WTA Hiking Guide
September 2009 Update: Select content from the Mountaineers Books'
"Day Hiking" series comprising titles covering six regions in
Washington is now incorporated into the Hiking Guide. Sales of the
full books from this website, which include maps, elevation
profiles, photos and more, benefit WTA and help protect and
maintain our trails.
Search for a hike...
Locate hike descriptions and trip reports for more than 2500 hikes in Washington. Because the search features are new, use hike name or region for most comprehensive results. And please consider adding missing descriptions and hike data to the Hiking Guide to help make this the most useful online resource for hiking in Washington!
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Silver Star Mountain
(6 votes)
South Cascades -- Columbia Gorge
(Mt. Adams Ranger District)
Silver Star Mountain (#180)
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The Silver Star Trail has captured the attention of many local hikers for very good reasons: it offers a high, meadow-lined ridge and lots of pretty foliage for autumn colors. It's a beautiful little trail, well worth anyone's time to visit.
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Fall foliage, Wildflowers/Meadows, Mountain views, Summits, Ridges/passes
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Horseshoe Basin
(7 votes)
North Cascades -- East Slope
(Okanogan National Forest, Tonasket Ranger District)
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A land of immense natural beauty teetering on the extreme eastern end of the North Cascades, Horseshoe Basin has long been a favorite destination for backpackers. With sprawling alpine tundra, shimmering tarns, a half-dozen wide-open, easy-to-scramble summits, and spectacular wildlife observing, it's no wonder
visitors prefer to spend days here. But Horseshoe Basin's fairly easy approach and gentle terrain make it a dead ringer for day hikers too. You won't be able to experience it all. But you'll get a nice taste-and by traveling lightly in this precious area you'll leave less of an impact than all of those backpackers.
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Wildflowers/Meadows, Mountain views, Wildlife, Ridges/passes
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A moderate hike leads through open pine forests, across sprawling fields of flowers, and to glorious views of surrounding alpine peaks. Lupine, shooting stars, beargrass--the French Cabin Creek basin has them all. Birds and beasts, including deer and elk, love the meadows and open forests for the dense insect population and nutrient-rich forage. Fortunately, the lack of standing water means most of the bugs are creepy crawlers rather than buzzing skeeters, which leaves you free to enjoy the grand views and lush flora and fauna without pesky biters and blood suckers.
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Goat Lake
(19 votes)
North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
(Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District)
Goat Lake (#647)
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A spectacular backcountry lake - one of the largest in the area - awaits those who walk this way. Once the site of a bustling mining operation, complete with company town and lakeside hotel, Goat Lake boasts plenty of history along with its fine views. Waterfalls too!
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Rivers, Lakes, Waterfalls, Old growth, Established campsites
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Barrier-free trails are generally designed for folks with mobility concerns-people in wheelchairs or with walking limitations. This unique forest path serves those forest visitors admirably, but it does far more than that. It also opens a wonderful Northwest forest up to the visually impaired. Even hikers who are completely blind can enjoy this remarkable trail.
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Umtanum Canyon
(8 votes)
Eastern Washington -- Yakima
(Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, LT Murray Wildlife Area)
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One of Washington state's best wildlife hikes, Umtanum Canyon is best visited in the spring -- after the migrant birds arrive and before the heat of June sets in.
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Wildflowers/Meadows, Wildlife
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Follow Tiger Mountain's finest old rail line while exploring some of the wildest and remotest stands of forest remaining on the mountain. You'll even find some outstanding views during this long, gentle hike. If you want to keep from swatting mosquitoes with every step, visit in fall through spring.
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Summits
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This trail was carved out of cliff faces and mountaintops. The route is long, sun-baked, and incredibly scenic, while the trail itself is rough, steep and very exposed.
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A series of falls, nine in all, two that are stunning and one-the tallest at 265 feet-that's absolutely spectacular! As Wallace Falls is one of the best known and loved sets of cataracts in the Evergreen State, expect plenty of company on this hike. And while these falls are grand any time of year, visit on a rainy day. Each raindrop that falls from the heavens and makes its way to the Wallace River enhances the intensity and stimulating beauty of this cavalcade of crashing cascades.
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Rivers, Waterfalls
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Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
(5 votes)
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
(Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)
Ira Spring Memorial (#1038)
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Hikers owe an incredible debt of thanks to Ira Spring. This soft-spoken man and his trail-loving photography did more for trail protection in Washington than any other person in hiking history. It is only fitting that this rehabilitated trail to Mason Lake bears his name. The fact that his namesake trail leads to a beautiful mountain lake is also appropriate, as Ira loved lakes of all kinds and sizes.
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Lakes, Mountain views
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Talapus and Olallie Lakes
(6 votes)
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
(Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)
Talapus Lake (#1039)
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These easy-to-reach lakes receive a lot of visitors every sunny summer weekend, but don't let that keep you away. All those people can't be wrong--even if it means sharing. In fact, bring the kids--by mid-August the snow-fed lakes have warmed enough that you can take a swim without turning blue.
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Lakes, Old growth
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Mountain views, Summits, Ridges/passes
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This is a great hike for kids with lots to see including wild flowers, big views of Mt. Rainier and maybe even some wildlife including marmots and goats. Take a picnic and enjoy the wonderful sights along this trail.
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Wildflowers/Meadows, Mountain views, Wildlife, Ridges/passes
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You won't find any slain warriors at Lake Valhalla, nor will maidens escort you here, but ancient conifers line the gallant shores and boisterous chickadees usher you along the backbone of the Cascades. Unlike Odin's Valhalla, this one is very real and attainable by all willing to expend a little energy and expunge the outside world for a little while. On this inspiring march through a corridor of majestic tress, you may end up humming a little Wagner en route.
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Splendid undeveloped lakeshore and riverfront, spectacular views of towering peaks near and far, all from a pleasant loop that originates from one of Washington's busiest and best-loved state park campgrounds. But surprisingly, many campers never wander far from their fire pits and RVs, leaving these trails relatively quiet. The mosquitoes, however, are another thing. They're legendary here in May and June.
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While most hikers cross the bridge and go left, heading upstream along the main Middle Fork Trail, savvy hikers looking for a solitary short hike will turn right and scramble downstream. There once was a popular trail on this side of the river, and hard-core backcountry anglers will still find their way up a faint boot-beaten path alongside Rainy Creek all the way to trout heaven at Rainy Lake. For most hikers, though, a simple hike alongside the Middle Fork will be sufficient escape.
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The Boundary Trail extends across vast sections of the landscape, but sometimes a little goes a long way. This western segment is a good introduction to the blast that altered this wild landscape.
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If you need a hike that stretches your legs, exercises your lungs, and offers a good dose of solitude in a very popular part of the park, check out this route. This section of the Wonderland Trail, recently renovated by volunteers, leads from the White River Campground straight up the valley wall to Sunrise, 3 miles above. The trail sticks strictly to forest until you reach the top, so don't expect sweeping views until you reach Sunrise. The combination of elevation gain, lack of views, and car-accessible destination means this trail is seldom visited and there-fore perfect for the hiker who wants a wild-country workout in a cool forest.
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Surprise Lake
(5 votes)
South Cascades -- Goat Rocks
(Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Naches Ranmger District)
Surprise Lake (#1120)
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Most hikers enter the Goat Rocks Wilderness from the western side, but those who come in from the east find the wilderness just as beautiful and wild, and much less crowded. The Surprise Lake Trail is one of the few that enter from the east, and it is also one of the most gentle and scenic.
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Rivers, Lakes, Wildflowers/Meadows, Mountain views, Established campsites
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No need to head all the way to the Pacific if it's a good beach hike you seek. One of Washington's best saltwater strolls is along its "north coast, "the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Actually, this hike heads directly into the strait on the longest coastal spit in the continental United States. A narrow strip of sand, dune, and beached logs, the Dungeness Spit protrudes over 5 miles straight into the strait. Prone to breaching during storms, the spit is also resilient and well-established-and well-hiked and loved by those who explore it.
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Hike a gentle trail along a raging river. Perfect for evening and early morning strolls. Perfect for introducing children to the wonders of nature. Perfect for stretching your legs out on the way to Heather Meadows. Perfect for watching diving dippers and daring river kayakers. And perfect for staring into tumultuous rapids. But a terrible place for carrying on a conversation-the river's roar is deafening, its allure oh-so intoxicating.
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Indian Heaven Wilderness is a wonderland of sparkling lakes, jagged peaks, open forests, and, most notably, expansive meadows filled with flowers and an array of wildlife. A pair of loops around Bird Mountain-the highest peak in the wilderness-allow hikers to experience the best of each of those offerings. The short loop stays close to the flank of Bird Mountain, while the longer loop wanders farther south into bigger meadowlands before turning back to skirt around the mountain.
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Indian Heaven Wilderness abounds in forest lakes, expansive meadows, craggy peaks, and majestic wilderness. Native Americans took advantage of all those offerings, and this trail lets you do the same. The lakes you'll pass along the route still hold hardy populations of trout. The meadows you'll cross offer a bounty of berries, and, for those who really want to feast at the wilderness buffet, camas root (a starchy staple of the local tribal diet for centuries). Deer and elk browse through the forest/meadow interface, using the timberlands for cover and the meadows for forage. This trail, in short, takes you on a virtual trip through time, leading you back into the wild country that provided so much to the locals that lived here for millennia.
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This is a delightful loop back into history, full of scenic surprises. Thanks to the Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) this historic rail line through the Cascades has been rescued from oblivion and transformed into a top-notch trail ideal for hikers of all ages and abilities, as well as for lovers of Northwest and railroad history. So get your caboose in gear and, with all due respect to the Man in Black, walk the line!
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A brutally steep trail-one of the steepest in the Icicle Creek valley-the way to Bootjack may well have you ripping your boots off once you're down, eager to soak your sore tootsies. But the relentless climb is worth it, delivering you to a high ridge where alpine breezes whistle through silver snags and dazzling wild-flowers dance beneath them. Then follow a scramble path to Bootjack's summit, where it's the knockout panoramic views that will knock your boots off.
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Hike to an emerald lake in a subalpine setting. The trip is long, but the terrain is welcoming and the surroundings peaceful. Miles of magnificent old growth shade the way. Come in midsummer and enjoy a swim. Visit in late summer and reap a bounty of succulent huckleberries. Make the trip on a chilly autumn day and look forward to a hot-springs soak on the way out.
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Ironstone-Burnt Mountain
(3 votes)
South Cascades -- White Pass / Cowlitz River Valley
Ironstone Mountain (#1141)
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Few times in life do hikers get the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful hiking adventure along a high, alpine ridge in a stunning wilderness area without first having to climb that ridge under their own steam. This is one of those rare opportunities. This route starts high from a road-end trailhead just outside the wilderness boundary, then rambles along the ridgeline of Burnt Mountain, onto the shoulder of Shellrock Peak, and then under the summit of Ironstone Mountain. Along the way, you'll explore wonderful ancient forests, cool forest glades, and flower-filled alpine meadows, and have ample opportunities to see wildlife and wide wilderness vistas-all without the thigh-burning ascents and knee-grinding descents that usually are the prices paid for such stellar scenery.
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Crystal Mountain Loop
(3 votes)
South Cascades -- Chinook Pass - Enumclaw or Hwy 410 area
Crystal Mountain (#1163)
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Okay, you're hiking through the heart of the ski area: so what? Once you pass the first ski lift you'll forget that you're in a de-veloped basin. The trail rolls up through forest, across alpine meadows, and past a couple of fine little lakes before erupting onto a high, wind-swept ridge that is rich with views.
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With all due respect to the Bard, what's in a mountain? That which we call Mount Rose by any other name would still be as steep. This is a challenging hike-one of the steepest trails in the Olympics. Great for conditioning, Rose offers a few scenic rewards too, from beautiful high-elevation old-growth forests to a knockout view of Lake Cushman from 3500 feet directly above it. Consider Rose an alternative to Mount Ellinor. When half of Olympia is crowding Ellinor's summit like goats at a salt lick, you just might be savoring the sweet offerings of Rose all by yourself.
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Enchantment Lakes
(30 votes)
Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
(Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District)
Enchantment Lakes (#1553)
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A high alpine basin full of lakes, larch, mountain goats, and fantastically stark granite that is considered by many to be the best hike in the state. Options abound - plenty of places to camp, side trails, summits, and more ensure that you will be wishing you had marked a few extra days on your backpacking permit!
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Rivers, Lakes, Waterfalls, Old growth, Fall foliage, Wildflowers/Meadows, Mountain views, Summits, Wildlife, Ridges/passes, Established campsites
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