Best Hikes in Washington State

Washington's hiking is extraordinarily diverse — from the rainforest valleys of the Olympics to the volcanic summit of Rainier, from the cliff-top views of the North Cascades to the channeled scablands of the Columbia Plateau.

Mount Rainier: Wonderland Trail (93 miles)
A circumnavigation of Mount Rainier through all ecological zones — old-growth forest, meadow, glacial moraine, and subalpine parkland. The full loop takes 10–14 days. The most popular section is the Spray Park approach from Mowich Lake (7 miles), which passes wildflower meadows with direct Rainier views.

Olympic Peninsula: Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rainforest
Hurricane Ridge (5,242 ft) is accessible by road from Port Angeles and gives views of the Olympic Mountains' interior and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Hoh Rainforest receives 140 inches of rain per year — the Hall of Mosses trail through old-growth Sitka spruce and bigleaf maple draped in club moss is one of the most otherworldly natural environments in the US.

North Cascades: Maple Pass Loop (7 miles)
Consistently ranked among the finest hikes in Washington, the Maple Pass Loop above the Rainy Pass parking area on US-20 traverses alpine larches and subalpine meadows with views of Lake Ann and the North Cascades jagged peaks. Fall is the best time (mid-October) when larch needles turn gold.

Rattlesnake Ledge (4 miles)
The most-hiked trail in Washington — a short but steep climb to a cliff-edge ledge above Rattlesnake Lake east of Seattle. The views across the Snoqualmie Valley and toward the Cascades are excellent. Crowds are heavy on weekends; go early.

Mount St. Helens: Loowit Trail (28 miles)
The circumnavigation of Mount St. Helens through the 1980 blast zone — surreal terrain of grey pumice plains, standing dead trees, and emerging vegetation. The lava fields and volcanic landscape are unlike anything else in the Pacific Northwest.