22 BEST EASY DAY HIKES IN WASHINGTON (That Are Actually Worth It)
This is the list I wish I’d had when I started hiking.
Not the gravel paths around lakes. Not the “scenic viewpoints” you could drive to. The hikes that actually made me fall in love with it — waterfalls that roar, alpine lakes that don’t look real, fire lookouts, views where you can see three volcanoes at once.
These are the easy day hikes in Washington that hook people. The ones I bring friends to when they say “I think I want to try hiking.” The ones that turn skeptics into people who check trail conditions on Thursday night.
I’ve hiked every trail on this list — most of them multiple times, with my kids, my mom, friends visiting from out of town, and solo when I just need to get outside. Everything here delivers.
This guide is organized by what you’re chasing — quick wins, waterfalls, alpine lakes, fire lookouts, wildflowers, and a few longer loops for when you’re ready to push a little further.
What to Bring on Washington Day Hikes
Before you hit the trail, make sure you’re prepared. Washington weather changes fast, and even “easy” hikes can get dicey without the right gear.
Footwear — Trails here are often rocky, rooty, and muddy. I wear the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX for ankle support and waterproofing.
Layers — Even summer mornings start cold at elevation. I always bring my REI Magma Down Hoodie — packs tiny, adds serious warmth.
Rain shell — Non-negotiable in the PNW. I use the Aspire 3L Jacket — ultralight and always in my pack.
Trekking poles — Game changer on steep descents. The Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork poles are my go-to.
Daypack — Something with a hip belt for longer hikes. I like the Osprey Tempest 20 for all-day outings.
Easy Wins (Big Payoff, Less Effort)
Franklin Falls
📍 Snoqualmie Pass
👣 2 miles round trip
⛰️ 400 ft gain
Difficulty: Easy | Trail Info (WTA)
This is where I bring everyone — kids, family, out-of-town visitors, anyone who needs convincing that hiking is worth it. Two miles round trip and you’re standing in front of a 70-foot waterfall. The wow-to-mileage ratio is unbeatable.
Winter is when it really shows off — the falls freeze into this massive ice curtain and the whole forest goes quiet. But don’t do what my mom and I did: forget your spikes. We were sliding all over the place, grabbing trees, laughing and terrified. Lesson learned. December through March, bring microspikes or expect an adventure you didn’t sign up for.
Good to know: Trail gets icy in winter — microspikes are non-negotiable. NW Forest Pass required.
Boulder River Trail
📍 Arlington / Mountain Loop Highway | 👣 4.4 miles round trip | ⛰ 400 ft gain Difficulty: Easy | Trail Info (WTA)
I brought my kids here when they were tiny — it’s flat enough that little legs can handle it, and there’s always something to look at. Waterfalls, old-growth trees, the river running alongside you.
My husband and I recently came back for a date hike, and it hit different without the kids. The elevation is so gentle you can actually hold a conversation the whole way — just walking and talking through towering trees with waterfalls in the background. That’s a good date.
Good to know: Great rainy-day option — the forest canopy keeps you dry. No pass required.
Naches Peak Loop
📍 Chinook Pass, Mount Rainier NP | 👣 3.2 miles loop | ⛰ 600 ft gain Difficulty: Easy | Trail Info (NPS)
This is my easy wildflower win at Rainier. You get the meadows, you get the mountain views, and you don’t destroy your legs getting there.
I did this one with my mom when my kids were 3 and 4. We hiked until the sun started dropping, and my husband ended up carrying my daughter out in the dark. Nobody complained. That’s how good the views are — even a 4-year-old didn’t want to leave.
Good to know: Hike counterclockwise for the best Rainier views early. Highway 410 closes in winter. NP entrance fee required.
Waterfall Hikes
Twin Falls
📍 North Bend (Olallie State Park) | 👣 2.6 miles round trip | ⛰ 500 ft gain Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
Another one I bring family to. It’s got that classic Pacific Northwest vibe — mossy forest, creek sounds, ferns everywhere — and the waterfalls at the end actually deliver.
There’s real elevation gain here, enough to feel like you did something, but nothing that’ll scare off a first-timer. The trail follows the creek most of the way, so it never gets boring.
Good to know: Gets muddy in winter and spring. Wear real hiking shoes. Discover Pass required..
Bridal Veil Falls
📍 Index | 👣 4 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,000 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
Most people come here for Lake Serene, and the upper section of the falls, but I actually prefer the lower falls.
On the way up, there’s a signed junction where you can divert to Bridal Veil Falls — wooden boardwalks and stairs winding through the forest, thats the fun part. The viewpoint of the falls spilling over granite can get a little crazy when its raging and the mist is powerful.
If you want the full day, keep going to Lake Serene. But if you just want the waterfall? Take the diversion, enjoy the boardwalk, and call it good. Sometimes the detour is the destination.
Good to know: The falls are most impressive in spring. NW Forest Pass required.
Denny Creek Falls + Keekwulee Falls
📍 Snoqualmie Pass | 👣 5 miles round trip | ⛰ 800 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
This is summer in the Cascades, distilled. Warm granite slabs, creek crossings, kids climbing over logs, bathing suits and cold river water. It’s the hike I think of when I think of hiking with my kids when they were little.
The natural rock waterslides are the highlight — smooth granite carved by centuries of water. You can spend hours here just playing, not even making it to the upper falls. Some days that’s the whole point.
Good to know: Bring water shoes if you want to slide. Expect to get wet. NW Forest Pass required.
Wallace Falls
📍 Gold Bar | 👣 5.6 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,300 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
The cleanest state park I’ve been to, with a trail that’s charming the entire way. Not just the destination — the whole experience. Well-maintained, well-marked, and the forest is beautiful even before you get to the falls.
Three tiers of waterfalls with viewpoints along the way. The middle falls viewpoint is the most dramatic — 265 feet of whitewater crashing down. You can stop at the lower falls for a shorter day or push to the top for the full experience.
Good to know: Start early on weekends — this one gets packed. Discover Pass required.
Alpine Lakes
Barclay Lake
📍 Stevens Pass | 👣 4.4 miles round trip | ⛰ 200 ft gain Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
This is the hike I do with other families. Easy enough that the kids can run ahead, pretty enough that the adults aren’t bored, and the lake at the end has plenty of room for everyone to spread out.
Baring Mountain rises straight up behind the lake like a wall — dramatic backdrop for very little effort. We always end up staying longer than planned, skipping rocks and letting the kids splash around.
Good to know: Trail can get muddy, but it’s hikeable almost year-round. NW Forest Pass required.
Lake 22
📍 Mountain Loop Highway | 👣 5.4 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,400 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
This one’s in my backyard — 35 minutes from my house — and I keep coming back. For just over five miles, you get a legit alpine experience. Granite cliffs, waterfalls pouring into the lake, the whole dramatic package.
The trail climbs steadily through old-growth forest, crosses creeks on wooden bridges, and then opens up to this stunning bowl with the lake sitting at the bottom. It’s the kind of hike that makes people say “I didn’t know this was here.”
Good to know: The trail stays wet and rooty well into summer. Wear real hiking shoes. NW Forest Pass required.
Heather Lake
📍 Mountain Loop Highway | 👣 4.4 miles round trip | ⛰️ 1,100 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
Another one in my backyard — 35 minutes from my door, hikeable year-round, and a payoff that punches way above its weight.
The trail is loaded with roots (seriously, watch your feet), but otherwise it’s straightforward. No snow gates, no seasonal closures, no permit drama. Just show up and hike. The lake sits in a dramatic bowl with cliffs rising on three sides, and in winter the whole scene goes quiet and moody. It’s the kind of hike I do when I need to get out but don’t want to plan anything.
Good to know: Rooty and often muddy — hiking poles help. NW Forest Pass required.
Blue Lake
📍 North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) | 👣 4.4 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,050 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
This was one of my first hikes in Washington. I keep coming back.
The lake is that impossible glacial turquoise, tucked beneath Liberty Bell and the Early Winters Spires. In summer it’s stunning. In larch season it’s transcendent — golden trees ringing the shoreline, the peaks going pink at sunset. It’s hard to beat, honestly. Short enough for families, dramatic enough to feel like a real mountain adventure.
I’ve probably done this trail a dozen times, and it never gets old.
Good to know: Highway 20 closes in winter. Best July–October. NW Forest Pass required.
Lake Serene
📍 Index | 👣 8 miles round trip | ⛰️ 2,000 ft gain Difficulty: Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
One of the most dramatic alpine lakes near Seattle. The trail climbs relentlessly through forest, passing Bridal Veil Falls along the way, before opening to a stunning lake surrounded by sheer granite walls. Mount Index towers above, and on calm days the reflections are unreal.
Why it’s worth it: This is the hike that makes people fall in love with the Cascades. The lake feels like a hidden world.
Good to know: The last mile is steep with granite stairs. Start early — parking fills fast on weekends. NW Forest Pass required.
Lake Valhalla
📍 Stevens Pass | 👣 5.5 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,100 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
The lake is beautiful, but the real move is hiking up Mount McCausland behind it.
In fall, that ridge offers one of the best views in Washington — insane red blueberry bushes, alpine lake below, peaks stretching in every direction. It’s the kind of spot that makes you stop and just stand there for a while.
The lake itself sits in a granite cirque and makes a great destination on its own. But if you have the legs, keep going. You won’t regret it.
Good to know: Start from Smithbrook Road trailhead for the easier approach. Gets buggy in July. NW Forest Pass required.
Fire Lookouts
Heybrook Lookout
📍 Index | 👣 2.6 miles round trip | ⛰ 850 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
The hike itself is gorgeous — one of those trails where the forest feels like it’s wrapping around you. Short, steep, and sweet.
At the top, you climb a wooden fire lookout tower for 360-degree views. On clear days you can see for miles. I’ve tried to book an overnight up there for years and never gotten it, but the day hike alone is worth it. Great with family — kids love climbing the tower.
Good to know: Check the weather — clouds kill the whole point. NW Forest Pass required.
Fremont Lookout
📍 Sunrise, Mount Rainier NP | 👣 5.6 miles round trip | ⛰ 900 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (NPS)
The day my kids called this the “Harry Potter trail” will stay with me forever.
The whole hike, Rainier dominates your view — so close it feels unreal. The trail rolls past marmots sunning on rocks, stunning 360 views and ends at a historic fire lookout perched on a rocky ridge. Its one of the best sunset spots in MRNP.
This is my go-to Rainier recommendation for people who want the views without the Paradise crowds.
Good to know: Sunrise lot fills by 9 AM on summer weekends — arrive by 7:30. NP entrance fee required.
Goat Peak Lookout
📍 Mazama, Methow Valley | 👣 5 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,400 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
A sunset to remember — and a walk down in the dark I won’t forget either.
I hiked up for golden hour and stayed too long. The views were too good to leave. Then I was picking my way down by headlamp, eyes glowing in the trees around me. Probably deer. Hopefully deer.
In larch season, this is one of the best short hikes in the Methow — golden trees, panoramic North Cascades views, and a historic lookout at the top. Worth every step, even if you end up hiking out in the dark.
Good to know: Combine with breakfast at the Mazama Store. NW Forest Pass required.
Wildflower Hikes
Dalles Mountain Ranch
📍 Columbia Hills State Park | 👣 6.4 miles round trip | ⛰ 1,200 ft gain Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
Wildflowers for days without much effort.
In late April and May, the hills explode — yellow balsam root, purple lupine, rolling grasslands with Mount Hood floating in the distance. If you’ve seen that iconic photo of the rusted truck in a field of flowers, this is the place.
I’ve done this with other families and solo. Either way, it delivers. The wind can be brutal, but the views make up for it.
Good to know: Peak bloom is late April–May. Windy — bring a jacket. Discover Pass required.
👉 More wildflower hikes: Best Spring Wildflower Hikes in Washington
Skyline Trail
📍 Paradise, Mount Rainier NP | 👣 5.5 miles loop | ⛰ 1,700 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (NPS)
A must-do. I can’t say enough.
This is the most iconic hike in Mount Rainier National Park — wildflower meadows, marmots everywhere, glaciers spilling off the mountain, and Rainier so close it fills your entire field of vision. The loop climbs to Panorama Point, and the name isn’t overselling it.
If you only do one hike at Rainier, make it this one. And do it in wildflower season or Fall.
Good to know: Go counterclockwise for the best views on the climb. Paradise is packed on summer weekends — arrive before 8 AM. NP entrance fee required.
Epic Loops & Big Adventures
Goat Lake
📍 Mountain Loop Highway | 👣 10.4 miles round trip | ⛰️ 1,400 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Info (WTA)
A beautiful alpine lake tucked beneath Foggy Peak with waterfalls cascading into it from the surrounding cliffs. The trail follows an old mining road through forest before reaching the lake basin. Long but gentle — more about distance than difficulty.
Why it’s worth it: One of the prettiest lakes on the Mountain Loop. Great for a long day hike or easy overnight.
Good to know: The upper trailhead shortens the hike significantly if the road is open. Mosquitoes can be brutal in early summer. NW Forest Pass required.
Colchuck Lake
📍 Leavenworth / Alpine Lakes Wilderness | 👣 8 miles round trip | ⛰️ 2,200 ft gain Difficulty: Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
One of the most stunning alpine lakes in Washington. The turquoise water sits in a granite bowl beneath Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Glacier — it looks like something out of Patagonia. The climb is relentless but the payoff is unmatched.
Why it’s worth it: This is the lake that ends up on everyone’s bucket list. The color, the drama, the scale — it delivers.
Good to know: Permit required May 15–October 31 (reserve on Recreation.gov). The last mile is steep and rocky. Start early — parking fills fast. NW Forest Pass required.
Grand Park
📍 Mount Rainier NP | 👣 13 miles round trip | ⛰ 2,400 ft gain Difficulty: Hard (long) | Trail Info (NPS)
I was completely alone. A lenticular cloud sat over Rainier like a crown, barely moving. I just stood there watching it.
Grand Park is a massive subalpine meadow — flat and open and endless, with Rainier looming above. The hike is long but the grade is gentle, and the payoff is unlike anything else in the park. Keep going past the meadow to the lookout area where you can see down into the valley. That’s where the real magic is.
This one takes commitment, but it rewards you for it.
Good to know: Start from Lake Eleanor trailhead for shorter approach. Full-day commitment — bring plenty of food and water. NP entrance fee required.
Cascade Pass
📍 North Cascades National Park | 👣 7.4 miles round trip | ⛰️ 1,800 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
A true North Cascades classic. The trail switchbacks through wildflower meadows to a high pass with jaw-dropping views of glaciers, jagged peaks, and the Stehekin Valley below. This is the hike I’ve done more than any other — it never gets old.
Why it’s worth it: The views at the pass are some of the best in the state. Add Sahale Arm for even more drama.
Good to know: Snow lingers into July. No pass required — it’s national park land.
Chain Lakes Loop
📍 Mt Baker Ski Area | 👣 7.5 miles loop | ⛰ 1,800 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
Easily one of the most spectacular hikes in Washington. We did it as an overnight and I’d do it again tomorrow.
The loop passes multiple alpine lakes, crosses wildflower meadows, and puts you face-to-face with Mount Shuksan — jagged and massive and impossibly photogenic. The views are constant. You’re never not looking at something incredible.
Day hike it if you’re short on time. Camp it if you can. Either way, don’t skip this one.
Good to know: Snow lingers late — often not clear until late July. NW Forest Pass required.
Maple Pass Loop
📍 Rainy Pass, North Cascades Highway | 👣 7.5 miles loop | ⛰ 2,000 ft gain Difficulty: Moderate-Hard | Trail Info (WTA)
I have an entire article on this one — that’s how much I love it.
I’ve done it in peak larch season with golden trees glowing against blue sky. I’ve done it in early snow, the trail dusted white and completely silent. Both times felt like stepping into another world. The loop climbs to a high ridge with Lake Ann below, jagged peaks everywhere, and views that make you understand why people fly across the country for this.
It’s accessible — right off Highway 20 — which makes it one of the best introductions to the North Cascades for anyone visiting.
Good to know: For fall larches, aim for late September to early October. Go counterclockwise for easier climbing. NW Forest Pass required.
Planning Tips
Passes You’ll Need
- Northwest Forest Pass ($30/year) — Most national forest trailheads
- Discover Pass ($35/year) — Washington state parks
- National Park Entry ($30/vehicle or $80 America the Beautiful pass)
The annual passes pay for themselves quickly if you hike regularly.
Start Early
Popular trailheads fill by 9 AM on summer weekends. Arriving by 7:30 AM almost guarantees parking and smaller crowds. Weekdays are always better.
Check Conditions
A quick check can save you from driving to a snowed-in trailhead.
Layer Up
Western Washington weather changes fast. Even on sunny summer days, mountain temps can swing 30 degrees. Always pack more layers than you think you need.
Final Thoughts
These 22 hikes aren’t filler — every one delivers. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, summit views, or wildflower meadows, there’s something here for every fitness level.
Start with the easier ones if you’re new. Work your way up. The mountains will always be there.
Need more inspiration
Have a favorite hike that should be on this list? Drop a comment below.
Tag me @the.trekking.mama on Instagram — I love seeing where you explore!
