Washington's Most Scenic Overlooks and Viewpoints

Washington's overlooks range from the wind-swept ridges of the Cascades and Olympics to the dramatic cliff-edges of the Columbia River Gorge and the urban vantage of the Space Needle.

Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park, 5,242 ft)
The most accessible mountain overlook in Olympic National Park, reached by a 17-mile paved road from Port Angeles. The ridge looks directly south into the Olympic Mountains interior — a jagged, heavily glaciated range that feels more like the Swiss Alps than anything else in the Pacific Northwest. The view north is over the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island. Deer and mountain goats are commonly encountered along the ridge.

Mount Constitution Summit (Orcas Island, 2,409 ft)
The highest point in the San Juan Islands, reachable by paved road from Eastsound. The 1936 stone tower at the summit gives views of all of the San Juan Islands, the BC coast, Mount Baker to the east, and the Olympic Mountains to the south. On clear days, Vancouver and Mount Rainier are visible. One of the finest panoramas in the Pacific Northwest.

Sunrise (Mount Rainier National Park, 6,400 ft)
The highest point in the park accessible by paved road. The views from Sunrise of Rainier's summit and the Emmons Glacier (the largest glacier in the lower 48 by area) are extraordinary. Wildflower meadows in July and August surround the visitor center. The drive up from the White River entrance is itself spectacular.

Artist Point (Mount Baker Wilderness, 5,140 ft)
Near the end of WA-542 above the Mount Baker Ski Area, Artist Point offers views of both Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan — two of the most photographed mountains in Washington. Mount Shuksan, with its pyramidal rock peak and hanging glaciers, is the most-photographed mountain in North America by many estimates.

Rattlesnake Ledge (east of Seattle)
A rocky clifftop ledge just east of Seattle accessible via a short hike. The views across Rattlesnake Lake and the Snoqualmie Valley toward the Cascades are excellent and reward the relatively modest effort.