Best Hikes in Washington
Washington packs a rain forest, a volcano, an alpine granite range and an open coast into a few hours of driving, and the two best-known routes here both run on lotteries that open once a year. These are the trails worth planning around, with the permit dates that decide whether you get on them at all.
58 trail guides and 8 ready-to-book itineraries
Ready-to-book trips
Day-by-day, with the permits and the stays already worked out.
Chain Lakes Loop: A Mount Baker Hiking WeekendMount Baker · Washington Cascades
George Washington National Forest Hiking: A 3-Day Virginia ItineraryWestern Virginia · Appalachian Ridges
Hidden Lake Lookout Backpacking: The Overnight, Start to FinishWashington · North Cascades
Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary: 3 Days at Paradise and SunrisePacific Northwest · Washington
North Cascades Backpacking: A 4-Day ItineraryWashington · the American Alps
Olympic Peninsula Family Road Trip: 7-Day LoopOlympic National Park · Washington
Olympic Peninsula Loop: 3-Day Pacific Northwest Road TripPacific Northwest · Washington
Orcas Island Itinerary: What to Do in 3 DaysSan Juan Islands · WashingtonNational park hikes
Best Family Vacations Out West: Five National Park Trips Built for KidsThe best family vacations out west, compared: Utah's Mighty Five, the Olympic Peninsula, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite and Sequoia, and
Wonderland Trail PermitsThe Wonderland Trail lottery awards a single-figure percentage of entries, and almost everyone who walks it got on some other way.
North Cascades BackpackingGranite spires, glacier-blue lakes, almost no crowds. The North Cascades hold some of the wildest backpacking in the Lower 48, her
Olympic Peninsula Backpacking: The Best Multi-Day RoutesThree river valleys, one alpine traverse, and one wild coast. Here's where to actually backpack on the Olympic Peninsula, permits,
Olympic Peninsula in WinterHurricane Ridge in snow, empty rain forest trails, hot springs that finally feel right, and storm-watching on the wild coast. Here
Best Day Hikes at Mount RainierMount Rainier rises 14,411 feet above sea level and is surrounded by more acres of wildflower meadow than anywhere else in the PacBackpacking and multi-day routes
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Hiking GuideMount Adams, Goat Rocks Wilderness, Indian Heaven lakes, and Pacific Crest Trail sections in southwest Washington, the complete hi
The Enchantments, WashingtonThe Enchantments in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness is one of the most stunning, and hardest to access, hikes in the US. Here
Graves Creek TrailheadEverything you need to start the Enchanted Valley hike from the Graves Creek trailhead in Olympic National Park: how to drive ther
North Cascades Backcountry PermitsHow to get a North Cascades backcountry permit, including the Recreation.gov lottery, walk-up rules, and the best wilderness campsDay hikes
Climbing Mount St. HelensSt. Helens permits are not a lottery, they are a race, and knowing the exact release mechanic is most of the battle. Here is how t
Orcas Island Hikes: 8 Trails Worth the FerryEvery hike on Orcas Island worth the crossing, from the 40-foot Cascade Falls to the 2,409-foot summit of Mount Constitution, with
Artist Point at Mount BakerA practical guide to Artist Point at Mount Baker, the highest paved viewpoint in the North Cascades, plus the best short hikes tha
Best Day Hikes in North Cascades National ParkA trail-by-trail guide to the best day hikes in North Cascades National Park, from Maple Pass to Cascade Pass and the Sahale Arm.
The Best Stehekin HikesA trail-by-trail guide to the best day hikes in Stehekin, from the easy Rainbow Falls loop to the wildflower-lined Agnes Gorge andWhen to go
Best Time to Hike Enchanted ValleyA season-by-season guide to the best time to hike Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park, including when the waterfalls peak, w
Best Time to Visit North Cascades National ParkA season-by-season guide to the best time to visit North Cascades National Park, including the larch season, road openings, and we
Best Time to Visit Olympic National ParkWhen to visit Olympic National Park for wildflowers, dry trails, fewer crowds, and open mountain roads, broken down by season.
Best Time to Visit Stehekin: A Season-by-Season GuideWhen to ride the Lady of the Lake to Stehekin for wildflowers, fall color, low crowds, or open trails in the North Cascades.Where to camp
Campgrounds Near Mount RainierEvery campground in Mount Rainier National Park compared, plus the national forest sites and dispersed camping just outside it. Wh
Cougar Rock Campground, Mount RainierCougar Rock Campground is the closest reservable campground to Paradise, 173 sites in old-growth forest at 3,180 feet. Which loops
Where to Stay on Orcas Island: Eastsound, West Beach or CampingThe four areas worth basing in on Orcas Island, what each costs you in money and driving, the camping and cabin options on the wes
Stehekin Camping GuideWhere to camp in Stehekin, from the lakeside Purple Point and Harlequin campgrounds to backcountry sites up the valley, plus permiMore guides in this state
Family Trips in Washington State: Rain Forest, Glaciers and an Island by FerryFour family trips in Washington: the Olympic Peninsula rain forest and beaches, Mount Rainier’s Paradise, Orcas Island by ferry, a
Best Hikes in Olympic National Park: 12 Trails Across Ridge, Rainforest and CoastOlympic National Park has no single best hike, because it is really three parks in one. Here are 12 trails across the alpine ridge
Mount Rainier in Fall: October Colors, Road Closures and the Best HikesMount Rainier in fall means huckleberry-red meadows at Paradise and Sunrise, thinner crowds, and a hard deadline: the Sunrise Road
Mt Rainier Photography: Best Spots, Light and the Wildflower WindowReflection Lakes and Tipsoo Lake give Mount Rainier its classic reflection shot, Sunrise puts you closest to the Emmons Glacier, a
Olympic National Park Packing List: What to Bring for Rain, Ridge and CoastOlympic National Park packs three climates into one trip: cold, windy alpine at Hurricane Ridge, wet rain forest at the Hoh, and t
Seattle to Crater Lake: About 7.5 Hours on I-5, With the Stops Worth MakingSeattle to Crater Lake is about 420 miles, about 7 hours 30 minutes of driving without stops, mostly on I-5. It is a full day behi
Ruby Beach Tide PoolsHow to time the tides and explore the sea stacks and tide pools at Ruby Beach and nearby beaches along the wild Olympic National P
Seattle to Yellowstone Road Trip: Route, Stops and How Long It TakesSeattle to Yellowstone is about 760 miles and 12 hours on I-90. The two day and three day versions, where to overnight, and the de
The Rainforests of Olympic National Park: All Four, Not Just the HohOlympic has four temperate rainforest valleys: the Hoh, the Quinault, the Queets and the Bogachiel. Where each one starts, which w
Olympic National Park Day Trip From Seattle: Pick One SideThere is no road across Olympic National Park, so a day trip means choosing one corner. Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent fit. The
Pacific Northwest National Parks Road Trip: Four Parks From SeattleFour national parks sit within a day of Seattle: Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Crater Lake. The whole loop is 1,300 m
Seattle to Olympic National Park: Ferry, Drive Time and RouteTwo and a half hours to Port Angeles with a good ferry connection, four to the Hoh. The park is a ring of dead-end spur roads, and
Things to Do on Bainbridge Island: The Best Day Trip From SeattleThirty-five minutes from downtown Seattle by ferry, and the return leg is free if you walk on. Forest loops, a 276-foot memorial w
Mount Rainier Cabins with Hot TubsWhere to find a cabin with a hot tub near Mount Rainier, which gateway town to book in for Paradise versus Sunrise, and what a soa
Mount Rainier in AprilApril at Mount Rainier is fifteen feet of snow at Paradise, a road crew digging the upper park out, no timed entry and almost nobo
Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park: How to Combine ThemHow to pair Mount Rainier and Olympic in one Washington trip: the drive between them, a Rainier vs Olympic comparison, a 5 to 6 da
Mt. Rainier Hiking Guide: Best Trails, Tips & PermitsParadise wildflower meadows, Sunrise alpine views, and the epic Wonderland Trail, everything you need to hike Mt. Rainier National
How to Get to Orcas Island (and Around It Once You Are There)Where Orcas Island is, how long the Anacortes ferry takes, and the free vehicle reservation you need in both directions or you are
Washington and Oregon Coast Road Trip: The Full PNW DriveHow to plan a Washington and Oregon coast road trip from the Olympic Peninsula south down the Oregon Coast, with suggested days an
Enchanted Valley Chalet and the Valley of 10,000 WaterfallsThe story of the historic Enchanted Valley Chalet in Olympic National Park, why the valley is nicknamed the Valley of 10,000 Water
Heather Meadows TrailsA guide to the Heather Meadows trails at Mount Baker, including the Bagley Lakes loop, the Fire and Ice Trail, and Picture Lake, w
Hoh Rain Forest HikesA trail-by-trail guide to hiking the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, from the famous Hall of Mosses loop to the long, fl
Hoh Rain Forest Hiking GuideEverything you need to hike the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, from the easy Hall of Mosses loop to the long Hoh River 
How to Get to Stehekin: Ferry, Floatplane and Trail OptionsStehekin has no road in, so getting there means the Lady of the Lake ferry, a floatplane, or a long hike. Here is how each option 
Hurricane Ridge HikesA guide to the best Hurricane Ridge hikes in Olympic National Park, from the paved Cirque Rim loop to the wildflower-lined Hurrica
Mount Baker Fall Colors: Where and When to See Peak AutumnWhen and where to catch peak fall colors at Mount Baker, from the blueberry meadows of Heather Meadows to the golden larches above
Olympic Peninsula BeachesA guide to the wild sea-stack beaches of the Olympic Peninsula coast, from Ruby Beach to Rialto and the Second Beach trail.
The Stehekin Pastry Company: A Guide to the Famous BakeryEverything to know about the Stehekin Pastry Company, the legendary North Cascades bakery PCT hikers detour for, including how to 
Things to Do in Stehekin: Falls, Ferries, Orchards and MoreFrom Rainbow Falls and the red shuttle bus to the Buckner Orchard and a swim in Lake Chelan, here is how to fill your days in remo
Fly Fishing the Olympic PeninsulaThe Hoh, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, and Calawah hold some of the last truly wild steelhead and salmon runs in the lower 48. Here's where 
The Olympic Peninsula Rain Shadow: Why Sequim Stays DrySequim gets 16 inches of rain a year. Forks gets 120. They're 70 miles apart. Here's the rain shadow that makes one side of the Ol
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail Guide: Seattle's Most Popular HikeRattlesnake Ledge is Seattle's most-hiked trail, 4 miles round trip with sweeping views of the Cascades and Rattlesnake Lake, acce
Mount Si Hiking Guide: The Classic Puget Sound Workout HikeMount Si is the training ground for Cascade mountaineers, 8 miles round trip, 3,150 feet of gain, and a summit that feels genuinel
Lake Serene Trail GuideLake Serene earns its name, a perfect alpine cirque below the north face of Mount Index, with a brutal 2,500-foot gain that pays oThree of the hardest permits in the country are in this state. If you are reading this after the lottery closed, the guided versions of these trips carry their own permits, and our permit watcher emails you the moment a cancelled date frees up.
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Free permit watch
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds- Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.