What are the best hikes in Washington?

Standouts include Hall of Mosses (Hoh Rain Forest), Cape Flattery, Rattlesnake Ledge, Lake 22 — 12 trails in all, mapped with difficulty, distance, and elevation on Roamward.

When is the best time to hike in Washington?

Late July–Oct (high country). Pack rain gear even in August.

Are there easy or family-friendly hikes in Washington?

Yes — gentler options include Hall of Mosses (Hoh Rain Forest), Cape Flattery, good for kids and the RV/camping crew.

Roamward

Hikes · Washington

Best hikes in Washington.

Washington hiking is rainforest, volcano, and the jagged North Cascades, with wildflower meadows that explode for a few weeks in late summer. The high country stays snowbound into July and the weather turns fast; the larch-gold window in late September is worth planning a whole trip around. Pack rain gear even in August.

Curated trails12

Distance range0.8–18 mi

Biggest climb4,500 ft

Difficulty2 easy · 4 moderate · 4 hard · 2 expert

TerrainRainforest, volcano & alpine

Best seasonLate July–Oct (high country)

Don’t missSkyline Trail (Mt Rainier)

Boots on

12 hikes worth the detour.

Sorted easy to expert. Every one mapped with distance, route type, and elevation gain — built for everyone from the RV & camping crew to the bucket-list crowd.

Hall of Mosses (Hoh Rain Forest)

Easy · 0.8 mi · Loop · 100 ft

a dripping rainforest cathedral — family/RV-accessible

Cape Flattery

Easy · 1.5 mi · Out & back · 200 ft

boardwalks to the northwesternmost point of the Lower 48

Rattlesnake Ledge

Moderate · 5.3 mi · Out & back · 1,160 ft

a popular cliff-top view near Seattle

Lake 22

Moderate · 5.4 mi · Out & back · 1,350 ft

old-growth forest to a cliff-ringed cirque

Tolmie Peak (Rainier)

Moderate · 5.6 mi · Out & back · 1,100 ft

a fire lookout over Eunice Lake and Rainier

Snow Lake (Snoqualmie)

Moderate · 7.2 mi · Out & back · 1,800 ft

a popular alpine lake near the pass

Skyline Trail (Mt Rainier)

Hard · 5.5 mi · Loop · 1,700 ft

wildflower meadows right under the volcano

Maple Pass Loop (North Cascades)

Hard · 7.2 mi · Loop · 2,000 ft

larch-gold ridgelines and alpine lakes

Colchuck Lake

Hard · 8 mi · Out & back · 2,280 ft

a turquoise lake below the Enchantments

Mount Si

Hard · 8 mi · Out & back · 3,150 ft

the classic Seattle conditioning climb

Mount Storm King (Lake Crescent)

Expert · 4.1 mi · Out & back · 2,065 ft

ropes to a heart-stopping lake overlook

The Enchantments (thru-hike)

Expert · 18 mi · Point to point · 4,500 ft

a bucket-list alpine traverse; permit

Plan the Washington trip

Hikes, gems, scenic drives — all in one Washington guide.

See everything worth the detour in Washington, then let Roamward build the trip around it. Know a Washington trail we’re missing? Add it — we’re building this with the people who actually hike it.

Full Washington guide →All states