Seattle-area hikes for everyone

Want to bring a dog? Go car-free? Get sweeping views of the Pacific Northwest? Stay a while?

By Sarah Anne Lloyd and Hallie Golden Updated Oct 9, 2019, 4:23pm PDT

On a sunny day, a dirt trail winds up a grassy hill toward evergreen trees, Dense evergreen trees are to the left, too.

The Seattle area is an amazing place for hiking—as you may have been able to tell from the abundance of boots and fleece everywhere you look. It’s little wonder, with the city nestled among gorgeous mountains. We’re surrounded by lakes, seemingly infinite rivers, and, of course, the Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. We even have full-on old-growth forests within the city limits.

With literal lifetimes of hikes to choose from within a few hours of Seattle, there’s something for every skill level, need, and preference—but we’ve at least scratched the surface of them, whether you just want to hit the basics or dig extra deep for a little solitude.

As you explore the Pacific Northwest wonderland, though, remember to be safe and respectful: wear weather-appropriate layers, bring plenty of water, especially as the temperatures start to rise, and don’t ruin it for people who come after you by littering. Our full guide to hiking safety is right over here for your reference, and our guide to winter safety has some year-round pointers. The Washington Trails Association (WTA) are a great resource for trail guides, plus plenty of general, practical advice for hiking, too.

Let’s get started.

Essential Seattle-area hiking trails

From high above, a view of evergreen forests and wide, green fields, plus some houses. It’s partly cloudy, and tops of evergreen trees and a rock outcropping are visible in the foreground. — Mount Si.

If you’re wondering where to get started, here are some of the Seattle area’s greatest hiking hits. Most completely accessible for beginners, but they all offer excellent payoff that a seasoned hiker can appreciate, too, from the endlessly popular Mount Si to the offbeat, Instagrammable Mailbox Peak. Check out our full list here.

8 beginner hikes in and around Seattle

A wooden bridge zigzags through evergreen trees. — Carkeek Park.

New to hiking or new to Pacific Northwest hills—or just need some warm-up hikes? These eight options will take you through some iconic Seattle scenery without being too strenuous, from in-city hikes like Discovery Park to nearby Cougar Mountain, which is a great hike to take before moving onto more strenuous trips.

11 iconic fire lookout hikes

There are 93 fire lookouts across Washington and each one of them are bound to give you a great view. As their name suggests, they were once used to survey as much of the area as possible. Today, these structures perched on mountain summits offer anyone willing to make the steep hiking or climbing journey sweeping views of the Pacific Northwest. From Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Rainier, these lookouts are worth the journey. Explore them all here.

Transit-accessible Seattle-area hikes

A curved, wooden path winds through several different kinds of leaved trees and shrubs, with a built-in bench along the right side. — Discovery Park.

Not everyone who wants to experience a gorgeous hike has a car to get there—and even if you have a car, parking can be a pain. Luckily, there are plenty of hikes available a short bus ride away. Some of these are dependent on the seasonal Trailhead Direct shuttle. Plenty are in reach year-round, though, like Poo Poo Point in the Issaquah Alps—and some in-city destinations like Carkeek Park. Head right over here for the full list.

Essential backpacking trips near Seattle

A red tent pitched on a flat, rocky area lined with grass overlooking several mountains. — A backcountry campsite in the Cascades.

Want to stay on the trail for more than a day? These must-do trips are rated by difficulty level—from the breezy Shi Shi Beach to the strenuous, 75-mile adventure of the Pacific Crest Trail’s Section J—so you can choose your own outdoor adventure. Start falling in love with the backcountry here.

Dog-friendly hikes in and around Seattle

A brown dog wearing a gray coat stands in the snow by some vehicle tracks on a path leading into dense evergreen trees. — A hike-ready dog near Rattlesnake Ledge.

Despite Seattle’s love of dogs, some of the more popular hiking destinations are—technically—off-limits to pets. It’s a bummer, but thankfully there are plenty of options for taking your best friend on an extra-cool walk, like the challenging Heather Lake Trail or the gorgeous Lake Twenty-Two. See more Fido-friendly ideas here.

Wildflower hikes to explore near Seattle

A grassy field is brightly lit at the beginning of sunset, and is full of yellow and purple flowers. There’s a mountain looming in the background. — Wildflowers in Mount Rainier National Park.

Through August, the wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest’s mountain hikes are some of the most impressive in the country. Each week that passes, the snow level climbs higher, bringing with it the next bloom of wildflowers for evolving landscapes throughout the season. Our guide to hiking among the wildflowers includes seasonal suggestions, too— try Maiden Peak in the Olympics in the late summer, for example.

Where to go stargazing near Seattle

A starry sky lined at the bottom by silhouettes of evergreen trees.

We talk a lot about mountain and water views, but one kind of view is especially breathtaking and far more remote: Stars. Get away from the light pollution on a clear, not-too-bright night and you even have a chance to catch the Milky Way or the Northern Lights. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to see the stars—and how to build your stargazing gameplan—here.

Hikes for swimming and wading in the Cascade Mountains

On a sunny day, a dirt trail in the center of the frame leads to a lake surrounded by mountains and trees. On either side of the path are grass and trees.

When you’ve been hiking all day, maybe you feel a little hot and a little sweaty. Considering that, these hikes have an incredible payoff at the end: a jump in an alpine lake. Some of these spots are ready for a full-on cannonball, while others are more for dipping your toes in, but they’re all worth a look. Find your ideal swimming destination here.

Day hiking on Mount Rainier: An introductory guide

A mountain peak in the distance is reflected in still water. Between them, there’s a large field and a forest of evergreen trees. — Spray Park on Mount Rainier.

There’s way too much to recommend on Mount Rainier, but we can absolutely get you started with the best hikes in each region, including Paradise, Sunrise, and Longmire, for every skill level and interest. See some iconic parkitecture, wander through a rainforest, or hit a lookout tower—choose your own adventure over here.

Seattle-area hikes for seeing beautiful fall colors

A blanket of low red, yellow, and orange brush is below evergreen trees, with mountains and cloudy skies in the background. — Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park.

When the leaves start to turn, there’s nothing like crunching down a trail full of gorgeous colors. These hikes are a classic part of a Pacific Northwest autumn. From in-city hikes like those in Kubota Garden to more far-out destinations like the Quinault Rainforest, our best bets for crisp, colorful fall hikes are here.

Washington State hikes to graveyards and ghost towns

A series of deteriorating metal boxes are mounted on a wall with chipping, dull green paint. It’s in an abandoned place. — Northern State Hospital.

While this roundup is especially relevant at Halloween, it’s rarely a bad time to explore abandoned places or a historic cemetery. Destinations include Northern State Hospital, an long-storied place for photographers and explorers alike, and other explorers, and Monte Cristo, which is both a ghost town and a ghost resort. Read all the ghost stories here, and watch out for the arsenic.

Gorgeous hikes in the Entiat Valley

A railroad bridge over a rocky river on a snowy day, with evergreen trees on either side and a mountain behind. — The Wenatchee River in the winter.

East of the mountains, the Entiat Valley is full of beautiful hikes that lend themselves well to winter adventures—although they’re worth exploring year-round. If you want to make a weekend out of it, plan a stay in Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Ardenvoir, or Brief as a jumping-off point. Start exploring here.

Olympic National Forest hikes for all seasons

A large lake in front of a narrow beach and lawn. Mountains are in the distance. — Lake Quinault.

The Olympic Peninsula has a beautiful selection of hikes any time of year, partially thanks to year-round maintenance. It’s more secluded, and plenty still rewarding, in the off-season—but with a park this big, there are plenty of less-trafficked gems, like Church Creek Trail. It can be hard to know where to start with such an overwhelming selection, but we have a few recommendations here.

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Seattle-area hikes for everyone

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