The Ultimate Guide to Winter Adventures in Washington

The Ultimate Guide to Winter Adventures in Washington

Last Updated: December 2025 | Reading Time: 18 minutes

Winter in Washington isn’t something to endure — it’s something to chase.

While other states wait for spring, we get snow-covered forests, quiet trails, wild coastlines, and hot springs steaming in the cold. It’s a season of contrast: moody gray days at sea level and bright, silent snowfall in the mountains.

I’ve spent years exploring Washington winters with my kids and on solo adventures — snowshoeing to frozen lakes, soaking in hot springs after cold hikes, storm-watching from coastal yurts, and building snow caves at Picture Lake. This guide is everything I’ve learned about making the most of the season.

Whether you want a cozy cabin weekend, a storm-watching escape, or a full snowshoe adventure, winter is one of the best times to explore this state.

What’s in This Guide

  • Hot Springs
  • Cozy Cabins
  • Fire Lookouts (with overnight stays)
  • Snowshoe Trails
  • Winter Huts
  • Snow Play + Snow Caves
  • Waterfall Hikes
  • Coastal Yurts
  • Campervan + Coast Road Trips
  • Luge Sledding at Loup Loup

Soak in a Hot Spring After a Winter Hike

Winter is the best time to visit hot springs in Washington: cold air, quiet forests, and pools steaming under snow.

Scenic Hot Springs (near Stevens Pass)

The most popular — and worth it. A moderate hike through snow leads to pools overlooking the Cascades. Reservations required and they book fast. Check their website for current access.

Goldmyer Hot Springs (Cascade foothills)

More remote, more effort, more reward. A 4.5-mile hike (longer in winter with snow) to a clothing-optional soak in the forest. Reservations required, limited capacity. This one feels like a secret.

Cannibal Hot Tub (Ashford, near Rainier)

Not a natural hot spring, but a wood-fired outdoor tub you can rent privately. Perfect après-snowshoe soak with Rainier views. Book through Hipcamp or their website.

What to bring: A dry bag for your clothes for the hike out, and a headlamp if you’re soaking past sunset. Nothing worse than hiking back in the dark, wet and cold.

Book a Cozy Cabin: Snow + Wood Stove + Views

Sometimes the best winter adventure is a warm cabin with snow falling outside.

Rolling Huts (Mazama)

Modern, minimalist huts in the Methow Valley with wood stoves and mountain views. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing out your door. This is my go-to for a winter reset.

Cabins near Mt. Baker

Glacier has a handful of rentals with ski area access and deep snow. Look for places with hot tubs — you’ll want one after a day at Artist Point.

Leavenworth

Bavarian village vibes, plus easy access to snowshoe trails, tubing hills, and the best hot cocoa in the state. Great for families.

Winthrop / Mazama

East of the mountains means more sunshine, less gray. The Methow Valley has world-class cross-country skiing and that dry, cold, sparkly snow.

How to book: I use VRBO and Hipcamp for cabin rentals. Book early for holiday weekends — the good ones go fast.

Sleep in a Fire Lookout

Few winter experiences beat waking up above the clouds in a historic fire lookout.

Winter-Accessible Options

North Mountain Lookout Drive-up in summer, snowshoe in winter. Wood stove, propane lights, views for days. One of the easier winter lookout stays.

Steliko Lookout I’ve stayed here twice (once solo, once with my kids) and it’s become a family favorite. Drive-up in summer; in winter, you hike the snow-covered road. We got snowed on the whole time and it was perfect.

Heybrook Lookout Short hike, huge views, and you can book it for overnight stays on Recreation.gov. I’ve tried for years with no luck — it’s that popular.

What to bring: Sleeping pad for hard floors (lookouts are cold from below), warm sleeping bag, headlamp, and all your food/water. Most lookouts have wood stoves but no running water in winter.

Book through Recreation.gov — reservations open months in advance and go fast.

Want more options? Check out my complete guide: Best Fire Lookout Hikes in Washington

Snowshoe, Walk, or Explore Winter Trails

Snowshoeing is the easiest way to access Washington’s winter backcountry. If you can walk, you can snowshoe.

Best Beginner-Friendly Trails

Franklin Falls (Snoqualmie Pass) 2 miles to a frozen waterfall. Easy, beautiful, often crowded on weekends. Go early.

Gold Creek Pond (Snoqualmie Pass) Flat, easy loop through snow-covered forest. Perfect for kids or first-timers.

Best for Big Views

Hurricane Hill (Olympic National Park) When the road is open, this 3.2-mile trail offers panoramic views of the Olympics and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Skyline Lake (Stevens Pass) Short but steep. Big payoff with sweeping views and plenty of snow to play in. This one’s at the top of my list for winter adventures in Washington.

Paradise (Mt. Rainier) Iconic. Groomed paths, ranger-led snowshoe walks, and Rainier looming overhead.

Artist Point (Mt. Baker) Some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Washington. Iconic views of Mt. Shuksan. Note: the road closes in winter, so you snowshoe up from the ski area, adding distance. Worth it.

Gear for Snowshoeing

Snowshoes: I use MSR Evo Trail— they handle packed trails and powder.

Gaiters: Outdoor Research Crocodile keep snow out of your boots.

Traction: Kahtoola MICROspikes for icy sections.

Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400 for early starts or late finishes.

New to snowshoeing? Check out my complete guide: Start Snowshoeing in Washington

Snowshoe to a Winter Hut + Spend the Night

Earn your stay with a snowy climb and a wood-stove reward.

Tahoma Trails Huts (near Mt. Rainier)

A network of backcountry huts accessible by snowshoe or ski. Wake up to Rainier views, a warm stove, and total silence. This is bucket-list winter camping without the tent.

Methow Valley Huts

Part of the Rendezvous Huts system — ski or snowshoe hut-to-hut through the valley. Reservations required and they book up fast.

What to bring: Everything you’d bring for winter backpacking, minus the tent. Sleeping bag rated for cold (I use a 20°F bag), layers, food, and a headlamp for the approach.

Play in the Snow — Build a Snow Cave

Sometimes the best winter adventure is the simplest: find deep snow and play.

Best Spots for Snow Play

Picture Lake / Mt. Baker area This is where we go for guaranteed deep snow. The mountains get hammered with snow all winter, and there’s plenty of space to build caves, forts, and have full snow days.

Paradise at Mt. Rainier Groomed sledding areas, snow play zones, and easy access. Ranger programs for kids too.

Snoqualmie Pass Sno-Parks Closest to Seattle. Hyak, Gold Creek, and Summit Central all have snow play areas.

What to bring: Waterproof layers for the kids (they will get soaked), extra dry clothes for the car, hot cocoa for the drive home. Warm gloves that actually stay dry make or break snow play days.

Chase Waterfalls — Dramatic in Winter

Winter is prime waterfall season in Washington. More rain means more flow, and frozen edges make everything look magical.

Best Winter Waterfall Hikes

Franklin Falls (Snoqualmie Pass) The classic. In winter, the falls freeze and you might catch ice climbers. Icicles surround the falls — picture perfect.

Little Mashel Falls (Eatonville) Short hike, big reward. The falls look completely different after heavy rain.

Boulder River Trail (Darrington) A scenic, relatively easy hike along the river to two beautiful waterfalls. The falls look strikingly different each time depending on water flow.

Wallace Falls (Gold Bar) A popular year-round hike with multiple waterfall viewpoints. Winter flow is impressive.

Bridal Veil Falls (near Lake Serene) Combine with the Lake Serene hike or view from below. Dramatic in winter.

What to bring: Microspikes — waterfall trails get icy in the spray zone. Waterproof boots. Camera.

Book a Yurt on the Coast

If you want winter coast atmosphere without tent camping in the rain, yurts are the perfect middle ground: warm, dry, and close to storm-watching beaches.

Cape Disappointment State Park

My favorite. Heated yurts tucked in coastal forest, just 300-400 feet from Benson Beach. Two historic lighthouses, miles of trails, and beaches that feel entirely different in the off-season — moody, windswept, and almost empty.

Grayland Beach State Park

Yurts right near the dunes. Great for families, easy beach access.

Pacific Beach State Park

Beachfront yurts with ocean views. Storm-watching from your porch.

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

Not coastal, but a beautiful riverside option east of Seattle. Quieter, forested, great for a quick winter escape.

Book through Washington State Parks — yurts fill up fast for winter weekends, so reserve early.

Want the full guide? Check out: Yurt Camping at Cape Disappointment

Campervan + Winter Coast Road Trip

Renting a camper van for a winter coast trip is one of the best ways to do it. Park at a state park, fall asleep to the sound of waves, wake up to an empty beach.

Best Winter Coast Destinations

Rialto Beach (Olympic Peninsula) Dramatic sea stacks, driftwood-strewn beaches, almost empty in winter.

Kalaloch (Olympic Peninsula) Tree of Life, wild beaches, cozy Kalaloch Lodge if you want a roof.

Cape Disappointment (Long Beach Peninsula) Lighthouses, trails, and some of the best storm-watching in the state.

Salt Creek Recreation Area (near Port Angeles) Tide pools, views of the Strait, campsites right on the water.

We’ve done this in both Washington and Oregon, and the kids love it — the van is an adventure itself, and the beaches are all yours.

Rent a van: Outdoorsy has campervan rentals throughout the PNW.

Try Luge Sledding at Loup Loup Ski Bowl

This is the one everyone asks about.

Loup Loup Ski Bowl near Winthrop offers actual luge sledding — a 1,500-foot run down the mountain on a wooden sled. It’s 2.5 hours of fun: instruction, a snowcat ride up, and multiple runs down.

My kids talk about this constantly. It’s fast, fun, and completely different from anything else you can do in Washington winter.

Details:

  • Book in advance at Loup Loup Ski Bowl
  • All ages welcome (with adult supervision for kids)
  • All equipment provided
  • ~$75-100 per person
  • Instructors are volunteers and incredibly helpful

Combine with a Winthrop weekend — stay in a cabin, cross-country ski, then luge. Perfect winter trip.

Want the full itinerary? Check out: Winter Weekend in Winthrop

What to Pack for Washington Winter Adventures

Washington winter means layers, waterproofing, and being ready for anything.

My Winter Essentials

🧤 Warm Gloves: Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Mittens The only ones that keep my fingers functional for camera work at 15°F

🧦 Wool Socks: Darn Tough Hiking Socks Lifetime warranty isn’t marketing — I’ve replaced 3 pairs, no questions asked

🧥 Midweight Puffer: REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket Packable, warm enough for most conditions

🔥 Heavyweight Puffer: REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie When it hits single digits

🌧️ Rain Shell: Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell Breathes on climbs, blocks Cascade wind

💡 Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400 Essential for early starts and sunset soaks

⛸️ Microspikes: Kahtoola MICROspikes Transform icy trails from sketchy to confident

🥾 Gaiters: Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters No more snow in your boots

💰 Budget Reality: This kit costs ~$800 total. We built it over 3 years, one piece per trip. The payoff? No more cutting adventures short because someone’s miserable.

🔗 These are affiliate links — I earn a small commission if you purchase, but it doesn’t cost you extra. I only recommend gear that’s survived our chaotic family adventures.

Winter Logistics + Tips

Sno-Park Permits

Required at most winter trailheads November through April. $25/season or $5/day. Buy online or at REI.

Road Conditions

  • Check WSDOT before mountain passes
  • Carry chains November through April (required by law on many passes)
  • AWD helps you go; it doesn’t help you stop

Avalanche Safety

If you’re heading into the backcountry beyond groomed trails, check NWAC (Northwest Avalanche Center) for current conditions. They offer free one-hour classes to learn how to read forecasts.

Cell Service

Expect spotty or no service at most trailheads and backcountry locations. Download offline maps before you go.

Winter is Waiting

Winter in Washington isn’t a season to wait out — it’s a season to explore.

Whether you’re soaking in a hot spring, snowshoeing to a frozen lake, watching storms crash on the coast, or reading by a fire in a cabin, there’s an adventure here for every comfort level.

Some of my favorite memories are from winter trips that didn’t go as planned — the wrong turn that led to an empty beach, the snowstorm that kept us playing board games in a yurt all day, the “too cold” hike that ended with the best hot chocolate of my life.

Bundle up. Get out there. Winter is waiting.

More Winter Adventures

Had an amazing Washington winter adventure? Share your photos @the.trekking.mama on Instagram — I love seeing how you explore this incredible state in the cold months!

❄️ Pro Tip: The best winter adventures often happen on the grayest days. Don’t wait for perfect weather — layer up and go anyway.

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