7 Washington Hikes You Can Get Out And Do Right Now
The best thing about nature is that it never closes. Especially here in our little corner of the country, hiking and outdoor recreation are available all year-round, and we are always happy to get out and explore! If you’re itching for an adventure and are looking for something a bit new to you or off-the-beaten-path, we have a list of some of the best hikes in Washington for you to tackle! These seven hiking trails are all within reasonable driving distances from their nearby cities and towns, and we consider them some of the best hikes in Washington!
Soaring Eagle Regional Park is located in the beautiful Sammamish. The five-mile trail includes plenty of lush forest and it's a nice and easy little nature walk that's great for all skill levels.
The trailhead for the Ahtanum Ridge Loop admittedly isn't very well-marked; your best bet is to look for the military tank at the Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Union Gap. But when you do find it, prepare for fantastic views on this 2.5-mile trek, which is, in our opinion, one of the best hikes in Washington!
The Cougar Trails Loop is a nice and pleasant 2.8-mile trail located in the Vancouver area. And while you won't be climbing any mountains or trekking through switchbacks, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of nature in solitude — or close to it!
Unless you live in Renton or Maple Valley, you've probably never heard of this trail that offers both a rural river walk and a more urban hike. And while it's more than 15 miles in its entirety, you definitely don't have to hike the whole thing in a day. You can learn more about this beautiful and long hike in Washington at AllTrails.
Eastern Washington has some of the state's most beautiful trails, many of which are pretty close to Spokane's city limits. Glenrose Cliff Trail is located in the Dishman Hills Natural Area and covers about 6.7 miles of stunning terrain.
Fragrance Lake is part of the beautiful Larrabee State Park on Chuckanut Drive. Fragrance Lake Trail is a 3.9-mile, heavily-trafficked loop trail located near Bellingham, Washington, that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on a leash.
The hike up Candy Mountain, which is located near Richland, is a bit steep. However, the sweeping views from the top are totally worth breaking a sweat. This trail is about 3.5 miles, and it's typically pretty uncrowded.
What are your picks for the best hikes in Washington? Did we miss any of your go-to trails? Please share them with us in the comments — we love learning about new-to-us hikes in the Evergreen State!
Looking for more scenic treks in Washington? These wonderful waterfall hikes are sure to make you swoon!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Washington
March 22, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some of the best places to go hiking in Washington?
The Evergreen State is an immensely beautiful place to explore on foot. It is full of old-growth forests, wondrous waterfalls,grand canyons, rugged coasts, and majestic mountains. You could spend an entire lifetime exploring the myriad trails of Washington State ... and still not tackle them all! To help narrow down the field a bit, we always like to direct adventure seekers to Olympic National Forest. Why? Well, for starters, this immensely beautiful place is home to a variety of ecosystems and terrain that really epitomizes Washington!
Olympic National Park is 922,651 acres of pure beauty, with more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, 1,200 types of native plants, 300 avian inhabitants, 73 miles of coastline, 60 glaciers, and 56 mammal species (including 22 listed as endangered or threatened). It's a place of mountains and forests, rivers and waterfalls, and a near-endless array of opportunities for hiking, camping, climbing, and so much more. Whether you've experiencedOlympic National Forestonce, twice, more times to count, or never, it's always an extraordinary place to explore, and definitely one of the best places to go hiking in Washington.
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
