway to many of Washington’s most epic hikes. We love spending the morning hiking and then the afternoon eating bratwursts and strolling around town. It’s only 2-2.5 hours from Seattle and is doable as a day trip!

See more of our Leavenworth tips in our Summer in Leavenworth, Christmas in Leavenworth and Seattle Day Trips guide!

Colchuck Lake

Miles (round trip): 8.7
Elevation Gain: 2342 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

This is by far one of the most popular hikes in Washington…and for good reason! The clear bright blue water and the jagged peaks of Colchuck Lake make for one of the most stunning backdrops for a picnic. This hike is located at the beginning of the Enchantments and does not require one of the coveted Enchantments permits for a day hike, making it a hot spot in the summer. As always, arrive early to grab a parking spot and make sure to bring a floaty so you can take a little swim around the crystal clear lake.

Important to know: Within the last few years, this hike has exploded in popularity. You will need to get here very early to get parking. And please, please, PLEASE Leave NO Trace. This hike unfortunately experiences a lot of bad hiker behavior. Do not add to the problem and try to pick up some trash to leave it better than you found it!

Eightmile Lake

Miles (round trip): 6.7
Elevation Gain: 1410 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

The hike to Eightmile Lake is located very close to Colchuck Lake and from our experience, was less crowded. Part of the hike is through a burnt forest with no cover, so make sure to bring sunscreen for those hot summer days! This lake is pretty large and has lots of rocks to sit on for a picnic (watch out for the marmots–we had one run right by us as we ate! Eeek!) and also has some camping spots if you’re able to snag a permit.

Icicle Ridge

Miles (round trip): 4.8
Elevation Gain: 1758 ft
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

This is a great hike if you’re hanging out in Leavenworth and don’t want to stray far from town. The Icicle Ridge hike overlooks Leavenworth and the mountains, giving it a mix of “city” and nature views. When we did this hike the summit was full of super deep snow, so we didn’t fully make it to the top, but we will definitely be back!

The Enchantments

Miles (round trip): 18.9
Elevation Gain: 4,500 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass + Overnight Permit (if applicable)
Dog friendly? No

While there are many smaller hikes that make up the Enchantments, like Colchuck Lake and Eightmile Lake on this list, hiking the entire Enchantments is one of the top bucket list hikes in Washington. The hike is full of epic peaks, gorgeous lakes, and if you’re lucky, mountain goats!

There are two ways you can hike the Enchantments.

1. You can get an overnight permit and go on a backpacking trip, which we did this past year. We shared all of our tips in this Enchantments Guide, including how to get a permit (spoiler alert: it’s hard!), different route options, what to bring, and more!

2. If you do not get a permit, you can hike the entire Enchantments in one day! Disclaimer: this is going to be a long day and very hard, so only tackle this if you’re an experienced hiker. You’ll need to start in the dark to finish the best parts of the hike in the daylight. We’d recommend parking a car at each end of the hike and starting at Colchuck Lake and ending at Snow Lakes. It will be an exhausting day, but VERY beautiful.

No matter which route you take, this is one of our absolute favorite hiking experiences in Washington and a must-do!

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is the area around the Columbia River, just across from Oregon. While the Oregon side of the Columbia River may be more popular, the Washington side has some great adventures too! This area is a bit far from Seattle at about 3.5-4 hours each way.

Dog Mountain

Miles (round trip): 6.5
Elevation Gain: 2988 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass. You need to buy a $2 permit per person to access this trail on weekends from April 11, 2026 through Sunday, June 07, 2026, plus Memorial Day (May 25, 2026).
Dog friendly? Yes

Dog Mountain is a bit far from Seattle, but totally worth the drive for the views of Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge. There are a couple ways to make it to the top of this hike, the difficult route or the more difficult route. We took the more difficult route to the top and the less difficult route to the bottom. Regardless of which way you go, your legs will be burning!

Lower Falls Creek Falls

Miles (round trip): 3.4
Elevation Gain: 685 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass.
Dog friendly? Yes

This is our favorite waterfall hike we’ve done in Washington! The tiered waterfall is gorgeous, powerful, and much larger than we expected. Our jaws dropped when we approached Falls Creek Falls after walking along the river in the forest. The road to the trailhead is rough, but the hike to the falls is well maintained and relatively easy.

Olympic Peninsula

If you want to see mountains, the ocean, lakes, rivers, and a rainforest all in one day, the Olympic Peninsula is for you! You can get to the peninsula by car or by a car + ferry combination and it is a bit of a trek (about 3-3.5 hours to most destinations from Seattle), but it’s so worth it!

Plan a road trip on the Olympic Peninsula with guide to the best things to do in the area! We also have a weekend itinerary based on our many visits to this region.

Mount Storm King

Miles (round trip): 4.1
Elevation Gain: 2106 ft
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

We have an interesting relationship with this hike. The views at the top of Mount Storm King are stunning, but getting to the top is a bit sketchy at times. There are narrow sections with drop offs where you have to use ropes to assist you. We went on an iffy day weather wise, with snow at the top and crazy wind, which made it scarier than during the summer. 

It took us two tries in the same day to summit the mountain, but when we finally did we felt SO accomplished. Despite the fears we (ok, just Kathryn) had getting to the top, it’s without a doubt one of the most rewarding hikes we have done in Washington.

Lena Lake

Miles (round trip): 6.2
Elevation Gain: 1532 ft
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

We hiked the trail to Lena Lake in January and lucked out with a mostly snow free (although very wet) trail. Although it was foggy at the lake, the view was still gorgeous and we will definitely be back! There is a nice big rock overlooking the lake that makes for a great picnic spot.

Cape Flattery

Miles (round trip): 1.2
Elevation Gain: 200 ft
Pass: Makah Recreation Pass, which can be purchased at the Makah Tribal Museum or Washburn’s grocery.
Dog friendly? Yes

Cape Flattery is one of the best effort-to-view ratio hikes in Washington. Just 0.6 miles one way leads you to a viewpoint of the northwestern-most point of the Contiguous US. Super cool! And the view of the rock structures in the water and the coastline is absolutely amazing. It’s a little bit of a trek to get to, but totally worth it!

Sol Duc Falls

Miles (round trip): 1.8
Elevation Gain: 262 ft
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

Located in Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls on the Olympic Peninsula! After a relatively easy stroll through the forest, you’ll reach a wooden bridge where you stand over the waterfall. This waterfall splits into 3-4 channels and plummets into a canyon below. It is extremely picturesque and unlike many waterfalls we have seen!

Important to know: The road to the falls is closed seasonally during the winter months, typically from late fall through early spring. 

Hoh River Trail

Miles (round trip): 10.6
Elevation Gain: 300 ft
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? No

The great thing about the Hoh River Trail, besides the awesome rainforest, is that you can make this hike as short or as long as you’d like. As soon as you enter the trail you’re in the middle of the rainforest, so you don’t have to travel miles and miles for views. In addition to the rainforest, you also get to hike along a beautiful river, with many spots to get closer to the water. We hiked this trail on our first backpacking trip and loved it! We went to the Olympus Guard Station (9 miles in) and then camped at Five Mile Island.

Visiting multiple National Parks? We highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful pass, which costs about $80 per year and gives you free access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including ALL National Parks.

Mount Ellinor

Miles (round trip): 3.2-6.2
Elevation Gain: 3300 ft.
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass
Dog friendly? Yes

Mount Ellinor is one of the most epic hikes on the Olympic Peninsula. While the trek to the top is long and tough (and full of boulders!), you get a nice view of Lake Crescent on the way up and then have a 360 degree view of the peninsula (and its peaks) when reaching the summit.

There are two trailheads to start the hike from: the lower trailhead and the upper trailhead. We started at the upper trailhead, which is a shorter hike at 3.2 miles, but steeper. The lower trailhead is 6.2 miles and eventually meets up with the upper trailhead. While it’s longer, it spreads out the elevation gain a bit more. 

Murhut Falls

Miles (round trip): 1.5
Elevation Gain: 390 ft
Pass: None
Dog friendly? Yes

Murhut Falls quickly became one of our favorite waterfall hikes in Washington. It’s short and sweet, but the waterfall at the end is gorgeous! It makes for a perfect, quick stop while road tripping around the Olympic Peninsula.

Important tips for Hiking in Washington

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