Guest post by Katie Egresi, the Seattle-based author behind The Egresis, a Pacific Northwest adventure blog.
I may be biased, but I think Washington is a pretty incredible place for hiking and exploring year-round. From lush forests, to coastal beaches, jagged mountain peaks, rushing rivers, and waterfalls -- you really can’t go wrong. With some research and planning, you can match your hike to the weather conditions to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. To get you started, I’m sharing some of my favorite hikes to enjoy in Washington during every season.
SPRING
Western Washington is notoriously known for its long, rainy winters . . . but that just makes spring that much sweeter! You should know, though, that snow hangs around at higher elevations in the mountains well into July. This makes spring the perfect time to explore hikes at lower elevations.
Baker Lake - 8 miles roundtrip / 500’ elevation gain
A gentle trail through the woods along the east bank of Baker Lake. The forest is lush and green, and you’ll enjoy crossing a suspension bridge over the rushing Baker River. Walk down to the water’s edge and enjoy stunning views of Mount Baker, including a crystal clear reflection if you’re lucky!
Hole-in-the-Wall - 4 miles roundtrip / no elevation gain
Coastal hike along Rialto Beach with sea stacks, tidepools, and incredible sunsets. We wrote up an entire post on this hike, including other recommendations to extend your trip. Read it here.
Sage Hills - 5.5 miles roundtrip / 650’ elevation gain
Do this hike in early May for the most incredible display of Balsamroot wildflowers. It is quite popular this time of year and has limited parking, so we recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset (don’t forget your headlamp!). Read more here about this hike and other awesome things to do in the Wenatchee area.
Cross the impressive Deception Pass Bridge and take in the sight of vibrant blue water looking out over Lottie Bay to your left (south) and expansive views to the right (north) looking across Bowman Bay. As Washington’s most-visited state park, there’s a ton to explore here including 38 miles of hiking trails, 1.2 miles of ADA hiking trails, 3 miles of bike trails, and 6 miles of horse trails.
Located in central Washington, east of the Cascades, you’ll feel like you’re in a totally different world here! A dry, typically sunny and warm environment makes for a great early-season escape from Seattle. Just be sure to pack your sunscreen and keep an eye out for snakes, which are more common east of the Cascade Mountains.
Looking for even more inspiration? Check out our post on 12 Spring Hikes in Western and Central Washington, and 10 Early-Season Backpacking Trips (Including Beginner Options).
SUMMER
While summer always feels way too short here in Washington, it is absolute perfection. You just can’t beat the long, sunny, rain-free days spent enjoying endless mountain views and alpine lakes in shades of blue you won’t even believe are real. It was so hard narrowing down this list . . . in summer the options are truly endless!
Summit Lake - 6.1 miles roundtrip / 1,300’ elevation gain
A deep blue alpine lake paired with in-your-face views of the always-impressive Mount Rainier.
Emmons Moraine - 3 miles roundtrip / 900’ elevation gain
This hike provides a whole ‘lotta bang for your buck! With pretty minimal effort, you can enjoy impressive views of the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, and a stunning turquoise lake that catches the glacier’s runoff.
Skyline Divide - 9 miles roundtrip / 2,500’ elevation gain
Enjoy expansive mountain views in every direction, including Mount Baker and Shuksan. We did a backpacking trip here in mid-August and saw the most incredible wildflowers and sunset.
Gothic Basin - 9.2 miles roundtrip / 2,840’ elevation gain
This hike is deceptively hard, but worth the effort for magical views that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale valley and a beautiful lake as your final destination.
Colchuck Lake - 8 miles roundtrip / 2,280’ elevation gain
A quintessential Washington hike to a beautiful turquoise lake that is part of the famous Enchantments. This one is extremely popular -- so it’s best to start your hike as early as you can possibly manage, and/or on a weekday.
FALL
Washington is probably not the first state that comes to mind when thinking of gorgeous fall color, but I promise you won’t be disappointed! Ever hear of a larch? They’re essentially golden coniferous trees that can be viewed in the fall, and people go crazy for them here!
Heather - Maple Pass Loop - 7.2 miles roundtrip / 2,000’ elevation gain
Located in North Cascades National Park, this hike will have you constantly saying WOW. You’ll find incredible fall color here, including those famous larches I mentioned. But this is another very well-known and busy option, so plan accordingly!
Skyline Trail Loop - 5.5 miles roundtrip / 1,450’ elevation gain
The views here start before you even leave the parking lot in the gorgeous Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. Here you can see a gorgeous waterfall, meadows bursting with rich fall colors, and eventually views of four massive volcanoes on a clear day: Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and even Mount Hood.
Blue Lake - 4.4 miles roundtrip / 1,050’ elevation gain
Another larch-filled favorite in North Cascades National Park that’s short and sweet and ends at a lake. We took Jessica and Andrew on this one when they came to visit last fall, and they loved it (even in the rain/snow!).
Minotaur Lake - 3.5 miles roundtrip / 1,905’ elevation gain
This one is also short, but it’s a doozy! You’ll embark on a steep climb, but it doesn’t last long and the views are worth it! Enjoy a walk along the bank of Minotaur Lake and then climb a little higher to take in the views down over Theseus Lake and Labyrinth Mountain.
Snow and Gem Lakes - 10 miles roundtrip / 1,800’ elevation gain
Enjoy two sparkling alpine lakes on this trail and plenty of fall color along the trail to reach them. Note that this trail has major avalanche risk so avoid this one if any substantial snow has fallen.
WINTER
And last but not least: winter. I’m personally not a big fan of snow, so I love that we can drive to it in the mountains, but rarely have to deal with it at lower elevations. Before doing any snowy hikes in the mountains, it is very important that you do your research to make sure you’re not venturing into high avalanche risk areas, or that you are prepared with the proper gear and knowledge to navigate the risk if you do. Microspikes, hiking poles, and snowshoes are also quite helpful to have for snowy hikes. Want to play it safe? I’m including three snow-free hikes as well!
Hike through a winter wonderland to a beautiful waterfall. Time it right, and you’ll find the falls frozen over (fully or partially) into an impressive formation of icicles.
Artist Point Snowshoe - 4 miles roundtrip / 1,000’ elevation gain
Artist Point holds the world record for the greatest amount of snowfall in a season (95 feet) -- so naturally it makes a great snowshoeing destination! You’ll find yourself surrounded by snowy mountains, including Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan. Note that this can be an avalanche prone area, so you’ll want to check the forecast with NWAC (Northwest Avalanche Center) and only visit when the risk is low.
Hall of Mosses - .8 miles roundtrip / 100’ elevation gain
When you want to avoid the snow and put avalanche risk out of mind, why not head to the rainforest? Pack your raincoat and enjoy lush, dripping moss unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. This is a nice, short trail, or you can check out the Hoh River Trail if you’d like something longer.
Twin Falls - 2.6 miles roundtrip / 500’ elevation gain
Located just a short distance from Seattle and virtually always snow-free, Twin Falls is a safe bet that’s sure to please! You’ll enjoy a lush, green forest in the winter, river views, and gushing waterfalls.
Ebey’s Landing - 5.6 miles roundtrip / 260’ elevation gain
This trail on Whidbey Island is great year-round and takes you up on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound, including views of Mount Rainier on a clear day. Complete the loop by walking along the beach. If you opt to visit in the summer, you can enjoy lots of wildflowers here too.