I’m frequently asked for hiking trail recommendations in Washington, so I thought a list of beginner hikes was long overdue. I put together this list of beautiful easy hikes that are dog-friendly, kid and family-friendly, and range in distance from 1 to 7 miles. Whatever type of hike you’re looking for in Washington State, this list is sure to cover it!
Coal Creek Falls
- Distance: 5.1 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 416 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: None
- Pet-Friendly: Yes, leashed
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park offers a variety of hiking trails that intertwine. This allows for nearly all trails to be as long or short as you choose! Coal Creek Trail provides this beautiful waterfall pictured above within .2 miles of the trail. Being that it’s the closest on the list to Seattle, it’s known for being quite muddy. As you can see on my hiking boots in the photo, the mud can and will engulf your foot. It’s not a trail that requires hiking boots but I recommend wearing waterproof shoes or shoes you do not mind getting muddy!
Franklin Falls
- Distance: 2.0 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 400 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed
- Kid-friendly: Yes
Franklin Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Snoqualmie National Forest. The 70 foot waterfall is best from April-July when it’s fueled by snowmelt. But the trail is still worth visiting in the winter when the waterfall is often frozen. This trail is pretty shaded the entire way, so it’s a perfect option to escape those hot summer days.
Rattlesnake Ledge
- Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 1160 feet
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Pass Required: N/A
- Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Rattlesnake Ledge is a classic Washington trail for good reason. It offers stunning views of the Cascade Mountains and Rattlesnake Lake below. But don’t think you’ll be escaping the crowds on this trail. It’s a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle [find more easily accessible hikes from Seattle here] and accessible nearly all year round, making it a very popular hike. Don’t forget your trail etiquette here!
Baker River Trail in North Cascades
- Distance: 5.2 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Baker River Trail meanders alongside Baker River for a mellow walk in the wilderness. You’ll catch glimpses of Mt. Shuksan as you pass moss-covered boulders, meadows, and patches of salmonberries. This is a great trail if you are out camping in the North Cascades as it’s easily accessible and there are plenty of great campsites nearby.
Whatcom Falls
- Distance: 4.0 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 50 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: No
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
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.
Heybrook Lookout
- Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 850 feet
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Pass Required: N/A
- Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Heybrook Lookout offers stunning views of Mt Index and the surrounding peaks. If it’s not too crowded, you can sit in the lookout and enjoy a snack while taking in the views. If it’s busy (it is a short drive from Seattle), there’s also a picnic table at the bottom you can enjoy. If you’re looking to extend your hike, Heybrook Ridge is nearby and adds 3.3 miles with a moderate 800-foot elevation gain.
Sunrise Rim Trail at Mt Rainer
- Distance: 5.5 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 1,115 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pass Required: National Park Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Sunrise Rim Trail is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park sitting at an elevation of 6,400 feet. During the summer and clearer days in spring and fall, you’re guaranteed stunning views of Mt. Rainier, the Northern Cascades, the Tatoosh Range with Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount Adams. With 360º mountain and wildflower meadow views, easy access, and wildlife sightings -this trail is the second most visited in Mount Rainier National Park. But with so many trails shooting off from Sunrise Rim Trail, it’s quite easy to avoid the crowded more accessible areas.
Twin Falls
- Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 967 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pass Required: Discover Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
As the name suggests, Twin Falls has 2 waterfalls. The trail runs along the river, so many side trails take you to the water. Just be mindful to stay on marked trails to limit your impact on the environment. The first waterfall pictured above is less than a mile on the trail. Venture about half a mile further and you’ll find the second falls shown here.
Hidden Lake Trail
- Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 220 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
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.
Snoqualmie Falls
- Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 374 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: No
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Start at the Upper Falls viewpoint and make your way along a short covered trail to the Snoqualmie River. Here you’ll see the iconic falls made famous from the 90’s TV show Twin Peaks.
Cedar Falls Trail
- Distance: 3.2 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 374 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Cedar Falls Trail is located near Winthrop, which is a cute little town to explore before or after. The narrow trail is lined with wildflowers which makes a beautiful haven for butterflies. Springtime snow melts make the best time to find an active waterfall. There is a lovely clearing and logs to sit on nearby which provide the perfect midpoint to have lunch or grab a snack on the trail.
Marymere Falls
- Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 500 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: National Parks Pass
- Pet Friendly: Not allowed
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Marymere Falls is a short hike from Lake Crescent and the Storm King Ranger Station. This 90-foot waterfall is easy to access with a well-maintained trail. The falls are surrounded by old-growth forest and the ground is covered in lush green moss. Feel the mist on your face from the trail and find a rock to enjoy the peace. If you are hiking Mount Storm King, this is the perfect addition before or after.
Find my full Olympic Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary here!
Hall of Mosses
Distance: 1.1 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 78 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass Required: National Park Pass or America the Beautiful
Pet Friendly: No
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Another must-do hike that is more family-friendly is the Hall of Mosses in the Olympic National Park. It’s a short, flat, and easy .8-mile hike. Wandering through the forest with Douglas fir and Sitka spruce trees towering above you with their branches covered in moss hanging down in flowing strands creates a magical otherwordly atmosphere. It’s like walking through a living, breathing curtain of green.
Visiting during spring or fall will increase your chances of a moody misty day, giving you all the PNW vibes. In the summertime, there’s more chance of sunshine, which is absolutely stunning with sunbeams coming through the moss.
Check out this blog post for a full itinerary on the Olympic Peninsula!
Four Stream Trail on the Olympic Peninsula
- Distance: 7 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 120 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: America the Beautiful Pass
- Pet Friendly: No
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
Four Stream Trail is on the Olympic Peninsula and while it can be a day hike from Seattle, there are plenty of campsites and cabins in the Olympic National Park making it more easily accessible. The first few miles of the trail are very well maintained as you wander through the forest alongside the water. There are plenty of swimming and picnic spots to stop at on a warm summer day. After the second cross-over via rocks, the trail is not as well maintained but traffic thins out. With plenty of side trails, this could easily make for a day’s adventure!
Skyline Lake
- Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 1050
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pass Required: None
- Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed
- Kid-Friendly: No
Skyline Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail to the lake is quite short but there is a short section that is a bit challenging only because it’s very steep. But the views are worth it! In the winter, the lake is frozen and the surrounding mountains are covered in snow, making for a truly magical experience. This trail is best done by snowshoes.
Icicle Gorge Trail
- Distance: 4.5 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 387 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pass Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
The road up to Icicle Gorge Trail is quite rough but once you arrive the trail is extremely easy. A 4.5-mile loop offers 2 entrances, so even when the parking lot is overflowing, the trail is pretty quiet. This is a very popular trail near Leavenworth, so it’s well-maintained and there are plenty of side trails and stopping points to take in the surrounding beauty.
Have you hiked any of these trails? Leave a comment below with your favorite and don’t forget to check out my other hiking posts in the Washington area:
- 5 Easily-Accessible Hiking Trails with Amazing Views Less Than 2 Hours from Seattle
- 10 Best Hikes in Washington
- Hiking the Enchantments
- The Ultimate Guide to a Weekend in Bellingham
- Weekend Getaway Guide to Orcas Island
- 5 Things to Do in Anacortes
