Washington State is found in the Pacific Northwest with terrain covering the Cascade Mountains and forested islands in Puget Sound. It’s home to Seattle, it’s largest city, which is known for its tech industry, music scene, and coffeehouses. However, the state is also home to some of the most exciting trails in the country! If you want to experience some challenging terrain that will keep you entertained for hours, read on! If you are looking for more trails, check out the other national parks where you can hike.
Location: GPS 47.445968, -121.795252
Mileage: 6.6 miles
Hike Time: 6-7 hours
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail is a 6.6 mile loop trail in North Bend, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, beach, waterfall, river, amazing views, wild flowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky and muddy.
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail offers impressive views of surrounding mountains including Mount Si and Mount Washington. It’s a popular trail during the summer. It provides fantastic panoramic views from Rattlesnake Ridge but also a fun park below it. Many come just to use the lake in the summer. Because motored boats and fishing aren’t allowed on the lake, it’s an ideal place for kayakers and swimmers! So don't forget your dry bag if you are kayaking.
Location: GPS 48.077382, -121.745973
Mileage: 6.7 miles
Hike Time: 5-6 hours
Lake 22 Trail is a 6.7-mile loop trail in Granite Falls, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open May to November. Here, you may go dog walking, snowshoeing, camping, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, lake, waterfall, river, neat views, wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky with lots of old growth.
Lake 22 Trail is a lovely hike to an alpine lake through old growth forests that take you to gorgeous mountain views of Mount Pilchuck. It’s accessed off of Mountain Loop Highway in the North Cascades.
This trail starts out through a dirt staircase through a rainforest where you can hear water trickling from the creek throughout the forest. There’s a nice bridge that crosses the creek where you will find a stunning waterfall. As the trail gets steeper, you’ll find more rocks and creek crossings. Then you’ll come across gently switchbacks that take you along the talus slope with the wall of the Lake 22 above. The trail is very rocky so wear good shoes!
Location: GPS 47.497101, -121.731891
Mileage: 7.6 miles
Hike Time: 6-7 hours
Mount Si Trail and Cedar Run Trails is a 7.6-mile loop trail in North Bend, Washington. It’s a moderately trafficked difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, river, waterfall, cool views, wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky.
Mount Si Trail takes you from a parking lot at the trailhead to your ascent to Mount Si. The trail is well-marked and well-maintained with plenty of wildlife. Watch for bears!
Most of the hike is under shade, so you don’t have to worry about the beating sun on your back. It’s a good hike at all times of the year. The trail eventually takes you to the rocky surface called the Haystack. It can be very slippery when wet, so be careful if you go after a rain. You may need some climbing experience to reach the top of the Haystack.
Location: GPS 47.455045, -121.439003
Mileage: 6.6 miles
Hike Time: 4-5 hours
Snow Lake Trail is a 6.6-mile loop trail in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may dog walking, backpacking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, birding, hiking, on nature trips, rock climbing, trail running, and Nordic walking. You’ll see incredible views, a waterfall, a lake, wildflowers, and a variety of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky and snowy.
Snow Lake trail is one of the most beautiful in Washington. It features a magnificent lake carved into the woods of Washington state. There’s so much to do and see here. You don’t want to miss it!
The first 2 miles of this hike are direct which are followed by a series of rocky switchbacks which take you to the top of the ridge. Watch out for the signs as you will have to branch right off the trail 2 miles from the ridge. You may even shorten or extend the hike if you stop when you get to the lake or hiking further. In the winter, you may even snowshoe here, but it can get hard to keep track of the trail.
Location: GPS 41.467185, -73.954817
Mileage: 4.6 miles
Hike Time: 3-4 hours
Wallace Falls Trail is a4.6-milee loop trail in Gold Bar, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, waterfall, amazing views, a river, wild flowers, and plenty of wildlife.
Wallace Falls includes nine different cataracts which are challenging to hike but very rewarding. The hike is short for a picnic outing though. On the trail, you’ll find plenty of flora and fauna as well as an old growth forest.
At the trailhea,d you’ll find public bathrooms and drinking water. The path is well marked with bridges and vista platforms, so you can view the falls. There is even a covered picnic area when you reach the bottom of the falls. This is a great hike for the whole family, especially if you’re athletic!
If you’re excited about the cascading waterfalls and rocky scrambles littering the terrain, you’re sure to enjoy these trails in Washington state. They have something for everyone with steep uphill climbs to flat strolls against running streams or a vast lake. If you visit, don’t forget to share your pictures!
Best Hiking Trails In Washington
| Rank | Trail | Length (miles) |
| 1 | Rattlesnake Ledge Trail | 6.6 |
| 2 | Lake 22 Trail | 6.7 |
| 3 | Mount Si Trail | 7.6 |
| 4 | Snow Lake Trail | 6.6 |
| 5 | Wallace Falls Trail | 4.6 |
1. Rattlesnake Ledge Trail
Location: GPS 47.445968, -121.795252
Mileage: 6.6 miles
Hike Time: 6-7 hours
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail is a 6.6 mile loop trail in North Bend, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, beach, waterfall, river, amazing views, wild flowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky and muddy.
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail offers impressive views of surrounding mountains including Mount Si and Mount Washington. It’s a popular trail during the summer. It provides fantastic panoramic views from Rattlesnake Ridge but also a fun park below it. Many come just to use the lake in the summer. Because motored boats and fishing aren’t allowed on the lake, it’s an ideal place for kayakers and swimmers! So don't forget your dry bag if you are kayaking.
2. Lake 22 Trail
Location: GPS 48.077382, -121.745973
Mileage: 6.7 miles
Hike Time: 5-6 hours
Lake 22 Trail is a 6.7-mile loop trail in Granite Falls, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open May to November. Here, you may go dog walking, snowshoeing, camping, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, lake, waterfall, river, neat views, wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky with lots of old growth.
Lake 22 Trail is a lovely hike to an alpine lake through old growth forests that take you to gorgeous mountain views of Mount Pilchuck. It’s accessed off of Mountain Loop Highway in the North Cascades.
This trail starts out through a dirt staircase through a rainforest where you can hear water trickling from the creek throughout the forest. There’s a nice bridge that crosses the creek where you will find a stunning waterfall. As the trail gets steeper, you’ll find more rocks and creek crossings. Then you’ll come across gently switchbacks that take you along the talus slope with the wall of the Lake 22 above. The trail is very rocky so wear good shoes!
3. Mount Si Trail
Location: GPS 47.497101, -121.731891
Mileage: 7.6 miles
Hike Time: 6-7 hours
Mount Si Trail and Cedar Run Trails is a 7.6-mile loop trail in North Bend, Washington. It’s a moderately trafficked difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, river, waterfall, cool views, wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky.
Mount Si Trail takes you from a parking lot at the trailhead to your ascent to Mount Si. The trail is well-marked and well-maintained with plenty of wildlife. Watch for bears!
Most of the hike is under shade, so you don’t have to worry about the beating sun on your back. It’s a good hike at all times of the year. The trail eventually takes you to the rocky surface called the Haystack. It can be very slippery when wet, so be careful if you go after a rain. You may need some climbing experience to reach the top of the Haystack.
4. Snow Lake Trail
Location: GPS 47.455045, -121.439003
Mileage: 6.6 miles
Hike Time: 4-5 hours
Snow Lake Trail is a 6.6-mile loop trail in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may dog walking, backpacking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, birding, hiking, on nature trips, rock climbing, trail running, and Nordic walking. You’ll see incredible views, a waterfall, a lake, wildflowers, and a variety of wildlife. The path itself is very rocky and snowy.
Snow Lake trail is one of the most beautiful in Washington. It features a magnificent lake carved into the woods of Washington state. There’s so much to do and see here. You don’t want to miss it!
The first 2 miles of this hike are direct which are followed by a series of rocky switchbacks which take you to the top of the ridge. Watch out for the signs as you will have to branch right off the trail 2 miles from the ridge. You may even shorten or extend the hike if you stop when you get to the lake or hiking further. In the winter, you may even snowshoe here, but it can get hard to keep track of the trail.
5. Wallace Falls Trail
Location: GPS 41.467185, -73.954817
Mileage: 4.6 miles
Hike Time: 3-4 hours
Wallace Falls Trail is a4.6-milee loop trail in Gold Bar, Washington. It’s a heavily trafficked moderately difficult trail open year-round. Here, you may go dog walking, birding, hiking, on nature trips, trail running, and walking. You’ll see a forest, waterfall, amazing views, a river, wild flowers, and plenty of wildlife.
Wallace Falls includes nine different cataracts which are challenging to hike but very rewarding. The hike is short for a picnic outing though. On the trail, you’ll find plenty of flora and fauna as well as an old growth forest.
At the trailhea,d you’ll find public bathrooms and drinking water. The path is well marked with bridges and vista platforms, so you can view the falls. There is even a covered picnic area when you reach the bottom of the falls. This is a great hike for the whole family, especially if you’re athletic!
If you’re excited about the cascading waterfalls and rocky scrambles littering the terrain, you’re sure to enjoy these trails in Washington state. They have something for everyone with steep uphill climbs to flat strolls against running streams or a vast lake. If you visit, don’t forget to share your pictures!