When you think about Washington State, you probably think of Starbucks first coffee shop at Pikes Place, the breakthrough into the grunge scene with Nirvana in the early 90’s, the rise of the hipsters, and scenes of Bella, Jacob, and Edward (team Edward!) amongst rain and evergreens.
What you might not realize is that Washington is a hub for a variety of outdoor recreation. From white water rafting, SUP paddleboarding, wakeboarding, jetskiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, and my favorite…hiking!
The Pacific Northwest tends to be busiest in the summer as chances of blue skies, sun rays, and a bit warmer weather are higher, but spring and autumn are also pleasant seasons to go hiking.
With National Parks including Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Olympic, Mount St. Helens, and literally hundreds of thousands of miles of national forests surrounding, there is a trail for you! Here are my top 10 places to go on a hike in Washington State.
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail is an out-and-back 4-mile roundtrip hike located south of North Bend, Washington. There is a steady 1,000-foot climb and a couple of large switchbacks to ease the climb. There are many sections of roots and rocks to navigate around, large drop-offs, and the path can be quite wet and muddy especially if it’s rained within a few days.
The viewpoint from the top offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and turquoise waters of Rattlesnake Lake below.
Since it’s not far from Seattle and offers a moderate experience with breathtaking views, it’s quite busy on the weekends. I suggest going on a weekday if possible or early on a weekend. Bring a snack to enjoy at the top and share with the many squirrels that hang out and are quite friendly to visitors.
Find more hikes near Seattle here!
Saddle Rock
Saddle Rock trail provides an overlooking view of the Wenatchee Valley. It’s less than a mile out of town so it’s the perfect trail to hit after a day in the office or to get a quick workout in outdoors.
The trail is a 2-mile loop, therefore one side is moderate while the other can be slightly difficult. There are additional trails at the top and around the area that you can follow to extend your mileage. There is no shade, so evenings in the summer are the best time or when the temps drop in the Fall. It’s steep with loose rocks in some areas and can be quite muddy and slick after a few rainy days.
Free parking is available at the trailhead in a dirt lot or on the side of the road is safe to park, too. This trail is dog-friendly and there is a water fountain and bathroom at the trailhead.
Spending a weekend in Wenatchee? Check out this itinerary!
Colchuck Lake Enchantments
The Enchantments are located in the Central Cascades of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Although this hike is very popular, the terrain is rugged and the area is fairly remote, so you likely won’t see others until you reach the lake.
Check out Hiking the Enchantments for more information and pictures and this guide for visiting Leavenworth!
Mt. Rainier National Forest
Glacier-capped Mt. Rainier stands at 14,410 feet and is surrounded by over 350 square miles of National Forest. With over 260 miles of maintained trails, it can be quite hard to decide which trail to take. My best advice is to use this site to search by the area that is closest or easiest depending on your location and amount of time available. There are hikes ranging from .2 miles to 10+ miles.
I went to the Sunrise Area which is the highest point that can be reached by car at 6,400 feet elevation. Multiple trails connect in this area offering numerous routes to make your hike as long or as short as you choose. Sunrise Rim Trail is not clearly marked so you’ll likely end up on another trail whether you intend to or not. Some areas are easy and other trails that range from moderate to difficult with snow-covered steeps. Regardless, it offers 360° breathtaking views.
If you don’t have an annual pass ($55) then you’ll need to pay for entrance ($30/car or $15/walkup or bicycle). Arrive early, even on weekdays, it gets packed. There is a visitor center and souvenir snack shop but I would recommend packing your own lunch or snacks.
I was lucky with 86°F/30°C blue skies (which is close to record highs for July) but that is not often the case, so definitely check the weather conditions before going. Although, I have a feeling that no matter the season, Mt. Rainier and its surrounding forest show off!
Olympic National Forest
The Olympic National Forest spans over 600,000 acres surrounding the Olympic National Park and the Olympic Mountains. It has over 150 trails ranging the diverse climates and landscapes of coastal rainforests to fields of wildflowers alongside rushing rivers.
Campgrounds throughout the forest and trails ranging from easy, moderate, and difficult provide day trips from your campground or the SeaTac and Olympia area. If you’re looking for a day trip coming from SeaTac, the southeastern area is closest and will give you more daylight for hiking and driving. I recommend the western coastal side if you have time for a longer trip. Take a look here to choose the hike that’s best for you!
Oyster Dome
A short drive away from Taylor Shellfish Farms (stop here before or after for #tidetotable shellfish) on Chuckanut Drive, the Oyster Dome trail is a moderate 3.5-mile one-way steep trip up. Calves on fire but worth the view!
This hike is less than 30 minutes from Bellingham so the trail can get quite busy, especially on a sunny weekend. There is no parking lot so prepare to park on the shoulder of the road and arrive early.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls offers a pleasant stop if you’re driving over the pass as it’s 10 minutes from North Bend. It’s an easy 2-mile out-and-back trail that takes you from the top of the falls to the bottom. The bottom has a nice “beach” area to relax, eat lunch or a snack, and enjoy the falls.
It’s a heavily trafficked area full of tourists on weekends, so arrive early, plan for crowds, or avoid tourists altogether by arranging to go on a weekday.
Whatcom Falls Park
Whatcom Falls Park is located a short 10-minute drive away from Bellingham’s city center. There are over 3 miles of trails within the 200+ acres of Whatcom Falls Park with trails winding around the creek, pools and falls through the forest. The trail provides a great walking, running, and bike path.
Check out more things to do in Bellingham here.
Hidden Lake Trail
Hidden Lake Trail is located 30 minutes from Leavenworth near Lake Wenatchee State Park. The trail is quite short but steep and there are TONS of mosquitoes so make sure to spray yourself with bug repellent before and take your spray with you for mid-hike.
There are plenty of fallen trees and rocks to sit on when you reach the lake, so pack a lunch or snack to enjoy the relaxing water. The trailhead has plenty of parking but the last bit of the drive is on a dirt road.
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is in the northwestern corner of the state and is the largest of the San Juan Islands. Moran State Park encompasses over 5,000 acres on Orcas Island. It has over 10 easy-to-moderate hiking trails ranging from 2 to 10 miles.
Read my Orcas Island Weekend Getaway Guide here!
What’s your favorite hike in Washington? Leave a comment below and check out more hikes and weekend getaways in Washington State below!
